Summary of “The Sound of Music – Part I: Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound without Hearing It”
This chapter tells the true story of Evelyn Glennie, a world-famous percussionist who cannot hear. She lost her hearing slowly when she was a child. Her parents first noticed the problem when she was eight. By the time she was eleven, her hearing was almost gone. Doctors advised her to wear hearing aids and go to a school for the deaf. But Evelyn did not give up.
She loved music and wanted to play musical instruments. One day, she saw someone playing the xylophone and got interested. Many teachers said she could not do it, but one teacher, Ron Forbes, believed in her. He taught her to feel music through vibrations in her body. Evelyn learned to sense the sound in different parts of her body and practiced very hard.
She got admission into the Royal Academy of Music in London and got one of the highest marks in its history. She became very successful and started performing in many countries. She can play more than one thousand instruments and is known all over the world.
Evelyn does not think of herself as special. She believes in hard work. She also teaches music to children and gives free concerts in hospitals and prisons. She is an inspiration to everyone, especially to those who are disabled. Her story shows that anything is possible with courage and determination.
I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each:
- How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?
Answer: Evelyn was seventeen years old when she went to the Royal Academy of Music. - When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?
Answer: Her deafness was first noticed when she was eight years old, and it was confirmed at the age of eleven after a medical check-up.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (30–40 words):
- Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?
Answer: Ron Forbes, a percussionist, helped Evelyn. He told her not to listen through her ears, but to try to feel the music some other way. He tuned two large drums to different notes and helped her sense the vibrations through her body. - Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.
Answer: Evelyn performs in regular concerts all over the world, and also gives free performances in prisons and hospitals. She also teaches music to young students and works to inspire deaf children.
III. Answer the question in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words):
- How does Evelyn hear music?
Answer: Evelyn cannot hear music with her ears, but she feels the music through vibrations in her body. When she plays instruments like the xylophone, she feels the sound passing through the sticks into her fingertips. By removing her shoes, she allows the vibrations to pass through her feet into her legs. When she leans against drums, she feels the echo of the sound in her body.
She has trained herself to be very sensitive to these vibrations. Different sounds create different feelings in various parts of her body. She has opened her body and mind to the music completely. This is how Evelyn can understand and play music so beautifully, even though she is deaf. Her deep connection with the music comes from her strong willpower, hard work, and her ability to sense vibrations instead of hearing them.
20 MCQs
- What was Evelyn Glennie’s age when she joined the Royal Academy of Music?
A. 16 years B. 17 years C. 18 years D. 20 years
Answer: B. 17 years
- Where is the Royal Academy of Music located?
A. Scotland B. Paris C. London D. New York
Answer: C. London - What physical problem did Evelyn have?
A. She could not see B. She could not walk C. She could not hear D. She could not speak
Answer: C. She could not hear - How did Evelyn feel the approaching train on her first day?
A. By hearing sound B. By seeing light C. By feeling vibrations D. By smelling smoke
Answer: C. By feeling vibrations - At what age did Evelyn’s mother first notice her hearing problem?
A. 5 B. 6 C. 8 D. 10
Answer: C. 8 - What instrument did Evelyn see a girl playing that made her interested in music?
A. Tabla B. Violin C. Xylophone D. Flute
Answer: C. Xylophone - Who encouraged Evelyn to continue music?
A. Her headmistress B. Her mother C. Ron Forbes D. James Blades
Answer: C. Ron Forbes - What did Ron Forbes ask Evelyn to do?
A. Use a hearing aid B. Feel the music in her body C. Stop playing music D. Learn to speak
Answer: B. Feel the music in her body - What is a percussionist?
A. Singer B. Dancer C. Drum player D. Guitarist
Answer: C. Drum player - What kind of instruments does Evelyn play?
A. Only piano B. Only violin C. Percussion instruments D. Wind instruments
Answer: C. Percussion instruments - How many instruments has Evelyn mastered?
A. About 50 B. About 100 C. About 500 D. About 1000
Answer: D. About 1000 - What award did Evelyn win in 1991?
A. Grammy B. Soloist of the Year C. Musician of the Year D. Golden Drum Award
Answer: B. Soloist of the Year - What is Evelyn’s nationality?
A. Irish B. Scottish C. American D. Australian
Answer: B. Scottish - How does Evelyn speak so clearly?
A. She lip-reads B. She had hearing till 11 C. She practices daily D. She uses a machine
Answer: B. She had hearing till 11 - What does Evelyn remove during concerts?
A. Her gloves B. Her cap C. Her shoes D. Her watch
Answer: C. Her shoes - Why does Evelyn remove her shoes?
A. To dance B. To feel comfortable C. To feel vibrations better D. To walk quietly
Answer: C. To feel vibrations better - How does Evelyn hear music?
A. Through ears B. Through skin and body C. Through eyes D. Through hearing aid
Answer: B. Through skin and body - What kind of places does Evelyn visit for free concerts?
A. Malls and parks B. Prisons and hospitals C. Temples and mosques D. Schools and markets
Answer: B. Prisons and hospitals - What is Evelyn’s attitude toward work?
A. Lazy B. Relaxed C. Workaholic D. Uninterested
Answer: C. Workaholic - What message does Evelyn’s life give?
A. Life is easy B. Success comes without effort C. Hard work and determination bring success D. Only talented people succeed
Answer: C. Hard work and determination bring success
Short Answer Questions (30–40 words each)
- When was Evelyn’s deafness first noticed and when was it confirmed?
Evelyn’s mother noticed her deafness when she was eight. She didn’t respond when her name was called to play the piano. It was confirmed at the age of eleven after visiting a specialist. - What advice did the specialist give Evelyn’s parents?
The doctor advised Evelyn’s parents to fit her with hearing aids and send her to a special school for the deaf. This news made the family feel very sad and worried. - How did Evelyn feel music despite being deaf?
Evelyn felt music through vibrations in her body. She could sense high sounds from the waist up and low sounds from the waist down. She learned to listen through her skin, bones, and feet. - Who helped Evelyn to continue learning music?
Percussionist Ron Forbes helped Evelyn. He told her not to listen with her ears but to feel the music in her body. He tuned two drums and helped her sense the vibrations. - What kind of concerts does Evelyn perform besides regular ones?
Besides regular concerts, Evelyn gives free performances in hospitals and prisons. She also teaches music to children and gives special attention to young learners.
Long Answer Questions (100–150 words)
- How did Evelyn become successful in music even after becoming deaf?
Evelyn Glennie lost her hearing slowly from the age of eight. By eleven, she was almost completely deaf. Many teachers thought she could not learn music. But Ron Forbes, a percussionist, believed in her. He encouraged her to feel music through different parts of her body. Evelyn practiced hard and learned to sense sound through vibrations. She joined the Royal Academy of Music in London at seventeen and scored one of the highest marks ever. She became a world-famous percussionist and mastered over one thousand instruments. She gives concerts all over the world and teaches music to children. Evelyn’s success came from strong willpower, hard work, and never giving up. She proved that physical disability cannot stop someone from reaching their dreams. - How does Evelyn hear music even though she is deaf?
Evelyn does not hear music with her ears. Instead, she feels the music through vibrations in her body. She says that sound pours into her skin, cheekbones, and even her hair. She removes her shoes while performing so that vibrations pass through her bare feet. When she plays the xylophone, she can feel the sound pass through the stick into her fingertips. She can also feel the drum’s echo by leaning against it. Her whole body becomes like an instrument that receives sound. With this unique ability, she plays music beautifully and touches the hearts of people around the world.
