Can People Who Were Born Deaf Appreciate Music?

howag

howag

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I'm genuinely curious and I've been doing some searching online and a pretty common answer is "they can feel the vibrations" but is that all? Can deaf people determine changes in pitch or tone and appreciate the music in a completely different sense? I know some people might point out Beethoven as an example but I'm mainly referring to people who were born deaf and without the use of a hearing aid or cochlear implant.

Much appreciated!
 
I really enjoy hip hop. Good beat. Really any music with much bass, beat very upbeat tempo I like. In car in particular, I always have music play. Anybody hearing get in they always turn down so much, lol. This best thing about go bar - usually upbeat music much beat! Love dancing!
 
howag said:
I'm genuinely curious and I've been doing some searching online and a pretty common answer is "they can feel the vibrations" but is that all? Can deaf people determine changes in pitch or tone and appreciate the music in a completely different sense? I know some people might point out Beethoven as an example but I'm mainly referring to people who were born deaf and without the use of a hearing aid or cochlear implant.

Much appreciated!
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Are you deaf? If so, you would know the answer to this question already.
 
Have you ever tried to feel the musíc instead of listening. Try it and concentrate on what you are able to feel.
So the answer to your question is obviously yes, but you knew that before already.

Beethoven is a pretty bad example. I think he was able to remember the sound and therefore played it all in his head. But that really had nothing to do with feeling vibrations.

Oh, ever put your hand on your throat while speaking? Try it for some time, you will be able to notice there a many different vibrations. If you get to know those differences you will be able to connect each different feeling to a different sound. Same with music.
 
Latascha said:
Have you ever tried to feel the musíc instead of listening. Try it and concentrate on what you are able to feel.
So the answer to your question is obviously yes, but you knew that before already.

Beethoven is a pretty bad example. I think he was able to remember the sound and therefore played it all in his head. But that really had nothing to do with feeling vibrations.

Oh, ever put your hand on your throat while speaking? Try it for some time, you will be able to notice there a many different vibrations. If you get to know those differences you will be able to connect each different feeling to a different sound. Same with music.
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I think I'll have a hard time doing that simply because I can hear, I'll be distracted by the sound unlike deaf people who only have the vibration to go on if that makes sense?
 
Nope. All talked out about this subject. lol
 
I had that in mind, too. Music is way too complex I think. But try it with your voice. You could put headphones on and listen to music during that time. Maybe that would be a good distraction and probably you won't hear that much of your voice anymore?
This is just for you to get an idea. You'll never be able to pay that much attention to the vibrations, but then you don't have to.

But what do you really want to know? You read already that we can feel the vibrations and therefore appreciate music.
 
howag said:
I'm genuinely curious and I've been doing some searching online and a pretty common answer is "they can feel the vibrations" but is that all? Can deaf people determine changes in pitch or tone and appreciate the music in a completely different sense? I know some people might point out Beethoven as an example but I'm mainly referring to people who were born deaf and without the use of a hearing aid or cochlear implant.

Much appreciated!
Click to expand...

Let's use some common sense here...if you are deaf, you can't hear.
 
Bott, was there special significance to throwing HAs in the tree? Do you still do it?
 
Latascha said:
I had that in mind, too. Music is way too complex I think. But try it with your voice. You could put headphones on and listen to music during that time. Maybe that would be a good distraction and probably you won't hear that much of your voice anymore?
This is just for you to get an idea. You'll never be able to pay that much attention to the vibrations, but then you don't have to.

But what do you really want to know? You read already that we can feel the vibrations and therefore appreciate music.
Click to expand...

Lol I tried humming at different pitches and tones to see what it felt like with my hand on my throat.My earphones were in and my Dad walked in and asked what the hell I was listening to.

I guess I just thought that if it was solely vibrations that they felt then would deaf people be pretty limited to bassy music?
 
sallylou said:
Bott, was there special significance to throwing HAs in the tree? Do you still do it?
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No. It was just a silly post. I don't think I have thrown a hearing aid since childhood. :wave:

I only put it here as it relates to deaf appreciation of music. And Alldeaf nostalgia and old times.

And since he isn't asking people who do use hearing aids, I can't give him an answer.
 
howag said:
Lol I tried humming at different pitches and tones to see what it felt like with my hand on my throat.My earphones were in and my Dad walked in and asked what the hell I was listening to.

I guess I just thought that if it was solely vibrations that they felt then would deaf people be pretty limited to bassy music?
Click to expand...

It's true there is more interest in bass among many deaf people.
 
howag said:
Lol I tried humming at different pitches and tones to see what it felt like with my hand on my throat.My earphones were in and my Dad walked in and asked what the hell I was listening to.

I guess I just thought that if it was solely vibrations that they felt then would deaf people be pretty limited to bassy music?
Click to expand...

not really. wood is a very good conductor of sound - you can pick up more vibrations than just the bass. Beethoven held a piece of wood between his teeth and would touch the piano with it to pick up the vibrations of the keys as he composed.

One musician I know said that because of a discussion he had with me about vibrations and wood, he invited a group of deaf children to sit on the wooden stage as his band played. They loved it.
 
Bottesini said:
It's true there is more interest in bass among many deaf people.
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That's for sure.

Back when I was in college, an interpreter student was sitting on top of one of those large, 80's-style speakers. The music was blasting so loud and the speakers just jumping. She said she could not feel the bass even sitting right on the speaker as the volume was so loud it dominated feel. I was still surprised though that she could not even feel it. For me, it's the other way around!
 
Many deaf people can appreciate more than vibrations. Some have some hearing so they can hear changes in tone and pitch.

I listen to a lot of music. I really enjoy it. I don't distinctively hear the lyrics or singing, so I don't know what is being sung, unless I read the lyrics somewhere and match them up to the song somehow.

Sometimes I put my hands on the speakers to try to get more from the music.

I've played an electric guitar, but I need an electronic tuner to know if the guitar is in tune. Sometimes, i can tell that the guitar doesn't sound "right" if it isn't in tune, but I can't put it into tune by ear.

When I was growing up, I played my dad's acoustic guitar. I'd strum it while putting my chin on the hollow body. I'd feel the vibrations going thru my chin to the rest of my head. Got a headache after a while. lol

I've thought about playing drums or bass guitar. I'd like to play in a band, but realistically, I don't think I'd hear well enough. Maybe I should try for membership in a deaf band, like Beethoven's Nightmare. :D

A lot of us listen to music. Check out this thread. http://www.alldeaf.com/deaf-musicians/62256-what-song-you-listening.html
 
Bottesini said:
No. It was just a silly post. I don't think I have thrown a hearing aid since childhood. :wave:

I only put it here as it relates to deaf appreciation of music. And Alldeaf nostalgia and old times.

And since he isn't asking people who do use hearing aids, I can't give him an answer.
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May I ask how you appreciate music? With or without the use of your hearing aids.
 
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