Can one be a good musician? if half deaf?

Question

i was born deaf in my left ear and i was wondering if its possible i can be a good musician and i think i might be somewhat tone deaf but not completely sure. can some1 give me some opinions?

Answer 1

ONE WORD:

Beethoven.

Answer 2

Being HALF deaf is not a problem but being TONE DEAF can KILL a musical career.

Answer 3

I suppose it partly depends on what kind of a musician you want to be (Singing, playing an instrument, what kind of instrument, etc.).

Beethoven was totally deaf when he composed his ninth symphony. I have heard that when he was conducting that symphony at its first performance, he couldn't hear it, & at the end he kept right on conducting, & someone had to turn him around to see that the audience was all on its feet giving him a standing ovation because the music was so glorious. To this day, it is among the most famous pieces of classical music ever composed.

Drums, etc. wouldn't matter if you were tone deaf. With the violin it would probably matter a great deal.

I have sung in choirs & other groups for many years. The most recent group I have been in will accept anyone that wants to sing and is willing to be taught. People join it who appear to be very tone deaf, and they are taught how not to be. I have been somewhat amazed at the improvement that can be made with help from the leader of the group if the person is willing to be taught!

On the other hand, when my son was quite young, I thought he was tone deaf, because he just couldn't carry a tune when singing. Then when he was 10 yrs. old he started taking trumpet lessons. One day, when he was more advanced, I heard him practicing a piece that had sharps and flats in it. He made an error in one of the notes, noticed it, and went back & corrected it. I don't think he could have done that if he were really tone deaf. He became quite good on the trumpet, and learned several other instruments to a certain degree, often playing them by ear ( you can't do that if you are tone deaf, I think). Yet, years later, he would sing along to recorded music when taking a bath - it was still the most gawd-awful sound imaginable because it was totally out of tune with the music being played! I concluded that he wasn't tone deaf, he just couldn't sing, even though he could learn how to play any instrument he felt like learning!

If you want to get involved in music, you could go to a music teacher that isn't uptight about having to be absolutely perfect from the start, tell him/her your concerns, and ask them how to go about correcting your personal musical challenge. If the first one wants to discourage you from even trying, ask another, until you find one who is willing to work with you to meet your goals. Even if you are tone deaf, you can probably be helped to improve if you are willing to do the work required, and if you feel like doing it, I am sure you would be very happy for having tried it. Making music is really worth the effort of learning how!!!

Go for it!

Good luck! It's worth it! You are worth it!

Answer 4

Beethoven wrote some of his most phenomenal music during the time he was completely deaf. I believe that says something, and I don't believe you are "half deaf," just deaf on one side.

Answer 5

I also think that you aren't half deaf, just deaf on one side.

Both ears hear the same stuff, so if one doesn't hear, you use the other one, and that's enough to start you into music :)

Answer 6

of course.

beethoven was deaf and he will always be a better musician then soo many people.

Answer 7

Of course one can be a good musician if one is half deaf main thing is the voice.