Esther plays the Magic Flute

Esther plays the Magic Flute for the first time.
Esther is a girl with visual impairment. She is blind. I asked if she would like to try to play the Magic Flute. The clip begins with the end result of the short session.

Article:


The Head Sets the Tone

Lung training can be fun with an instrument that sometimes sounds like a saxophone, other times like a piano or even like drums. Is it some kind of magic? Not really even though the instrument is called Magic Flute, one does not have to work magic on it. All you need is your head.

01.10.2008


Puffing once creates a tone. Swaying the head up and down causes a musical scale. In August 2006, little Glenn was absolutely amazed when he blew into the flute and the first tones came out. For the first time he was able to play a musical instrument since he was born without arms and his hands being attached directly to his shoulders.

The fact that Glenn is able to play music is due to an idea three men from three different countries have had. One of them is Ruud van der Wel. He is concerned with breath therapy at the rehabilitation centre Rijndam in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where he works with physically handicapped kids and those with a learning disability four to 20 years old. Many of the children exercise their breathing because they have muscular diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy or muscular atrophy. Usually the therapy comprises patients to blow into small tubes containing balls, for example, to train their lungs however, this is certainly not really fun.

Therefore, about five years ago van de Wel looked for alternatives. He met David Whalen from New York via the internet, a man who is a quadriplegic after a ski accident and who tries new ways to play music despite his disability. The two of them were thinking about a wind instrument that can be played without hands. However, they needed the Irishman Brian Dillon in order to put their ideas into practice - a specialist and designer for electric products, who had already built other devices for handicapped people. Together they developed the Magic Flute.

It works by fixing the flute to a tripod and it is blown through an embouchure the stronger you blow the louder it sounds. Head movements up and down determine the pitch. A controlling device is connected to the flute and can also be operated via the embouchure. Its display shows which note the musician is playing. The wind instrument can also be connected to other electric sound sources like a keyboard, a synthesizer or a computer enabling the user to generate a broad variety of different sounds ranging from the flute and guitar to percussions and rhythms.

The wind instrument hits two birds with one stone. The lung is trained and moving arms is not necessary anymore to be able to play an instrument since one only needs the head to play songs. And who knows maybe the next rock star will be a „magic flutist.

Together with Ruud van der Wel visitors of this year's REHACARE in Dusseldorf can try the Magic Flute in hall 6 at stand 44.

Natascha Mörs
REHACARE.de

Category:

Music

Tags:

• blind
• music
• instrument
• muziek
• therapie
• respiratory
• therapy
• magic
• flute
• adaptive
• musical
• Visual
• impairment
• adapted
• aangepast
• improvisation
• tilpassede
• musikk
• terapeutiske
• instrumenter

[Audiorhoon]

Hi yes you can buy the Magic Flute , I sell them , but because it is hand builded it is not an instrument that you would buy just for fun.

Having said that , there is another interesting device for you, the kaossilator from korg.

It is a pocket synth, it has a touchpad and you can make very nice music using your fingers. It is only 115 pounds. I have 2 in my therapy room at the rehabilitation centre in rotterdam ( Netherlands ), think would be great fun for you too.

regards Ruud

[Audiorhoon]

The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute is a stand-alone electronic wind instrument. What is unique is that this instrument can be played without hands, but is also suitable for children who can use their hands. You can play songs or play improvised music.

So it is easy to improvise music. By ‘easy’ we mean that without any musical knowledge or experience it’s possible to produce the most wonderful improvised melodies in no time. And that is what Esther is doing. It is her first time she is playing!

[fleuroen08]

This is incredible! I'm absolutely stunned..What a wonderful way for blind people to express themselves musically. Sometimes modern technique is a wonderful thing. I know Esther; she's always been musical. I'm so touched..

[Audiorhoon]

The Magic Flute was originally designed as an adaptive musical instrument for people with little or no arm movement.

But now we know that a lot more of the children at our rehabilitation centre can benefit from the Magic Flute.

My next step will be to try the Magic Flute with an autistic child. I am very curious how that adventure will go.

Thanks for the nice words. Ruud

[xxlollylaurenxx]

oh that's what it is. Sounds brilliant, can you buy them? lol

[xxlollylaurenxx]

I'm sorry but what is the magic flute. I'm blind too and don't know :). I'm also very musical, I play the piano, violin, flute and guitar.

[bunniiezlova]

this is so sweet. (:

[kcapjp]

Wonderful wonderful feel to this very talented young lady enjoyed where the music took me a place that is music is for everyone...The X factor could'nt hold a candle to this performance.

Jon Paul.

[szaxe]

terrific!!!!

Regards Pete

[jrimer2008]

Very well done. Keep up the great work.