29/05/2026
Watch Eli’s milestone moment — playing the violin functionally for the first time in music therapy.
This accomplishment is no small feat!
Eli has a diagnosis of Bainbridge-Ropers syndrome, which affects his motor planning, coordination and everyday movement skills (like holding a pencil and drawing independently).
In this session with music therapist Lydia, Eli explored the violin in a new way. He used a more organised, elbow-led movement to draw the bow across the strings instead of his usual wrist-flicking pattern. This helped him produce a clearer and more sustained sound. He also maintained an upright seated posture throughout the activity without physical support, allowing for greater stability and engagement in the music.
Pride, surprise and joy all landed at once - you can see it on Eli's face! He understood that what had just happened wasn’t by chance, but because of him.
Moments like this are meaningful not because everything is “perfect,” but because they show new possibilities in how a child can organise, respond and participate in music-making.
Here's Eli's mum, Katia, sharing what this moment meant to both her and Eli.
