The head of the Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind under the epidemic: encountering unprecedented difficulties

It is not easy for the visually impaired to find employment. In many cases, they can only choose to work in massage.

The "Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind" was established in 2017. It is dedicated to let Hong Kong visually impaired people use their strongest talents-hearing and music, to become orchestral musicians and music instructors after free training, so that they can use music as a lifelong career.

However, it is pointed out that due to social events and the epidemic, the visually impaired members and volunteer instructors in the group have withdrawn from the group. So far, about 20 visually impaired people have withdrawn from the group. According to the person in charge, this social service is experiencing "unprecedented experience". Difficulties".

The "Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind", established in 2017, is committed to enabling Hong Kong visually impaired people to use their strongest talents-hearing and music, to become orchestral musicians and music instructors after free training.

(Profile picture / Photo by Deng Yingtao)

The "Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind" is operated by the registered charity organization "Post-Disaster Psychological Counseling Association". Its voluntary music director Du Yongzheng went to the Incheon Orchestra for the Blind in South Korea at his own expense to learn how to effectively teach musical instruments and conduct the visually impaired orchestra. .

Under the guidance of many senior faculty members of the orchestra and the Hong Kong Xinguang School, more than 80 visually impaired people have been trained to become musicians of different musical instruments. It is understood that the current musical instrument and orchestra training club rents the Ma On Shan YMCA Academy and its rent And operating expenses are about HK$400,000 per year.

The epidemic is raging and it is difficult to practice wind instruments

The orchestra conducts free instrument training and orchestra practice every Sunday afternoon. During the period of frequent demonstrations, some visually impaired people lived in areas where there are frequent conflicts and once inhaled a lot of tear gas when they returned home.

Therefore, for the safety of its members, the orchestra suspended training, rehearsals, performances and other volunteer activities during that period.

In the past 20 months when the epidemic was raging, all musical instruments that needed to be masked off to play were also forced to suspend practice and rehearsals. In addition, most of the teaching of musical instruments by righteous instructors was also affected by the suspension of schools, and some people even had to switch careers. "Taxi", so I was forced to suspend the work of the teaching, and some students applied to withdraw from the orchestra training program without a tutor for a long time.

Like all large orchestras, interested participants must accept a simple interview or telephone interview. The interview mainly understands the participants’ fingers, teeth, mouth shape, breathing, height, and desire to learn musical instruments, etc., so as to determine which one can learn. Musical instruments, in addition, the orchestra’s class time is from 3 pm to 6 pm on Sundays, and from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm for orchestra training, which will be held in the Ma On Shan Youth Club College. Volunteer guides will be provided to assist in the visual inspection. People with disabilities go back and forth to the venue.

The orchestra is now recruiting new students and volunteer teachers, including violin, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, and percussion. If you are interested in joining, please call 21279890 or Whatsapp 93292201 for enquiries. The orchestra also hopes people from all walks of life Or corporate donations to support this project, which is very important for the visually impaired.

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