Help: kiddies and instruments

Subject: kiddies and instruments
From: GUEST,just a nobody
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 04:29 PM

My son is five years old and mildly to moderatly autistic. He has discovered his grandfathers guitar and loves listening to him play. They bought him a guitar for while he is over at their place. I can't afford to get a good guitar for him, but I am wondering. What would be a good place to get a guitar and advice on how to instruct a child with pervasive developmental delay on how to play. Letting him just strum the strings is great, and he tries very hard to mimic his grandfather, but I am hoping to really move this into his occupational therapy.

If anyone has experience working with children like my son I would love some advise. Or if you know of a way to get ahold of a cheap guitar, of decent quality. I'm no musician, so I don't know how much help I would be. I've played the hammer dulcimer, just enough to be dangerously bad at it, and know nothing about guitars. I'm here just cause I like the music, and as many can tell from other threads.... a good debate...

Thanks in advance...

Dennis

Just a nobody

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: Max Tone
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 05:17 PM

Sound's like he's off to a great start. I'd let him have a shot of the dulcimer, if you've still got one. Also let him hear/try other instruments..............If he sticks with guitar, hold off until you can afford a really good one, whilst maybe transporting his present axe from Grandad's to home and back, as needed.
Good luck.
Rob

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: Wesley S
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 05:49 PM

It wouldn't suprise me if you could find a decent mandolin for under $100.00. Fewer strings and a smaller body might be easier for him to hold and play at first. You're bound to have a guitar playing friend that would go shopping with you. It's always good to take someone who plays. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: GUEST,just a nobody
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 09:24 PM

A mandolin for around 100..... mmm... I always thought they were supposed to be harder to play.... What are the real differences in the mechanics of playing a guitar vs. Mandolin....

Obviously not passing myself off as musically inclined

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 09:33 PM

Think something like this

You can tune in several different way including an open tuning to give you a chord by just strumming and barring up the neck. I have an MRDD son with multiple autistic tendencies and even this is a little tough for him, but it's helping on fine motor skills where he has real problems.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 10:19 PM

I don't know from beans about autism, but I would be careful trying to "really move this into his occupational therapy." Hope you don't turn something that he enjoys and is fun and play into "work" so that he is not interested.

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 10:28 PM

Sorch, I couldn't have said it better myself. The uke can give lots of enjoyment, quick success and no real drudgery. Depends on the kid (like any kid) but at 5.......not too big and not too small and fun without being work. The real skill of rhythm can also be had and in Tris' case, that's a lot by itself.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: BlueJay
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 03:42 AM

Hey, Guest- You are far from a nobody IMO. Intelligent questions like your's are a delight, considering all the stupid things I've posted

Autism does not necessarily imply lack of dexterity, or interest, so your goal for your son is right on.

Sorcha- While I agree with your philosophy of not making this a strict regimen, I think it is worth a casual try. I bought an old Harmony ukulele at a flea market about twenty years ago. For one dollar. I had to build a bridge for it, but that uke has been through more kids than I can count. I have three daughters. One has moved to the flute, another is now trying to learn the piano and guitar, and the third, who is five years old, is still messing with the same uke, plastic frets and all, and is really enjoying piano lessons as well.

But one consistent thing has been the uke. All the various kids that we either babysit or have as guests have gravitated towards that ukulele. And I am really surprised that it has lasted this long. The kids are really rough on it, detuning it, tossing it around and such. I have to give Harmony a thumbs up on this one.

I don't even know how to play the goddam thing. But it has been a rich resource for the kids. I'd go with Spaw's advice. The baritone uke would be much more versatile, (although 55 times more expensive), and the interest might last longer. And it has real frets, unlike my plastic frets. But ANY musical instrument is better than no instrument, especially if there's even an inkling of interest on the child's part.

If you find a possible instrument for your son, and have any questions whatsoever, please reply to this thread, or start a new thread, or send a personal message to me, or Spaw, or anyone else who has responded to this thread. I assure you we are all extremely interested in helping you and your son, if we can. Thanks, BlueJay

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: GUEST,Just a nobody
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 08:33 AM

His frustration is one of the reasons I would never consider the Hammer Dulcimer. I had a hard time not making the damn thing into kendling a few times. I would not be in charge of his occupational therapy. I let the professionals work with him on that. They know how to keep it fun, when it stops being fun, and how to use the limited time best.

What actually impresses me, is his enjoyment of Blue grass and folk music. Kinda a blessing and a curse, while I like the music you can only hear "Go, Move, Shift" about 50 times in a row before the adult mind starts to implode. Actually, while looking for music for my son, I've found quite a bit of more music for myself.

Right now he likes playing with the penny whistles, Grandpa's Guitar (until he gouged the wood of his twelve string), and the auto-harp. I've debated trying to find a cheep autoharp but he loves his guitars more than anything. Maybe a cheap mandolin, or Uke would be better for his little self...

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: Jacob B
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 10:10 AM

It occurs to me that a mountain dulcimer, especially a cardboard one, might be the perfect instrument for a child with fine motor skills problems. In fact, I think I'll take my own advice and get one for my kids.

Here are some links I found to people selling them.

http://www.andysfronthall.com/dulcimer.html

http://www.songsea.com/md.htm#backpack

http://www.zsigray.com/buy.html

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: Fortunato
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 11:16 AM

Guest,
We have a student 12 bar autoharp that lies about the music room. Our 3 year old grandson can make lovely sounds. It wouldn't replace the guitar your son admires, but its an approachable musical instrument. We have a uke (also popular), a trumpet, a lap steel, harmonicas, penny whistles, kazoos, etc., lying about for little (and big) fingers to try in addition to the piano. Please let us know about your son's progress.

Best wishes, Chance.

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: Grab
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 08:44 AM

I wouldn't think you'd need a serious quality guitar. A cheapo half-size classical costs peanuts. OK, it'll likely have a plywood body and not sound as good as a "real" guitar, but it'll still have proper strings and frets and a decent action. And that'd likely be under $50. For a child who'll grow out of it in 2-3 years (either by getting bored of it, or by getting larger and needing the next size up), spending real money on an instrument is a waste.

You can get average cheap ones from catalogue shops - make sure you try playing it (or get someone else to try it) first before you buy it though, to avoid getting something with a painful action or that's fundamentally out of tune. Or a music shop would have a better quality one for a bit more, or maybe there's a pawn shop would have one. A classical is the only thing to give a beginner to get them started though - heavy/sharp steel strings will just damage a beginner's fingers.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: Jacob B
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 01:30 PM

By the way Dennis, welcome to the Mudcat. You can join for free, which is a great deal. I hope you stick around.

Jacob

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: 53
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 02:35 PM

good luck, bob

Subject: RE: Help: kiddies and instruments
From: Giac
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 09:37 PM

What Grab said. I've launched a few younguns on the guitar path and the best instrument I found was a half-size six-string, with nylon strings. I began teaching a 5-year-old girl on such an instrument. It fit her little hands and was easy on the fingers. The guitar chorded out, was very easy to fret and cost well under $100. She played it to death in a year (she was very driven to learn) and moved on to a three-quarter size. Sounds like your little guy has a similar drive. The nylon strings are not nearly so frustrating as steel strings.
Luck to you,
Mary