The Sound of Music - I

Meanings:

jostle= push roughly

slight= small and thin

daunting= frightening, Scary

teenager= a person who is in his teens

aspiring musician= a person who wants to be a musician

Profoundly deaf= absolutely deaf.

gradual= in phases

conceal= to hide

Specialist= a doctor specializing in a particular part of the body.

Deteriorated= worsened, reduces

Urged= requested

impaired= weakened

pursue= to follow

xylophone= a musical instrument with a row of wooden bars of different lengths

percussionist= a person who plays the drum, the tabla, etc., a person who play different musical instruments

potential= quality or ability that can be developed

youth= Young people, people like who are in college or high school

orchestra= group of musicians

auditioned= gave a short performance so that the director could decide whether she was good enough

orchestral work= group performance, performing in a group of musicians

Solo= to perform single, alone.

most sought after= most popular, in demand

intriguing= fascinating and curious

flawlessly= without a fault or mistake

lilt= a way of speaking like we say accent

tingles= causes a slight prickling or stinging sensation

resonances= echoes of sounds

workaholic (informal)= a person who finds it difficult to stop working

enormous= big

accomplished= achieved

Summary:

Evelyn Glennie is a multi-percussionist. She mastered over a thousand musical instruments despite being completely deaf. She could do this because she had learned to feel the music through her body instead of ears.

Evelyn was interested in music. She was taking piano lessons. When Evelyn was eleven years old she had lost her hearing ability because of nerve damage. The specialist advised her to wear hearing aids and join in a school for the deaf. But, she was determined to lead a normal life and continue with her music lessons. She was discouraged by her teachers. The master percussionist, Ron Forbes discovered her potential. He guided Evelyn to feel the music through vibrations. Evelyn found that she could sense different sounds through different parts of her body.

Evelyn got admitted to the Royal Academy of Music, London, and scored the highest marks in the history of the academy. According to Evelyn hard work and dedication towards her goal helped her achieve success. Evelyn gives solo performances and even gives free concerts for hospitals and schools. In the year 1991, she won the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious ‘Soloist of the Year’ Award. Evelyn’s story is an inspiration for the differently-abled people. Her achievement is a motivation for the people who want to fulfill their dreams.