Deaf or HH Pianist??

kokonut

kokonut

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Bringing this up again since the last thread was lost in a server crash.

Are you a serious pianist? Or do you just simply dabble in it? Practice/play a few times a month, a week or on a daily basis? What music do you prefer to play? Have you ever performed? And how do you rank yourself as a pianist?
 
I am total deaf. I used to play piano daily while growing up. Played classical, religious and folk songs. I do not play as much now since I can't hear anything. I do try and at least my fingers somewhat know where to go, but since I can't hear it, I never know if I'm playing right or not.

We sold my piano after I got married since we had no room in our condo for it and my niece was trying to dump juice on the keys. I had a Rudolph Wurlitzer Console. I have a small electric keyboard, but get frustrated since it doesn't have all 88 keys. I read music very well and can follow along with that. I was never able to play by ear.
 
My mother, who is a SLP (age 72 and STILL working) was a music major. She plays the piano beautifully - she is hard of hearing due to medications and has tinitus. I'm going to try and get her to check out this forum.
 
dorothybaez said:
My mother, who is a SLP (age 72 and STILL working) was a music major. She plays the piano beautifully - she is hard of hearing due to medications and has tinitus. I'm going to try and get her to check out this forum.
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Yay!! I'll give her a big wave from here. :wave:
 
Hello. I have been HH for my whole life but started teaching myself how to play piano/keyboards with my twin sis who is also HH. As our musical ability improved we gained more skills in improv and performance. Over the year (20 now) our hearing has become worse. Mine is at/around 90db loss which really sucks if you are a musician. I have been composing music since the age of 6 and find it real hard to manage now that things are bad, hearing wise. No matter what happens, we will still compose, play, perform until we can't anymore. We were on the news, radio stations, live performances around the city as well as special events.
Now we have blue-tooth enabled hearing aids Naida V UP/Ultra power hearing aids and I LOVE them. I use an iCom with it can connect it to my synths, keyboards, amps, EQ pedals, anything!
I cannot hear the bass or high ranges anymore and it makes me sad. I cannot play the bass guitar anymore unless its in great tune or I use an electric tuner and the violin is almost impossible to hear now.
The cello is awesome because its in mid-range and has a great, warm sound to it and I can feel and hear.
My twin and I put our music up on youtube under the channel name
MsMotif6 and thesynthfreq.

No matter what, music will be a big big part of my life and I think its awesome, as HH persons to be able to play still. The technology is awesome and I never would have imagines BT hearing aids!! LOL

Play on!
Crystal
 
Playing since 1968!

I have severe hearing loss and is mostly compensated by hearing aids. I started playing in 3rd grade and loved the piano with a passion. It is the only time I am in control of sounds instead of me being at the mercy of sounds. The only time I have difficulty is when the higher notes mask the metrenome.
 
I started playing the piano at the age of 7. Still at and play mostly ragtime. Do you have a video sample of you playing a song?
 
I am Deaf and have been playing the piano since I was 5 years old but quit my lessons when I was 6 and taught myself how to play.
I do not play I guess music that's "popular" I'm more into the new age type music, ambient with classical influences as well as industrial too.

as far as performing in front of others I've only done so in front of my husband when we have recorded a song with him on guitar. I'm too shy to venture out to perform in front of anyone but do have a band page with my music on there-The Deaf Song is a piano peice written about being Deaf and feeling alone because of it. Reverbnation.com/jaspheth.

as for skill? I do not think I'm a fantastic piano player but I'm "ok". Could be better...I do play everyday, if I have time to do so.

I'm currently learning how to play Inception "time" on piano. :) difficult but fun to learn.
 
Looks like I may be getting back into playing keyboard. They asked me at the deaf service this morning about it. Seems my neighbor told someone there I used to play the piano at Children's Church before and now they are asking if I will do it for them. We will see. It's hard since I can't hear it at all and would never know if I was making a mistake except by feel.
 
KristinaB said:
Looks like I may be getting back into playing keyboard. They asked me at the deaf service this morning about it. Seems my neighbor told someone there I used to play the piano at Children's Church before and now they are asking if I will do it for them. We will see. It's hard since I can't hear it at all and would never know if I was making a mistake except by feel.
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if i was hearing, i wouldnt like to be there for your performance
 
I learn pianist :lol whoot I reading exactly look musician, I am pretty I was start 12yrs not sure
I was love drum I heard boom I look like sound my hearing aid/cochlear implant
I already willing accept deaf both hearing aid!
 
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KristinaB said:
Thanks - that really males me feel totally like not doing this.
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Don't let people discourage (you) deaf/hh people from playing/practicing their musical instrument(s). If you enjoy playing it, by all means don't stop on account of a few people.
 
kokonut said:
Don't let people discourage (you) deaf/hh people from playing/practicing their musical instrument(s). If you enjoy playing it, by all means don't stop on account of a few people.
Click to expand...

Am totally thinking I will. Pulled out the keyboard today and put fresh batteries in it. Played through a piece by memory and mother said it was perfect, MIL said is was beautiful and the kids were amazed that I could do it.
 
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