I try to sit tall, to look confident and to seem as though I am not as panicked as an ostrich with its head stuck in the ground.

I spot Lilly giving me a thumbs up and ridiculous smile from back stage. The one I return is only half hearted.

How poetic the school thought it would be to have the deaf girl who sits by herself at the back of the band class, the one who tries NOT to be noticed, play ...

Bare feet rested on the wooden planks that make up the stage. Vibrations of notes flow through them through the toes of the woman above. She plucks her fingers across the harp, feeling the weight of each string as she does, looking the king directly in the eye as she plays every note correctly. He looks impressed, a goblet of wine sitting in his right hand.

His lips mutter the words of appreciat...

her fingers flew

across the keys

the sweet melody

dancing in the air

if only, if only

she could hear it

then she would

dance along

confetti falling

as she twirled

all smiles

all laughs

though it was

silent....

As I look across the jam space, my eyes lock with Tommy behind the kit.

Years ago before the accident, I would just wait to hear the four strikes of his drumsticks to count us in.

My back turned, and putting all of my trust into the two instruments located on either side of my head.

It’s still a strange thing to get used to. Even after all the struggle and doubt of returning to music.

But this...

Mr. Alden is old

Mr. Alden lives in the copper-red bungalow across the street. He has lived there since I was born.

Mr. Alden is tall and skinny with a grey head of hair. My mother told me once it used to be black. Slicked with pomade and smart.

Mr. Alden lives alone. He has for as long as I can remember. No wife and no children who make surprise visits with littles in tow. I learned that he wa...

It began for him at a young age, he felt the energy and vibration of the world around him.

His mom humming nursery rhymes or her favorite tune. He picked up toys and made as much noise as he could before his mom finally got him into piano lesson.

Randall felt there on stage, finally in the light. He could feel every note through the buzzing of the frets as his fingers dance along the muted sounds....

As a young girl Penny had hearing problems and was told at a young age that by here high school years she would be completely deaf, but this didn’t stop her from learning piano as even though she could hear very little from a young age she still loved what little she could hear from her Fathers grand piano. She learned at a young age how to play it from her father and ever since then she would spe...

To Courtney music had always been her lullaby to sleep and alarm to get up. She loved the way music would gracefully sway and spin almost like a person, just more bearable. At age 10 Courtney decided she wanted to take piano lessons and follow in her mother’s footsteps. She practiced every day all day, which is why it didn’t come as a shock to anyone when her mother gifted her beloved piano, even ...

The morning starts off as any other the light tickles my eyes awake as my toes and fingers vibrate with life. I look outside and immediately my eyes are filled with the colors of the day awaiting for me. My routine begins with coffee as any day should, then is proceeded with getting dressed and fixing my hair. It is true what is said about the sense when one is incapable of working the rest see th...

Art is powerful. It transcends cultures, languages, and race. It cuts across humanity to build a bridge, where we can all meet and collectively admire something beautiful. It is a neutral ground, where everyone can agree to meditate in peace. When I look at the man on the metro, playing music with a feverish joy, I can’t help but think of the beauty in art. I also can’t help but be reminded of the...