Summary
The Sound of Music part 1, titled Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound without Hearing, is a tribute to extraordinary musician Evelyn Glennie, the world’s first full-time solo percussionist. This remarkable story is a testament to her resilience and strong will.
Born on July 19, 1965 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the daughter of Isabel and Arthur Glennie, Evelyn displayed a keen interest in music and creative talents from a very young age. Unfortunately, she also started losing her sense of sound and became profoundly deaf at only 12. Despite her physical disability, Glennie did not stop pursuing her passion, fought the discouraging words of her mentors, and established herself as one of the most renowned musicians in the world of music.
Her potential inspired teacher percussionist Ron Forbes. He started to train her with two drums tuned to different notes. Ron Forbes advised her to feel the music. Eventually, Glennie could separate the notes by their vibration. She sensed the higher notes through the upper part of her body and lower notes through the lower halves of her body, sensing music through her skin, cheekbones, and even hair. Glennie opened her mind to sound and vibration.
She feels the vibration from the drum by leaning against it. On wooden platforms, Glennie takes off her shoes to sense the vibration. This innovative approach to music assisted her in achieving unbelievable success at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she scored some of the highest marks recorded in its history. Glennie honed her musical talents to acquire mastery over 1,000 musical instruments. Despite her hearing disability, she can communicate effortlessly in Scottish. She later learned French and some basic Japanese.
Glennie performs globally and has won multiple prestigious awards, including the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Soloist of the Year in 1991. She also performs in prisons and hospitals for free and assists young musicians in her spare time. Her incredible journey to success serves as a reminder to everyone to not be deterred from their objective and pursue their passion with utmost dedication and determination.
I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.
1. How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?
Answer
Evelyn was only 17 years old when she went to the Royal Academy of Music.
2. When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?
Answer
Evelyn started showing symptoms of hearing loss at eight years old. It was confirmed when she was only twelve years old.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph
1. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?
Answer
Evelyn was discouraged from pursuing music by all her teachers except Ron Forbes who noticed her potential. He trained her against two drums and advised her to try and feel music. Glennie quickly learned to distinguish sounds by their vibration.
2 Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.
The most celebrated Scottish percussionist, Evelyn Glennie, performs globally in collaboration with orchestras, conductors, and artists from all over the globe. Evelyn has performed in the prestigious Royal Albert Concert Hall in London and made history by performing the first percussion concerto at BBC Proms. In the London Olympics, 2012, Glennie played a leading role in the opening ceremony, where she performed with 1000 drummers. She also performs free concerts in prisons and Hospitals and raises funds to help associations working for disabled children.
Glennie Actively participates in social causes to change general misconception regarding disability. She advocates accessabilty and inclusion in music, teaching the world that music is not just auditory but a full body experienc. Her resilience has inspired many to pursue their passion and dreams fearlessly.
III. Answer the question in two or three paragraphs (100-150 words).
1. How does Evelyn hear music?
Answer
Evelyn Glennie is the world’s first solo percussionist who is profoundly deaf. Born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Evelyn started displaying symptoms of hearing disability at merely eight years old due to nerve damage, and by the age of twelve, she had completely lost her hearing.
Evelyn, however, did not let her disability stop her from pursuing the life of a musician. Her exceptional talents inspired a teacher percussionist, Ron Forbes. Ron was determined to train her. He tuned two different drums to different notes and told Evelyn to try and identify the sounds. He advised her to open her mind and try to sense the sound instead of hearing it.
Eventually, Evelyn could distinguish the sounds based on their vibrations. She recognized the higher notes with the upper parts of her body and the lower notes through the lower parts of her body. Glennie senses music through her skin, bones, and even hair. She honed this newborn talent and attained mastery over 1,000 musical instruments. She does not simply hear the music but feels it.
Source: Guru Gupshup
