Backward D Scale For Violin

My son is in his second year of violin. Because of his learning disabilities and Aspergers - he is behind his peers, just as with math and reading. However, as with his regular classwork, its not a matter of him not being able to learn - it's simply a matter of time and adjusting the teaching method to help him achieve the desired result. He is no less intelligent than his peers, but unlike them he has a few more obstacles on his path he must navigate around.

That said, at the age of 37...I seem to have found myself learning how to play the violin along with my son. During high school and college, I played clarinet...so it has been quite awhile since I actively touched any musical instrument. Yet, here I am reacquainting myself with notes, tempo, scale and how they apply to the violin. My oldest daughter, who has taken the violin a year longer than her brother, shows me the correct way to hold the violin. Being a 3/4 size, its a bit small and a tad awkward to hold. I also ask his teacher to double check that I am doing this correctly - she seems very excited and enthusiastic about my method of helping my son practice his violin.

So, during the day...while the kids are in school, I practice my scales from my son's book of beginning violin lessons. I give his current lesson a once over and later in the evening watch while he practices himself. Learning what he is learning helps me to better understand the particulars he has difficulty with. It may be his issues with his grip (which are related to his issues with muscle tone) are hindering his ability in moving fluidly from the A string to the D string. He also hates the way the chin rest must be placed and how his arms must be positioned...so that I am having to remind him not to keep them tucked down near his body. His biggest challenge,however, is maintaining the correct grip on the neck (which is to say very relaxed) and resist the urge to hold the violin by the body.

We stop before it becomes more frustrating than fun, taking some time to relax and come back to it later. He enjoys the violin and I want him to continue to do so. It is of no importance to him, that he is improving his skills in mathematics or strengthening the muscles of his fingers, hands and arms. All my son cares about is showing me how well he can play Hot Cross Buns...after which I look at him and say well done. I'm so proud of you!