Watch the young musician playing the piano
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An 11-year-old boy, who is deaf and partially blind, has become a musician as he can play both violin and piano.
Charlie Denton was born with Usher Syndrome that causes hearing loss and vision loss. But his parents never gave up on him and the boy has now become a musician.
He got his bilateral cochlear implant when he was just three. He also started learning the violin the same year.
Charlie’s parents Emma and Matthew are also professional musicians.
Charlie is now attending a music academy and also learning Braille. He has already achieved his Grade 3 in piano and was about to take his Grade 4 violin exam but he broke his arm.
Charlie said: “I love it. It is hard sometimes because I can’t tell the pitch or the notes. I can get frustrated because I sometimes struggle. I felt great when I got my implants because I could listen to the beats.”
“It has really helped me, my hearing has improved.”
His mother Emma says that music has improved his hearing and the family is happy that Charlie is pursuing his dream despite his disability.
Emma said: “The implants have transformed his life. “It is amazing to see what he can achieve. It is still a learning process for everyone.”
The family performed as a quartet at a Christmas service last year and the family says it was a really special moment for them.
Emma said: “When you are first told your child is deaf, you think ‘that’s sad, that he won’t have the experiences we have had.’ All our family plays music. But when he showed an interest and put in effort, it was just lovely. You can see his brain adapting.”
“It is amazing that he is now trying to recognise the difference between a B and an A.”
He performed at a festival in Poland for deaf children last year and is now going to Parliament to perform a duet with his mother, Emma.
The young musician says he will tell MPs: “Never give up, even if things get hard. Pursue your dreams.”
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