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I was listening to a story about a double bass player on BBC4 just now and the comment was made that there are deaf professional bass players. Does anyone know of any deaf tuba players--is this possible?

Here's the link to the program, if you're interested:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/shows/rp ... string.ram

I used to play in a community band with a tuba player who was almost completely deaf...he was a retired band director, and very adept at reading lips. He had a good instinct for volume, but intonation was something perhaps beyond his control. He also underestimated the volume of his voice, and his comments between playing created many awkward situations to which he was completely oblivious!

For an amazing musician who makes no issue of her inability to hear(and doesn't even consider it a disability!) check out Evelyn Glenny. She's completely deaf AND she has perfect pitch..figure that one out!

huh?

I've played with many people over the years that I thought must have been deaf - I've evan played for a few conductors that seemed like they must be deaf. Sounds the same as a blind person creating paintings. Some people will go for anything. Can we get an all deaf band together?.....
Phil

euphenstien wrote:i was working at a band camp one summer and there was a percussionist in the band i was assigned that was almost completely deaf. i felt bad for her. it was a junior high camp and i think the other kids made fun of her or picked on her when i wasn't looking. she didn't play too well but tried twice as hard as anyone else.

-euphenstien-

Gotta admire her determination and persistence!

tubaboy wrote:i'd rather deal with 10 kids who were honestly trying and failing than just 1 kid who wasn't trying at all

Absolutely!

tubaboy wrote:i'd rather deal with 10 kids who were honestly trying and failing than just 1 kid who wasn't trying at all

Oh, I dunno--I've experienced a few kids who were really trying--very trying...

knuxie wrote:There is a tuba gal formerly from Appalachian State who is legally deaf. For two years she went to ASU with a declared major in music therapy. This last semester the MT program kicked her out saying her handicap disqualified her. She was a four year all-stater with this handicap. She told me she can hear vibrations and that's how she's able to play.

Ken F.

It appears to me that she wasn't letting it be a handicap -- it's a pity that they made it one.

Chuck(G) wrote:... I've experienced a few kids who were really trying--very trying...

There is that too, isn't there?

schlepporello wrote:

Chuck(G) wrote:

tubaboy wrote:i'd rather deal with 10 kids who were honestly trying and failing than just 1 kid who wasn't trying at all

Oh, I dunno--I've experienced a few kids who were really trying--very trying...

A problem that can be easily solved in two words,"Cattle Prod".
You'll feel much better afterwards too!

I sort of like the "teeny bopper" approach myself:

How about Jon Seiger. He sings and plays trumpet, and he's deaf. He also sounds "exactly like Louis Armstrong," as quoted from his band's site. Check out the audio on his site. He does a pretty good job.

http://www.jonseigerallstars.net/

Thanks for the link,Mellow Smoke Man. That was fun.

Greetings all,

One of the best dixieland/traditional jazz tubists I have ever known is deaf for all practical purposes. He has recorded numerous cds with his group and continues to perform regularly. He "hears" by bone induction and feel. Wonderful person too.

Tim

Harold,

I'm not so sure the American Blind Skiing Foundation would agree with you on that one.

www.absf.org

This is a topic of which I have some personal knowledge! I wear hearing aids for the purpose of distinguishing the spoken words (think conductor giving directions) but they are not needed for hearing the music and playing dynamically. Louds are not the issue, nor are the softs, but simply the spoken word. So, I,too, often bother others near me trying to figure out what the mumbling conductor just said! It's a pain, but I still hear the music very well, so that's a blessing. Too many years of playing in super-loud bands and then running super-loud power tools in my off hours! I really do recommend that folks wear hearing protection whenever possible!