In recognition of April’s Limb Loss & Limb Difference Awareness Month (LLLDAM), we asked Hero, with the help of her mum, Amy, to share her experience of playing the violin.
Hero with her Koalaa violin bow tool
With a dad who plays the violin and a grandad who dabbles in all sorts of music making, music was always going to play a big part in Hero’s family life. However, with a slightly shortened right forearm, and no wrist, hand or fingers on the right side (as a result of a rare congenital condition, Symbrachydactyly), any musical instrument requiring the use of both hands would need to be played in a less conventional way.
Embarking on the OHMI Music-Makers programme
Being introduced to OHMI at a Reach Annual Family Weekend event when Hero was just one, meant her parents knew that they could count on OHMI’s support when the time came for Hero to explore her own music-making. They were particularly interested in enrolling her on the OHMI Music-Makers teaching support programme, designed for students with a hand difference or disability to apply for access to music lessons.
As well as a Whole Class programme, OHMI Music-Makers offers: financial support towards individual subsidised lessons; the loan of an instrument that aligns with the student's preferences as closely as possible; and access to a local music teacher who can support the use of the adapted musical instrument or enabling equipment.
Hero joined the programme when she was 7 years old – opting for the violin. As Amy points out, choosing an instrument considered one of the hardest to learn “showed us how much she didn’t feel held back by her limb difference” Whilst there have been no adaptations to the instrument itself, Hero uses a Koalaa Paww (a slip-on soft fabric sleeve that allows for wrist movement and use of partial fingers) (an OHMI Competition winner in 2021) together with one of Koalaa’s prototype violin tools.
OHMI agreed for Hero’s violin case to be adapted, with a little of the lining cut away to keep the tool attached to the bow and reduce “how much faffing she needed to do” in order to practise.
Amy explains how they were “absolutely blown away” by the support offered by OHMI. “The loaning of an instrument and support arranging adaptations made a very overwhelming process completely smooth! The biggest thing for me as an anxious mum was that OHMI sourced Hero’s teacher, so we knew there weren’t going to be any bumps in the road in terms of her limb difference.”
Hero is not currently working towards any grades (since her teacher follows the Suzuki method). As Amy points out, however, the mark of success is not passing music exams but that Hero “still wants to play and is enjoying her lessons which, for a child who is notorious for not wanting to stick at things, is fantastic two years in. We are happy, as is Hero, to see her progress from the early days when all she could do was make the violin screech!”
Hero adds: “Learning the violin makes me feel proud. I enjoy the playing games with my teacher and our lessons, but sometimes the group lessons are more fun as we play more music games. And I can actually play at least one song now!”
Where next for Hero’s music-making?
Hero’s parents would like her to continue with her violin lessons, to build on her music reading and “hopefully get a renewed sense of confidence in her own ability” The desire to make music is often not limited to one instrument and Hero is already showing interest in the piano, having been exposed to her sister’s piano lessons.
OHMI’s early support in building Hero’s confidence to play is giving a springboard to music making – hopefully for many years to come!
Embarking on the OHMI Music-Makers programme
Being introduced to OHMI at a Reach Annual Family Weekend event when Hero was just one, meant her parents knew that they could count on OHMI’s support when the time came for Hero to explore her own music-making. They were particularly interested in enrolling her on the OHMI Music-Makers teaching support programme, designed for students with a hand difference or disability to apply for access to music lessons.
As well as a Whole Class programme, OHMI Music-Makers offers: financial support towards individual subsidised lessons; the loan of an instrument that aligns with the student's preferences as closely as possible; and access to a local music teacher who can support the use of the adapted musical instrument or enabling equipment.
Hero joined the programme when she was 7 years old – opting for the violin. As Amy points out, choosing an instrument considered one of the hardest to learn “showed us how much she didn’t feel held back by her limb difference” Whilst there have been no adaptations to the instrument itself, Hero uses a Koalaa Paww (a slip-on soft fabric sleeve that allows for wrist movement and use of partial fingers) (an OHMI Competition winner in 2021) together with one of Koalaa’s prototype violin tools.
OHMI agreed for Hero’s violin case to be adapted, with a little of the lining cut away to keep the tool attached to the bow and reduce “how much faffing she needed to do” in order to practise.
Amy explains how they were “absolutely blown away” by the support offered by OHMI. “The loaning of an instrument and support arranging adaptations made a very overwhelming process completely smooth! The biggest thing for me as an anxious mum was that OHMI sourced Hero’s teacher, so we knew there weren’t going to be any bumps in the road in terms of her limb difference.”
Hero is not currently working towards any grades (since her teacher follows the Suzuki method). As Amy points out, however, the mark of success is not passing music exams but that Hero “still wants to play and is enjoying her lessons which, for a child who is notorious for not wanting to stick at things, is fantastic two years in. We are happy, as is Hero, to see her progress from the early days when all she could do was make the violin screech!”
Hero adds: “Learning the violin makes me feel proud. I enjoy the playing games with my teacher and our lessons, but sometimes the group lessons are more fun as we play more music games. And I can actually play at least one song now!”
Where next for Hero’s music-making?
Hero’s parents would like her to continue with her violin lessons, to build on her music reading and “hopefully get a renewed sense of confidence in her own ability” The desire to make music is often not limited to one instrument and Hero is already showing interest in the piano, having been exposed to her sister’s piano lessons.
OHMI’s early support in building Hero’s confidence to play is giving a springboard to music making – hopefully for many years to come!
"The loaning of an instrument and support arranging adaptations made an overwhelming process completely smooth!"
Amy, Hero's Mum
Donate to OHMIThere are so many disabled people who are desperate to play music with their peers. We can help to make that happen – but we can only do that with the wonderful support of our funders and donors.
As our instruments have to be hand-made by experts, they can only be produced in small numbers and are therefore expensive. Every little really does help.
|
|
Contact us
If you have a query or wish to contact us, please use the contact form available here.
You can also write to us: The OHMI Trust, 29 Woodbourne Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 8BY |
Subscribe to our Newsletter
If you would like to join our mailing list and keep up to date with the latest news, please complete the form available here.
|
Privacy and Cookies Notice | Complaints Policy
All content © OHMI - Enabling Music-Making for Physically Disabled People
The OHMI Trust is a registered charity (Registered in England and Wales Charity No. 1143623, Scotland Charity No. SC052047).
Registered office: 29 Woodbourne Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 8BY
All content © OHMI - Enabling Music-Making for Physically Disabled People
The OHMI Trust is a registered charity (Registered in England and Wales Charity No. 1143623, Scotland Charity No. SC052047).
Registered office: 29 Woodbourne Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 8BY