I have a 9yo girl in one of my Wider Opportunities violin groups who has a congenital malformation of her left hand - she has a normal, slightly short thumb and only one finger. (Her right hand is completely normal, btw)

She has coped very well in the WO groups, playing a normal violin and holding the bow in her right hand, because we have just been playing open strings in different rhythm patterns. However, she has asked me if it will be possible for her to carry on playing and this is when it starts to get interesting. Obviously, she would need to play a lefthanded violin so that she could use her right hand for fingering. My concern is whether we can achieve a satisfactory bow hold with her left hand. She is able to position her thumb and finger correctly - it's roughly equivalent to holding the bow with thumb and second finger only so of course it's not very stable. She really needs some sort of aid to help stabilise the bow for her. Has anyone ever come across anything like this?

I'm tempted to ask her if she has considered trying a brass instrument - my impression is that her hands wouldn't be a huge problem for trumpet or trombone? But if she is determinded to try and carry on with violin, I'd like to at least give her the chance. Any ideas?

Just a thought, but it might be worth asking her Occupational Therapist as they tend to know of all sorts of gadgets and gizmos for helping people access activities that they might not otherwise be able to do.

Good luck - I hope you and your student find something that works for her.

Lis

It might take her a little longer than most people, but she might just adapt to hold a bow with stability with just her thumb and her finger. Surely she must have to adapt the way she does most daily activities slightly, so why should that hold her back?