Has Anyone...

[Ky_GirlatHeart 1,979]

...worked with deaf children or is deaf themselves? I'm working on another story (yet again) about a young girl who's profoundly deaf but wants to learn how to play the piano because music is her passion. I've been thrown into a whole new world after watching The Silent Child (great short film by the way). I'll take all the help I can get on this!

[suspensewriter 5,708]

Wait a minute--she's deaf and can't hear music and music is her passion???  I don't get it.

[carolinamtne 4,860]

Could she hear before and loved music? Or has she always been deaf? If always, what is it about music that draws her to it? Can't be the music itself. Perhaps she can feel the vibrations? Otherwise, there is no reason for her to want to learn to play, because she can't tell what she is playing.

[Zee 2,317]

I think Beethoven composed some of his most famous pieces after he went deaf...but that was after being able to hear for most of his life. 

[Ky_GirlatHeart 1,979]

You all brought up good points... Might need to put in some backstory or something. I was thinking along the lines that she'd be learning music just so that she could prove others wrong in what they're telling her (I.e. she can't play because she's deaf).

But I'll take what you've mentioned in consideration. ☺

[carolinamtne 4,860]

They certainly could continue to tell her she can't play because she's deaf. She wouldn't be able to tell if she hit the right note or not. But she wouldn't know what music is if she had never heard it. 

[Zee 2,317]

1 hour ago, Ky_GirlatHeart said:

You all brought up good points... Might need to put in some backstory or something. I was thinking along the lines that she'd be learning music just so that she could prove others wrong in what they're telling her (I.e. she can't play because she's deaf).

 

Sounds like her motivation may be more to prove the naysayers wrong than from a particular love of music, then. Not that there’s anything wrong with that—actually I think it makes more sense, because I can’t imagine being deaf from birth, and still loving music for its own sake.

 

But if you want her to live music, what if instead of piano, she decides she wants to be a drummer, or a dancer? I think both of those activities would still be very challenging for a deaf person, and she’d certainly get her fair share of discouragement, but I think with either of those, she might actually enjoy the activity, as well as proving her determination. 

[carolinamtne 4,860]

Interesting suggestion, Zee. It would still take some effort and cooperation from those around her, but it could work.

[Ky_GirlatHeart 1,979]

@Zee Hmm.. Good options there! I did put into the second chapter where she mentions that she grew a love for piano at a young age before an incident happened that caused her to lose her hearing, but I kind of like the ballet one better...

So many ideas.

[Wes B 947]

7 hours ago, Ky_GirlatHeart said:

@Zee Hmm.. Good options there! I did put into the second chapter where she mentions that she grew a love for piano at a young age before an incident happened that caused her to lose her hearing, but I kind of like the ballet one better...

So many ideas.

 

On the down side, so many paths we'll never get to explore...

 

On the up side, so many paths...

[Ky_GirlatHeart 1,979]

@Wes B Yes, honestly, yes. There's so many that could go along with just one person but then the possibility of potentially using it for a new story...

Le sigh.

[carolinamtne 4,860]

You'll never run out of story material!

[Ky_GirlatHeart 1,979]

@carolinamtne That's one of the joys of writing though!

[Wes B 947]

1 hour ago, Ky_GirlatHeart said:

@Wes B Yes, honestly, yes. There's so many that could go along with just one person but then the possibility of potentially using it for a new story...

Le sigh.

Absolutely. I may have mentioned it before (gettin' too old to remember what I've said to everybody...) but keep a notebook of all your ideas, random thoughts, memory joggers, and things that might serve as future writing prompts, and review it regularly. Keep all those thoughts as fresh in your mind as you can.. That's where a lot of those "unexpected turns" will come from...

[suspensewriter 5,708]

Another suggestion, @Ky_GirlatHeart.  What if her parents by her a light box to go along with her instrument so she can "see" the music.

[Wes B 947]

55 minutes ago, suspensewriter said:

Another suggestion, @Ky_GirlatHeart.  What if her parents by her a light box to go along with her instrument so she can "see" the music.

 

Now, that's a neat idea! If the covers were also removed from the loudspeaker enclosures, so she could put her hands directly on the speaker cones, she'd also feel intense vibrations through her fingertips. The light, along with the physical sensation would be a surreal, almost alien way to experience music. It might take some research and actual experimenting with the stuff to be able to write credibly about it, but it could produce an experience that no reader will ever have imagined before. While the book might be aimed at a far younger audience, I would probably read it...

[Nicola 1,759]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Glennie

 

https://vocal.media/beat/how-deaf-people-perceive-music

 

I hope this helps. 

[PenName 1,929]

Mandy Harvey is an amazing deaf singer/songwriter who went viral for her audition and success on America's Got Talent. Here's her audition and story in one video. I hope it helps!

 

 

[suspensewriter 5,708]

Was Mandy born deaf?

[suspensewriter 5,708]

Sorry, I just answered my own question.  She was born hearing but went profoundly deaf following an illness at age 18.  So, she was born being able to hear.

[Paul but not THE 263]

Not with deafness, but what we perceive as handicapped.  Had a blind and physically-different acquaintance who took offense as being called 'handicapped'.  He insisted it was normal for him and to quit trying to 'help' him do stuff.  His philosophy was 'I'm normal and so are you!  Just be my friend.'  I gave him a carved and sanded poplar walking stick with a Bible passage in Braille, with a bunch of butterflies on it.  (He loved his butterflies!)  He showed me there are many ways to appreciate God's creation.  When he picked up the stick, he held it to his ear and tapped one of his long, thick fingers (2 on each hand and a thumb) and listened.  He smiled big and said, "This wood sounds BEAUTIFUL!" 

[carolinamtne 4,860]

9 minutes ago, Paul but not THE said:

His philosophy was 'I'm normal and so are you!  Just be my friend.' 

Good advice.

[Ky_GirlatHeart 1,979]

15 hours ago, suspensewriter said:

What if her parents by her a light box to go along with her instrument so she can "see" the music.

I've never heard of a light box before! Might need to do some research on that when I get the chance. Sounds cool!

[Ky_GirlatHeart 1,979]

14 hours ago, Wes B said:

While the book might be aimed at a far younger audience, I would probably read it...

I have no idea who I'm trying to aim my writings to, really. I feel like I speak or write a bit more maturely than most teens my age, so I have no idea.

Then again, very few people have read a lot of my writings. I can't say for sure.

[carolinamtne 4,860]

15 hours ago, suspensewriter said:

What if her parents by her a light box to go along with her instrument so she can "see" the music.

How much light can a blind person see? It's not like just closing your eyes. The connection from the eyes to the brain doesn't work.