Turning the volume up on music lessons
Jordan is in her second year of piano and recently graduated from her beginner book. It’s time to take her skills to a new level. But that’s when her teacher asked her the question: Does she want move to the next level learning in a one-handed piano-playing style or does she want to continue with her style of playing with her right hand and her little arm. Of course, Jordan chose using her hand and her little arm. The challenge is there aren’t lesson books that focus on using both sides where there is only one note at a time on the left side. But we have an awesome teacher. So during the holiday, she started work on a custom lesson plan for Jordan. She starts that new plan today. I’m really excited for her.
Music is important to all of us in our family. Both of the grownups of the household LOVE to go to live concerts. Before my career got in the way, I used to sing and even make a little money on the side with my voice. Cameron plays the piano (he has a great ear) and he’s in the seventh grade band playing the trumpet. He has a guitar and sometimes still plays it.
That trumpet is the reason I found out Jordan’s music teacher at school is thinking about doing a portion of class on the ukelele. Jordan’s a bit obsessed with the guitar thanks to attending a concert with Tony Memmel. Everything is possible. So we pulled out a ukelele at the store and started to brainstorm. What are ways we could make it work? Jordan’s little arm has rotation at the bottom (even though she doesn’t have an elbow), we could possibly use strong tape to hold a pick. One of the store employees told me about the guitar playing style called the Legato technique. It’s a technique for electric guitars… So I’ll hold off on that for now.
I do love having a chance to brainstorm about new instrument options. What kind of alterations have you seen when it comes to musical instruments?
Jen – I know we’ve talked about this some, but I thought I’d comment just in case. I played trumpet primarily, but also did a little with piano, guitar, french horn/mellophone and a brief stint with a recorder (we found one that could be adapted for those of us without ten fingers). For the french horn, I just reached my right arm across the instrument and played it that way. I couldn’t mute it, but I could adjust volume with my air flow to accommodate that for the most part. With the trumpet, I just had to put my mutes in with my right hand and I never got to use the plunger in jazz band (that was a disappointment, but I think I’m over it now!).
I can totally understand the disappointment! I look forward to seeing how Jordan does with the ukulele. She’s talked about playing the guitar for years. I’m going to do my best to give her as many instrument opportunities I can. She’s obviously much more creative at finding solutions to a goal than I am.
I am an autistic flutist in high school band and I love music. While browsing on the Internet I stumbled upon a company called Flutelab. They make adaptive wind instrument, mainly flutes (hence their name). I strongly think Jordan should cross over to the flute side, but ukulele is fine too.
I bet Jordan would LOVE to try working with a flute! Thanks for the heads up.
I look forward to the updates. 🙂
What an incredible amount of determination! I admire her teachers and parents for making sure that nothing gets in the way of this young girl’s obvious passion for music. I can’t wait to hear her play when she gets her first recording contract!
Evan
Merriam Music