Deaf Woman Continues to Sing

I, too, feel America Singing. While my younger sister became deaf at a very early age, I did not and went on to start college as a music major which I fortunately later changed to that of an English major. I didn’t start losing my hearing until I was around 50 and now at 68 am profoundly deaf but I sing all of the time. I suspect that once you know a piece of music, it sticks and if you were able to sight read music, you can learn new pieces as well. Beethoven held a metal rod between his teeth to connect with his harpsicord or whatever and that enabled him to continue to grow into the world’s greatest composer – even though deaf. Some of this I think is in the wanting and caring about music enough to push ahead and find ways to max out whatever you have.

So sing on, deaf people!

My mother was deaf in one ear and had a severe hearing loss in the other ear. She was an accomplished pianist, went to Juilliard, and was so talented she could have played at Carnegie Hall. Instead of a life as a professional musician, she chose to marry and raise a family.

Whenever we had company over, she would pass out song sheets and play the piano by ear. She never needed piano music. She also knew who in our living room was singing on key as well as off key.

I inherited the gene to lose my hearing and now have a cochlear implant and still wear a hearing aid. I did not inherit the gene to play the piano, but I love music. I’m fortunate to be able to enjoy music, and have been able to do so my entire life. The only thing I’m missing is song lyrics.

I love captioned musicals because then I get the music with the lyrics. I wish there was more live captioning when you go to music concerts.

My mom’s cousin is profoundly deaf, and plays the piano for her church. She also, plays the organ. And I have a slight hearing loss in both of my ears, and continue to sing. I also,use ASL sometimes, when I sing in my college choir concerts. I think that enjoying music transcends the ablity to hear.