Music Appreciation for the Deaf

When one considers music and music appreciation it is rarely from the point of view of someone from the deaf community. Yet, music is a multi-sensory experience, and the fact that a person is non-hearing should not keep them from enjoying the experience as much as a hearing person.

Deaf people can enjoy music on many levels, and it is quite possible to teach music appreciation to deaf students. Music can add the same enrichment, and dimension, to their lives as it does with a hearing student.

Consider all of the senses that are affected when you listen to music. You can feel the beat of the bass, for example. If you are listening on a computer often you will have a program that is creating color and design form the music as it plays. At a concert you can see the excitement of the other patrons, and the beauty of the music hall. Each one of these things contributes to the overall enjoyment of music, and yet when asked what sense music affects they generally reply, "hearing".

Deaf people experience vibration in an area of the brain that is used for hearing in people who are not deaf. This is why deaf musicians can sense the music. Since these vibrations are processed in the same area of the brain that sounds are scientists believe that the deaf are able to experience sound in a unique way.

At the National Technical Institute of the Deaf in Rochester, New York, audience members are given balloons when attending musicals. They hold these with their fingertips in order to feel the vibrations of the music. As more studies are completed on exactly how non-hearing people experience music, it will become an important part of their education and experience.

Several years ago a multi-sensory sound lab was developed to help deaf students experience sound. The lab electronically processes the sound waves and sends them to loudspeakers that are placed face don on a platform. People that are on the platform will experience the sound as vibrations. Low pitches will produce slow vibrations and the vibrations get faster as the pitch gets higher. The rhythm and intensity of the music can be experienced through the platform. Along with the vibrations, a spectrum analyzer and oscilloscope show the frequencies and sound waves as color and design.

This lab is being used at St Joseph's School for the Deaf with great success. The vibrating platform of the Sound Lab is being used to provide training in modern dance for the elementary students. Incredibly the students are able to learn the Macarena as well as the Electric slide, and other dance moves.

Many Churches have American Sign Language interpreters who interpret the service in sign. If you ever have the opportunity to see a talented interpreter sign a song you will never forget the experience. The graceful movements of the hands, arms and fingers to the rhythm of the music as the words are expressed is a beautiful thing indeed.

Even very young children can learn to sign, not sing, songs.

Here are some ideas for teaching music appreciation to deaf students.

• Playing different percussion instruments
• Stepping, hopping, and moving in time with a beat
• Use an ASL music video to teach sign.

• Action songs
• Allow the child to sit on a wooden floor and put the speakers face down next to him while you play different music.

• Try to copying simple rhythms and beats on a dru.
• Have the child use paints to express what he feels as he experiences the music.

By exposing children to all types of music, while their brains are still developing it may be that the brain develops more receptors in this area and they are more able to experience the joy of music throughout their lives.

Music is an experience that should be available to everyone. If your child, or someone you know, is part of the deaf community check out some of these links.

• Ludwig van Beethoven
• Gabriel Fauré
• Johnnie Ray
• Pete Townshend
• Evelyn Glennie