CULTURAL ELTHAM


Blind Independence Greenwich For


those living without sight, the ability to hear assumes a crucial


importance.


In a world without the pleasure of colour and shape, the sounds and textures of music become a vital link with culture and creativity.


Thanks to a new initiative by B.I.G., the charity Blind Independence Greenwich, local people with sight impairments are able to enjoy and learn new skills in music making.


Special sessions are available to them to learn to play an instrument and develop their musical appreciation.


Under the skilled and watchful eye of tutor Danny Pickett, nearly 20 people now have weekly lessons which are tailored to the needs of the blind.


Starting off earlier this year, the sessions have proved a hit with the students, whose ages range from teenage to senior citizen.


Already, the sessions are paying dividends with 22 year old Daniel McGee, of Kingsholm Gardens, lifting a medal at this year’s Blackheath Music Festival.


The judges complimented Daniel’s performance of Debussy’s


Reverie as


‘inhabiting the gentle world of the music with some ease’.


Having sight in only one eye from birth, Daniel lost his other due to retina detachment, which meant him leaving Crown Woods to attend the specialist Dorton College in Sevenoaks.


His musical tastes range from Indie to blues and Chopin.


"I use my ears more now that I’m blind. Music is something I can enjoy and get better at. The weekly sessions are ideal to help me learn new skills."


Danny encourages students to learn by trial and error; by listening and remembering and by teaching techniques; this can be backed up by reading braille music. Many sessions involve Danny playing duets with his students.


One of Daniel’s friends from school, Hayleigh Rayment of Churchbury Road, is also learning guitar with Danny and is also studying drums.


Over the Bank Holiday, the students came together to put on a concert at the Abbey Arms, Abbey Wood where the landlord has made available upper rooms for the lessons and storing equipment.


A more senior student is Francis Seed, of Mainridge Road, New Eltham, who lost his sight after an operation on his pituitary gland severed his optic nerves.


Formally a marine design engineer with his own company, Francis is learning the guitar and banjo and looks forward to his weekly music sessions.


"I’ve owned a guitar for many years but only really strummed it on occasions. Now that I have more time on my hands, it’s a chance to learn to play", he said.


Being able to make his own music adds to his appreciation of listening on the radio and from talking newspapers.


Daniel, who is also learning guitar, attends the British Academy of New Music in Stratford and hopes to move to a career in music.


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Tutor Danny said: "We started off the sessions earlier this year and it seems to have grown rapidly. There has obviously been a demand for blind people to get involved in music which hasn’t been met until now.


"It’s one of the services that Blind Independence Greenwich off ers to people with sight impairment, alongside the more practical help and the social side", he said.


Anyone wanting more details about the music lessons or on the work of B.I.G. should can contact them on 8853 2474 or at www. blindindependencegreenwich.org.uk


Blind Independence Greenwich is a small but growing charity which aims to help people with little or no sight in the local area.


Run largely by people with sight impairments, the organisation off ers friendship, practical day-to-day help and advice, as well as social events, trips and get-togethers.


It also works with low income families who may need extra help to access welfare rights or benefi ts.


B.I.G. runs a job search programme in cooperation with Royal London Society for the Blind (RLSB) to help blind people fi nd employment and training opportunities.


B.I.G.’s chair Colin Brown said: "Sight loss can be isolating and the people we help are usually on low incomes, too. We try to address these problems with practical help and fi nancial advice. Many people assume that the government will take care of blind people, but there is no automatic entitlement to state assistance. So it is for us neighbours to help each other."


"There are over nine hundred names on Greenwich Council's register of seriously sight-impaired and sight impaired people and probably two thousand more local people living with sight loss. We try to reach all of those who can benefi t from our services."


Litter spoils our community, bin it


SEnine


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