Blind children defy 'bad karma' to play in Thai orchestra
March 8, 2015
Mihbbh6.jpg
This picture taken on January 31, 2015, shows Joe of the Thai blind orchestra performing during a rehearsal ahead of a concert at the Thai Elephants Research and Conservation Fund in Khao Yai national park 180 km (112 miles) north east of Bangkok. Deftly feeling their way along the bumps of the braille score, the young players of Thailand's first blind orchestra memorise scales, defying both their impairment and ingrained negative attitudes towards disability.
PHOTO: AFP
NAKHON RATCHASIMA:Nu1bKYE.jpg
PHOTO: AFP6rl1Wji.jpg
PHOTO: AFP
The orchestra, who use donated instruments, were brought together by a professional classical musician whose day job is looking after elephants in the Khao Yai national park in northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province.
The seeds of the idea were planted when the blind students met their soon-to-be maestro, Alongkot Chukaew, at his conservation classes in the park.
Teaching with the help of audible aids, including his guitar, the 43-year-old Alongkot noticed music caught the attention of the children.
He asked his music teachers to play different instruments and encouraged the youngsters to follow the sound they liked best.
As their affinity with their chosen instrument mushroomed, Alongkot introduced a braille system for the students to learn to read classical music.
oMXaOqJ.jpg
PHOTO: AFPq5vm0RG.jpg
PHOTO: AFP
continues below
March 8, 2015
Mihbbh6.jpg
This picture taken on January 31, 2015, shows Joe of the Thai blind orchestra performing during a rehearsal ahead of a concert at the Thai Elephants Research and Conservation Fund in Khao Yai national park 180 km (112 miles) north east of Bangkok. Deftly feeling their way along the bumps of the braille score, the young players of Thailand's first blind orchestra memorise scales, defying both their impairment and ingrained negative attitudes towards disability.
PHOTO: AFP
NAKHON RATCHASIMA:Nu1bKYE.jpg
PHOTO: AFP6rl1Wji.jpg
PHOTO: AFP
The orchestra, who use donated instruments, were brought together by a professional classical musician whose day job is looking after elephants in the Khao Yai national park in northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province.
The seeds of the idea were planted when the blind students met their soon-to-be maestro, Alongkot Chukaew, at his conservation classes in the park.
Teaching with the help of audible aids, including his guitar, the 43-year-old Alongkot noticed music caught the attention of the children.
He asked his music teachers to play different instruments and encouraged the youngsters to follow the sound they liked best.
As their affinity with their chosen instrument mushroomed, Alongkot introduced a braille system for the students to learn to read classical music.
oMXaOqJ.jpg
PHOTO: AFPq5vm0RG.jpg
PHOTO: AFP
continues below
Comment