Radiofunk Ö1 – Dimensionen

Die Welt der Wissenschaft

On Monday, July 17, 2017, an exceptionally interesting program aired, addressing a topic that many people may not immediately think about: music and deafness. The program titled „TONLOS – How Deaf People Make and Perceive Music“ sheds light in an impressive way on how deaf individuals can not only enjoy music but also create it themselves.



Author Nina Prasse delves into the fascinating question of how people without hearing ability can experience such a sensory-driven art form as music. Prasse, known for her profound and empathetic storytelling, takes us on a journey that demonstrates that music is much more than just sound. It is a form of communication, an expression that goes beyond hearing.


Deaf people experience music in a unique way. They perceive it through vibrations and visual cues. In the program, we learn about the innovative methods deaf musicians use to feel rhythm and melody. They are able to feel music and develop unique techniques to incorporate this perception into their compositions.

Moreover, the program highlights how various technologies help make music perceptible to deaf individuals. For instance, special vibration devices are used to transfer the vibrations of the music onto the body, enabling the experience of music.


Another exciting aspect that Nina Prasse explores in her program is how deaf musicians create the world of sound in their own way. Often, it’s not just about hearing music, but also about shaping music through their physical presence. They use the vibrations they feel and translate them into their musical expression. This represents a very special form of music production that doesn’t rely on the traditional sense of hearing.


The program powerfully demonstrates that deaf individuals can not only hear music but also understand and create it. It highlights the importance of recognizing people’s different senses and offering them new opportunities to express themselves creatively.


„TONLOS – How Deaf People Make and Perceive Music“ is not only a fascinating insight into the world of the deaf, but also a call to society to break down barriers and promote inclusion in all areas. Music is a universal language that transcends all sensory limits, and this program proves that this holds true for deaf people as well.

„Those who cannot hear must feel.“ This commonly negative saying captures the essence of how deaf people experience music: they can do it without hearing! Perceiving sound is not solely dependent on hearing ability. Could Beethoven, if he were deaf, still have composed?

Music processing in the brain is a highly creative process, explains music and movement educator Ulrike Stelzhammer. Does this mean that the more active the brainwork, the less sound is needed?

What exactly is sound, and how does our brain translate sound into music? How can people who are completely deaf create music?

„Tonlos“ explores how, with the help of sign language, deaf individuals are actively involved in music-making, even closing a gap in the pedagogical professional field.

Weblinks

Ö1 Beitrag: Wie Gehörlose Musik wahrnehmen und machen