The Sound Of Music - I Flashcards
(12 cards)
When was Evelyn’s deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?
Evelyn’s deafness was first noticed when she was 8 years old. In fact, her mother had noticed it when Evelyn had not responded to a call for a performance on the piano. Her deafness was confirmed at the age of 11 when her poor academic performance forced her parents to consult a specialist, who discovered that her hearing was badly impaired due to gradual nerve damage.
Why had Evelyn’s headmistress advised her parents to take her to a specialist?
Evelyn managed to hide her growing deafness from students and teachers for some time. However, by the time she was 11 years old, her performance in school had deteriorated and her grades had decreased. It was then that the headmistress advised her parents to take her to a specialist.
“Everything suddenly looked black.” Why does Evelyn say so?
When Evelyn was advised to use hearing aids and join a school for the deaf, she felt that her future was black and dark. She was depressed as all hope for great achievements seemed to have vanished. She had now become a disabled child who could not have easy access to a normal life.
How did Evelyn Glennie respond to the discovery of her deafness?
On learning about her deafness due to gradual nerve damage, Evelyn Glennie, instead of giving up, decided to lead a normal life like other children and pursue her dream of learning music.
How did Evelyn’s teachers respond when she expressed her desire to play a xylophone?
Evelyn always loved music and despite her deafness, she expressed her desire to play the xylophone when she saw another girl playing it. But her teachers felt that she would not be able to play it because of her impaired hearing, and they discouraged her.
Who helped Evelyn to continue with music? What did he do and say?
It was Ron Forbes, the percussionist, who encouraged and helped Evelyn to continue with music while her teachers discouraged her. He noticed her potential and decided to develop it. He told Evelyn to train different parts of her body to sense musical notes. He turned two drums with different notes to make her sense the higher ones through the upper part of her body and the lower ones down her waist.
How did Evelyn open her mind and body to musical sounds or vibrations?
As guided by Ron Forbes, Evelyn learned to listen through different parts of her body other than her ears. Her mind and body were sensitized to notice and differentiate various sounds and vibrations of music. She compensated for the loss of hearing with the awakened and sharpened senses in other parts of her body.
Why does Evelyn say that men with bushy beards give her trouble?
Evelyn says that men with bushy beards give her trouble because she has to watch their whole face, especially their eyes, in order to grasp what they say. Just watching their lips does not help, as their lips remain partially hidden by the beards.
What were Evelyn’s achievements after she joined the Royal Academy of Music, London?
At the Royal Academy of Music, London, Evelyn began as one of the performers in the orchestra, but gradually she moved on to do solo performances. At the end of her three-year course, she had bagged the biggest award in the academy.
What reveals that Evelyn has succeeded immensely in her career?
Evelyn’s success in her career is revealed by the fact that she has command over a thousand musical instruments. As a percussionist, she is the most admired one at the international level. In 1991, the Royal Philharmonic Society conferred on her the most prestigious “Soloist of the Year” award.
What is Evelyn’s view of her achievements?
Evelyn is so modest that she does not consider her achievements to be heroic deeds. She believes that if one has clarity of goal and puts in hard work, one is sure to achieve the aim. She believes that it is through hard work alone that she is able to achieve success.
What traits of Evelyn’s personality enabled her to overcome the challenge of deafness?
Evelyn’s strong willpower, hard work, and clear focus on her goal helped her overcome the challenge of deafness. Though she lost her hearing at the age of 8, she never let it stop her. She was determined to live a normal life and refused to give up on her love for music.
With support from Ron Forbes, who encouraged her to sense music through vibrations in her body, Evelyn found a new way to connect with sound. She showed great courage and confidence by daring to audition for the Royal Academy of Music in London—where she went on to win the highest award.
She is a workaholic who practised tirelessly, even more than most classical musicians, to bring percussion into the spotlight. Her belief that nothing is impossible with hard work helped her rise from playing in an orchestra to giving solo performances around the world.
Evelyn’s firm decisions, dedication, and never-give-up attitude helped her achieve mastery over many instruments. She proved that physical challenges can be overcome with passion, effort, and belief in oneself. Her journey is truly inspiring for anyone facing difficulties in life.
