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    3.a. The Sound of Music Part-1 - Class 9 - Beehive



    Title: Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound Without Hearing It

    Author: Deborah Cowley

    Textbook: Beehive (Class IX)

    Genre: Biography / Inspirational Non-Fiction


    📝 Summary

    This inspiring chapter narrates the life journey of Evelyn Glennie, a Scottish girl who lost her sense of hearing by the age of 11 but went on to become a world-famous solo percussionist. Despite her hearing impairment, Evelyn's passion for music remained undeterred.


    When most people doubted her abilities, percussionist Ron Forbes believed in her. He encouraged her to feel music through her body rather than hear it with her ears. Evelyn began to sense vibrations through her skin, hair, and even feet. This breakthrough enabled her to explore music at a deep level and join the Royal Academy of Music in London at just 16.


    Today, Evelyn is a celebrated musician who plays over a thousand instruments and performs globally. Her story is a symbol of determination, courage, and the idea that physical limitations cannot stop a determined mind.


    👤 Character Sketch: Evelyn Glennie

    • Determined – Never gave up despite her deafness

    • Innovative – Learnt to feel music through vibrations

    • Hard-working – Practised intensively and honed her skills

    • Talented – Plays over a thousand percussion instruments

    • Compassionate – Performs in hospitals, prisons, and schools

    • Inspiring – A role model for physically challenged individuals and young musicians


    📚 Themes

    Theme

    Explanation

    Triumph over Disability

    Evelyn proves that physical limitations can be overcome with willpower

    Power of Perseverance

    Her success is the result of relentless effort and dedication

    Support and Mentorship

    Ron Forbes' belief in Evelyn changed her life

    Human Potential

    The story shows how much the human body and mind can adapt

    Breaking Stereotypes

    Evelyn challenges societal assumptions about the hearing-impaired


    ✨ Literary Devices

    Device

    Example / Function

    Imagery

    “She removes her shoes so that the vibrations pass through her bare feet” – appeals to senses

    Irony

    A deaf person becomes a world-class musician

    Metaphor

    “It tingles in the skin, my cheekbones and even in my hair” – describing music as a full-body experience

    Alliteration

    “Sheer determination and hard work” – adds emphasis and rhythm

    Quotation

    “If you work hard and know where you’re going, you’ll get there.” – inspirational message


    📖 Title Justification

    The title “Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound Without Hearing It” is apt as it highlights the central miracle of Evelyn's life — despite being deaf, she experiences music deeply by feeling vibrations. The phrase symbolises how determination can redefine ability and how Evelyn has “listened” to sound in her own extraordinary way.


    ✅ One-Mark Questions (with One-Sentence Answers)

    1. What kind of hearing impairment did Evelyn have?

      👉 She became profoundly deaf by the age of eleven.


    2. Who helped Evelyn to understand music differently?

      👉 Percussionist Ron Forbes helped her feel music through her body.


    3. Where did Evelyn study music formally?

      👉 At the Royal Academy of Music in London.


    4. Which award did Evelyn receive in 1991?

      👉 She was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Soloist of the Year Award.


    5. How does Evelyn hear music now?

      👉 She feels the vibrations in different parts of her body like her skin, hair, and feet.


    ✅ Three-Mark Questions

    1. How did Evelyn's journey with music begin despite her deafness?

      👉 When Evelyn lost her hearing, she was discouraged by many, but Ron Forbes encouraged her to sense music through vibrations. This opened a new world for her and gave her the confidence to pursue music seriously.


    2. Why is Evelyn Glennie a source of inspiration?

      👉 Evelyn’s journey shows how a person can turn a disability into strength with determination. Her success story encourages people to believe in themselves and break stereotypes.


    3. What special ability did Evelyn develop to compensate for her hearing loss?

      👉 Evelyn developed the ability to feel music as vibrations through her skin, hair, cheekbones, and even her feet, allowing her to perform and perfect her musical art.


    🧠 Value-Based Question

    Q. What does Evelyn Glennie’s story teach us about perseverance and overcoming challenges?

    👉 Evelyn’s life teaches us that with passion, hard work, and support, we can overcome any obstacle. Even a disability like deafness couldn’t stop her from becoming one of the finest percussionists in the world, proving that the human spirit is stronger than any limitation.



    END


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