Vibrating vests translate music for deaf concertgoers

Awesome. Beethoven, who'd gone completely deaf, used to put a pencil in his mouth with the other end on the piano soundboard.

Beethoven used a rod about 30cm long to play his piano. It is said that he invented this way of hearing whilst deaf. It is said that the vibrations transfered themselves from his jaw directly to his inner ear. I listened to his works from a very early age, my parents always were playing classical music and because we had no television or radio, it played all day. ps. It was my parents choice not to have a TV or radio but they had a computer....and a great sound system, this was only back to 2003/4. Even now whilst I live away from them, I have no TV or radio. Which is a great choice....by me!

This story reminded me of Evelyn Glennie, is a Scottish timpanist and percussionist; from Aberdeen, Scotland. Although she was born deaf, she was determined on a career in music, she took up percussion training as a youth and then studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and with Keiko Abe in Japan. After playing in the National Youth Orch. of Scotland, she made her debut as a solo performer at London’s Wigmore Hall in 1986. Her extraordinary talent brought her engagements with principal orchs. and festivals in Great Britain, and subsequently toured extensively worldwide. In 1994 she appeared as soloist with Andrew Davis and the BBC Sym. Orch. at the traditional last night at the Proms in London, marking the close of its 100th anniversary season. She also published her autobiography 'Good Vibrations' (1990), which is a brilliant title for an amazing player.

Great - more people get to enjoy good vibrations together and society is a happier place.