[blindkid] Jordan Is In!!

Thu Jan 29 17:33:55 UTC 2009

Just putting my two cents in.  My son Michael wanted to play the trumpet.
It is actually an instrument that can be held and played with the same hand
with the possibility of reading the Braille music at the same time.  We
didn't know if that would work, but went one step further and decided on the
cornet (very similar to trumpet) just a shorter bell, therefore slightly
lighter in weight and possibly more easy to hold with one hand and play with
the same hand.  Now.... Michael reads braille music very well, but did he
ever take advantage of reading and playing at the same time........no,  did
he really need to.....likewise no, so all the planning really didn't pan out
from a hold/play instrument and read the music at the same time.  When he
was in competitions where they had to sight read, they allowed him to read
the Braille music/remember it and then play so.. not quite the same
but...acceptable

So - is holding and playing at the same time important?  Maybe in certain
cases - competitions where they really make you sight read and play at same
time, and I am sure there are possibly other times, but practically/daily, I
didn't see Michael ever needing to do both at the same time. But, if it is
important then trumpet/cornet should be considered.

Sandy Taboada

-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Carrie Gilmer
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 10:48 AM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)'
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Jordan Is In!!

Well Sally, I am sorry but your post provided me with a great laugh this
morning. Just when I think I have heard every excuse or myth or artificial
limit, I learn a new one. So we either scream, cry or laugh-I went for
laughing this morning.

Let's see, how many instruments can be played with one hand only? I guess
there is the CAN be like if you only physically had one hand, and then there
is the typical. Anyway, blind people play all kinds of instruments and make
the choice as does everyone else by desire, ability to blow and use air (I
can't spell am-be-shure) and often the choice is made because the parents
have an instrument or the school and this is what you get-that is how my
husband became a tuba player. My husband is a high school band director.

Many blind musicians do not even know Braille music. But it is very good if
you can. Blind musicians have to memorize and it will actually cause him to
have to rehearse more and be a better player because of it. The new software
called "Smart Music" will be really helpful too.

Jordan has loved the trombone and also played the baritone this year. I know
blind piano, trumpet, cello, percussion and many other instruments. They all
compete. The cellist is a music professor at a prestigious university here. 

No one can really play an instrument and read Braille music well at the same
time. Learning Braille music he will read ahead a few measures and then
play/practice...just like someone sighted might read ahead a few measures
and practices. The difference is he will have to memorize. Debby's daughter
is in band too right now-I think Winona is trumpet, maybe Debby can share
what they do with a "sight reading" exercise on the spot. He will have to
learn to play some by ear. 

I saw an interesting show on PBS with James Taylor and Yo Yo Ma, James can
not read one note of music--really not one-he is all by ear. Yo Yo is of
course a classically trained musician who can read music. Yo Yo actually
said that he thought James the better musician and that he had a freedom
that classically trained musicians struggle to get--they discussed how music
education could improve to contain more playing by ear and feeling and not
so in the box by the note read. My husband agreed and the profession is
leaning/exploring that way.

Jordan would love to welcome David into the bonehead society-and feel free
to have David call him with questions about the trombone.

Carrie Gilmer, President
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
Home Phone: 763-784-8590
carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
www.nfb.org/nopbc
-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Andy & Sally Thomas
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 6:59 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Jordan Is In!!

Hey Carrie,

I have a question for Jordon.  David wants to play the trombone in band--we 
even HAVE a nice trombone so that is a plus.  Yesterday I was told that 
blind kids should consider playing instruments that can be played with one 
hand so they can read music and play at the same time.  This is important 
for competitions, I'm told.  It appears that Jordon has been successful 
enough with the trombone that he wants to continue playing into adulthood. 
Does he have any regrets about not playing a one handed instrument?

Sally Thomas
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carrie Gilmer" <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)'" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 9:01 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Jordan Is In!!

> Hey Kassondra, thanks! He is currently most interested in Constitutional
> Law. He just finished his first course focused on Politics and Law and the
> teacher told him the last day that in her 35 years he was the most
> passionate student about the subject she had ever had. He got a very easy
> "A" in it. He has been bouncing around--he was planning on becoming a
> lawyer-scientist-chemist-who is a Spanish translator who teaches band and
> plays the trombone on the side-smile. I told him to decide by looking in 
> his
> heart for the passion and what set him on fire the most.
>
> Now it looks like he has narrowed it to here come de judge (who can also
> translate Spanish, understand scientific data and environmental law, stand
> up for human rights, plays trombone for stress relief, and reinstates the
> white British wigs to the court)!
>
> We shall see, smile.
>
> It is so hard to believe this is the last half of his last year...time 
> just
> flies. It seems like just so short ago that we sat on the picnic table
> outside BLIND, Inc. in the summer and you and Shawn were not even married
> yet and Jordan was just 8 years old!
>
>
>
> Carrie Gilmer, President
> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
> A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
> NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
> Home Phone: 763-784-8590
> carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
> www.nfb.org/nopbc
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Kasondra Payne
> Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 5:33 PM
> To: 'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)'
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Jordan Is In!!
>
> Carrie,
>
> Congratulations, from my family to yours!  I am glad he got in.  What will
> he study?
>
> Kasondra Payne
>
>
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