The Sound of Music Part - 1 Evelyn Glennie Listens To Sound Without Hearing It Deborah Cowley

THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Part -1
Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound without Hearing It
Deborah Cowley
THEME
Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound Without Hearing It is based on the
theme that determination, sincere efforts and able guidance are the way
to success. Evelyn Glennie, a multi-percussionist, overcame the
challenge posed by physical disability and became a source of
inspiration for thousands of disabled persons. She was eleven years old
when it was discovered that she had a hearing disability. Though her
teachers discouraged her from pursuing her career in music, it was Ron
Forbes who recognized her potential and supported her in achieving her
goal.
He advised her not to listen through her ears but try to sense and feel
the vibrations in every part of her body. These tingle in her skin, her
cheekbones and even in hair. She leant to open her body and mind to
the sounds and vibrations. She overcame the challenge of her impaired
hearing through her firm belief in herself and great confidence in her will.
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?
A. Evelyn was seventeen years old when she got admission in the Royal
Academy of Music, London. She was nervous as she boarded the train from
Scotland as she lived on farms in the countryside and was not exposed to the
life in cities. Evelyn was excited as she was about to begin her career in music
which was her aim in life.

2. When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?
A. When Evelyn was eight years old, her mother, Isabelle Glennie noticed that
Evelyn did not respond to her name being called out at the piano class.
Evelyn’s loss of hearing was gradual and for some time she was able to hide
her disability from her teachers and friends. By the time she turned eleven, her
marks deteriorated, and her parents took her to a doctor. Then, it was
discovered that Evelyn was profoundly deaf.
3. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?
A. Evelyn was discouraged by her teachers but master – percussionist Ron
Forbes spotted her talent and potential. He guided Evelyn to feel music some
other way rather than hearing it. He got two large drums and tuned them to
different notes. When he played the drums, Evelyn reacted to the distinct
notes differently. She realized that she could feel the higher notes produced by
one of the drums through the upper part of her body, above the waist and the
lower notes of the other drum through the lower part of her body, below the
waist. This worked well for Evelyn and gradually, she found that she could
sense different sounds and vibrations through different parts of her body.

4. Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.
A. Evelyn made her first tour at the age of sixteen, when she performed with a
youth orchestra. She toured the United Kingdom and after that tour she
decided that she would make a career in music. She has made her name in the
field of music. Evelyn is a popular musician with a busy international schedule.
Apart from the regular concerts, she also does charity and performs for
hospitals and prisons. Evelyn also holds classes for young musicians.
Answer the question in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words).

1. How does Evelyn hear music?
A. Evelyn Glennie was passionate about music but unfortunately, she lost her
sense of hearing by the age of eleven. She wanted to learn playing the
xylophone but was discouraged by her teachers. They opined that as she could
not hear, she could not learn music. Master percussionist Ron Forbes spotted
Evelyn’s potential. He guided her to feel music some other way than to hear it
through her ears. He trained her by tuning two large drums to different notes.
Evelyn realized that she could sense different sounds and vibrations through
different parts of her body. She could feel the higher notes produced by one of
the drums through the upper part of her body, above the waist and the lower
notes of the other drum through the lower part of her body, below the waist.
This experiment worked well for Evelyn and she responded to the finer sounds
of music too.
Evelyn can feel music penetrate her body though various parts – cheeks, hair,
skin, etc. When she plays the xylophone, she feels the sound move from the
sticks into her finger tips. When the drums are played, she can feel the echo of
the drum beats through her body. Evelyn removes her footwear as she
performs on a wooden floor so that she can feel the vibrations produced by
different instruments pass through her feet up her legs. Thus, Evelyn has
sensitized her body to music.
2. How did Evelyn Glennie fight with her physical disability ?
Ans : Evelyn Glennie was a very brave girl. She learnt to open her body and
mind to the sounds and vibrations. She used to feel as if music was flowing
through her body. So she joined an orchestra and later the Royal Academy of
Music. She did not want to be deprived of the joy of music that made her
happy. She later even gave solo performances on stage in many countries and
became famous.
3. In spite of her towering success Evelyn Glennie does not accept any hint of
heroic achievement. Explain.
Ans : Evelyn Glennie had a hearing loss and was discouraged by most of the
teachers but she did not give up. Ron Forbes guided her to listen through her
body not ears. Eventually, Evelyn learnt to open her body and mind to sound
and vibrations. She scored the highest marks in the history of Royal Academy
of Music. She also captured many top awards and brought percussion to the
front of the orchestra. She has given pleasure to millions and in spite of this
towering success she does , not accept any hint of heroic achievement and is a
very simple person.
4. Evelyn’s determination to overcome her disability has made her source of
inspiration for deaf children. Comment.
Ans :When Evelyn became deaf, she was determined to lead a normal life. She
was encouraged by her percussion teacher. She learned to sense music
through different parts of the body and opened her mind and body to
vibrations. She could feel higher drum from waist up and xylophone music
through fingertips. She used to remove her shoes on the wooden floors. She
was the master of a thousand instruments and most sought after as a multi –
percussionist.
5. How is Evelyn Glennie helping other with her popularity and skill ?
Ans: In spite of Evelyn’s deafness she joined the prestigious Royal Academy of
Music and won the “Soloist of the Year” award. Evelyn used to practice for
hours learning languages such as Japanese and French. She earned a lot but
was kind at heart. She used to give free performances in prisons and hospitals
and also proved a personal example of tireless hard work and firm
determination.
6. How did Evelyn succeed in pursuing her interest in music ?
Ans : Evelyn decided not to give up. It was Ron Forbes who recognized her
potential and supported her. He advised her not to listen through her ears but
to open her body and mind to the vibrations. She mastered the art of
interpreting different vibrations of sound on her body to different notes. She
could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower one from the waist
down. After the practice she could sense music in different parts of her body.
And by this, Evelyn succeeded in pursuing her interest in music.
7. “A problem is only as big as we make it.” This thought has been very
beautifully brought out in the lesson. Discuss.(VBQ)
Ans: Evelyn Glennie is profoundly deaf and cannot hear a word. Thus, she
overcame this difficulty and learnt to listen music from her body. She not only
scored highest marks in the history of the Royal Academy of Music but also
became a renowned musician. She is an idol for a lot of people and a source of
inspiration for. them. Her story tells us that no problem is so great that it
cannot be overcome.

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THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences

Answer the question in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words).

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