Teenagers ‘without hands’ learn to play the piano, get inspired

Teens without hands/fingers learn to pay the piano. This is definitely going to inspire all those students who’re learning to play the piano.

UNT Grad Plays Piano with Prosthetic Fingers

A University of North Texas graduate, who had lost 2 fingers in a car crash, has started playing the piano again using prosthetics.

“I see those more as an instrument, just as if I were to play the saxophone or if I were to play the flute, um I would bring my instrument. I use them more as a tool,” says Mason Bynes referring to the two prosthetic fingers.

Bynes has been accepted into the renowned Boston Conservatory at Berklee, to continue her musical pursuits.

She says her ultimate dream is to compose music and score a film for Disney.

 

 

Self-taught teen pianist plays with four fingers and two prosthetic legs

Darrius Simmons, Warren, Ohio, teenager was born with a genetic condition called ectrodactyly. He has three fingers on his right hand and one finger on his left. He was also diagnosed with tibial hemimelia, a rare congenital lower-limb anomaly because of which his legs had to be amputated below the knee. None of these things however deterred Simmons from following his passion for the piano.

I decided at age 10 that I wanted to learn how to play the piano, but I knew that it was going to take a little bit more work for me to learn. I knew most people had 10 fingers. I knew I had four, but I was pretty sure I could make it work,” says Simmons.

Simmons taught himself to play the piano by ear, without any formal training.

 

 

“I couldn’t base it on the technique of somebody who has 10 fingers. It just wouldn’t work’. That’s why it was hard for me to take piano lessons. It’s very complicated for somebody who has learned how to play with 10 fingers to adjust and teach me with only four,” says Simmons who knew he had to develop his own style of playing.

He practiced until he was able to reach most of the keys with four fingers, and mastered using the piano pedals with his prostheses.

Simmons has now learnt how to play and read music and also has began composing. He also plays the trombone and is also member of his school’s jazz and marching bands.

“His talent really helps raise the bar for the rest of the band,” says Young. “He serves as a leader in the group and an example of what the other students can work towards, whether it is the solos that he performs or by playing first chair trombone in concert band.”

“You can’t tell him he can’t do anything — he doesn’t know the word ‘can’t.’ He won’t accept that. He’s just one heck of a boy,” his mother, Tamara Simmons who knows how focused and determined he can be.

Also Read: Famous Blind Piano Player & Musicians

Russian Teenager ‘Without Hands’ Learns to Play the Piano

 

A Russian teenager who has been handless since birth plays the piano. For Romanov, the urge to play music started after he listened to the works of Mozart, Vivaldi and other composers. He was ably supported by his his music teacher at school and also by his friends.

“I was particularly helped by two of my female friends. The girls taught me the basics of music – they told me how to read notes. They still help me. They send me sheet music, which I study and if I like something, I let it settle inside me,” Romanov said.

 

 

Romanov is a native of Zelenodolsk, and studies in Tatarstan’s capital Kazan, around 500 miles east of Moscow.

Romanov’s foster parents, Vladimir and Luisa Levachkovye, bought him a synthesizer when they first noticed his predisposition for music. Soon, Romanov began participating in musical competitions – and winning. Now the young musician is famous and attracts lots of public and media attention.

Teenage girl with no arms (or legs) plays piano at talent show

 

Bella Tucker from New Hampshire plays the piano beautifully, without the use of her hands or legs. The 16-year old performed in front of a crowd for the first time and received a standing ovation.

Bella was 8 when she was diagnosed with a deadly virus that almost killed her. All four limbs had to be amputed to save her. After months in the hospital, she took up the hobby of playing the piano.

She took up piano lessons and has mastered the skill of performing beautiful songs by pressing keys with the stumps of her arms.

‘I use the tip of my arms to press the keys and I simplify the music so I play no more than two notes at a time. I always enjoy hearing the end product of a song. I can imagine that people assume that I can’t do all of the things that they can but when they see how independent I am, they treat me the same as they would anyone else,’ says Bella

Now, she shows off her skills in a talent show. She’s answering the question “Why can’t I”?

Novel prosthetic allows amputee to play the piano

Ultrasound-powered prosthetic allows amputee to play the piano. Jason Barnes is now able to play the piano thanks to the new prosthetic powered by ultrasound technology.

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have created an ultrasonic sensor that allows amputees to control each of their prosthetic fingers individually. It provides fine motor hand gestures that aren’t possible with current commercially available devices.

Jason Barnes, a musician who lost part of his right arm five years ago in an accident, is the first amputee to use this technology that has helped him play the piano for the first time since his accident.

He even performed the Star Wars theme song as an homage to Luke Skywalker’s bionic hand in The Empire Strikes Back.

 

Remap inventor helps woman recovering from cancer to play the piano again

 

Linda Brown from Child Okeford used to be a singer, musician and teacher and loved playing the piano. However, after undergoing treatment for breast cancer, she found it extremely difficult to support her left arm, which prevented her from playing the piano again. Understandably, Linda was very upset. Even her music students had to take a break from their music lessons.

However, thanks to an ingenious local inventor she is now able to tickle the ivories again. Linda’s occupational therapist contacted Alan Blundell, a volunteer for Remap – a charity that provides free, bespoke items of equipment to help people like Linda stay independent – to see if he could help.

Alan met Linda, took a look at her piano and came up with an idea.

Alan fitted a rail to the edge of her piano with a wheeled wrist support like a truck that could run silently up and down the rail. He set to work, and fitted the rail from the centre of the piano – middle C – to just beyond the end of the left hand keys, so that the truck can be parked out of the way when not needed. The truck was shaped to support Linda’s wrist with expanded foam and chamois leather padding.

Luckily for Linda, the plan worked. Linda was immediately able to play the piano without any trouble, when she tried it out.

She is extremely delighted and has now resumed giving music lessons, and she also plays for her own pleasure. “This device really helps me get back to living as I want to – I’m so grateful to Alan and Remap for making it possible,” said Linda.

“Our volunteers produce over 3,500 solutions like this for disabled people every year. Our annual awards provide an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our volunteers each year. The judging panel had a difficult job this year as the standard of entry was so high,” said Remap chief executive Adam Rowe.

Remap website: www.remap.org.uk

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Are you still complaining that your hands are smaller, or your fingers don’t stretch too much, or one of your fingers is crooked?

 

Well, all we can say is look at the video and get down to practicing!