Although he can't see the world around him, Bui Ngoc Thinh, 14, enjoyslife thanks to musical instruments he uses to express happiness andsorrow. He calls them his friends.
While Thinh is blind, he'sclever with music. Skillful fingers have enabled him to master the drum,flute, violin, guitar and organ.
The Vietnam Records Book Centrehas listed Thinh's ability. They sent the talented young man from thecentral province of Khanh Hoa a certificate stating that he was theyoungest blind person in Asia to play a multitude of instruments.
Receivingthe honour, he said: "As I'm a blind, I have very few friends. However,I don't feel sad because I have seven ‘friends'. They are the musicalinstruments I can play." Thinh can now play 14 musical instruments.
Butlife was not always so relaxing. Thinh's father, Bui Van Loc, startedto suffer bad headaches when he was at high school and began to lose hissight.
He joined the province's Ninh Hoa District Blind People'sAssociation to talk with other people in the same situation. There, hemet and fell in love with a blind girl named Le Thi Thu Thuy, who had abeautiful voice.
Six years later, they overcame their hesitationand decided to get married. When a baby was born, the blind couple werehopeful it would be able to act as their eyes.
Then, as Thinhlearned to walk, his parents and relatives burst out crying when theysaw him falling down time and again. They realised that their boy wasalso blind.
The family of three live in a room owned by the blindassociation and earn a small income making toothpicks, incense andstraw brooms.
Once when he was three, Thinh was taken to a musicperformance held by the blind association. The world of music awokeinner passions in the child.
He often beat a pair of chopstickstogether, forgetting that he was still hungry. Thinh had a chance todiscover a range of instruments when his mother joined the association'ssinging group. He learned to beat drums at the age of six.
Thatyear, he also won a prize on the Khanh Hoa Province Television for hissinging. Thinh could play well after just a year of lessons and now hasmore than 100 songs in his repertoire.
The blind family washappy when Thinh and his father played music to accompany his mother'ssinging. Thinh often played so much that his fingers become swollen. Healso had trouble managing with the size of some instruments. Thuy saidthat the guitar was initially bigger than her boy.
"I have no sight, but as a compensation, my ears and hands work well," Thinh said, "I feel the world with musical notes."
Nowhe can play about 300 songs with different musical instruments. Thisprompted the Nha Trang Culture Art and Tourism College to enroll him forfurther study.
Every day, beside practising music, Thinh also learns Braille and accumulates knowledge through the internet.-VNA
While Thinh is blind, he'sclever with music. Skillful fingers have enabled him to master the drum,flute, violin, guitar and organ.
The Vietnam Records Book Centrehas listed Thinh's ability. They sent the talented young man from thecentral province of Khanh Hoa a certificate stating that he was theyoungest blind person in Asia to play a multitude of instruments.
Receivingthe honour, he said: "As I'm a blind, I have very few friends. However,I don't feel sad because I have seven ‘friends'. They are the musicalinstruments I can play." Thinh can now play 14 musical instruments.
Butlife was not always so relaxing. Thinh's father, Bui Van Loc, startedto suffer bad headaches when he was at high school and began to lose hissight.
He joined the province's Ninh Hoa District Blind People'sAssociation to talk with other people in the same situation. There, hemet and fell in love with a blind girl named Le Thi Thu Thuy, who had abeautiful voice.
Six years later, they overcame their hesitationand decided to get married. When a baby was born, the blind couple werehopeful it would be able to act as their eyes.
Then, as Thinhlearned to walk, his parents and relatives burst out crying when theysaw him falling down time and again. They realised that their boy wasalso blind.
The family of three live in a room owned by the blindassociation and earn a small income making toothpicks, incense andstraw brooms.
Once when he was three, Thinh was taken to a musicperformance held by the blind association. The world of music awokeinner passions in the child.
He often beat a pair of chopstickstogether, forgetting that he was still hungry. Thinh had a chance todiscover a range of instruments when his mother joined the association'ssinging group. He learned to beat drums at the age of six.
Thatyear, he also won a prize on the Khanh Hoa Province Television for hissinging. Thinh could play well after just a year of lessons and now hasmore than 100 songs in his repertoire.
The blind family washappy when Thinh and his father played music to accompany his mother'ssinging. Thinh often played so much that his fingers become swollen. Healso had trouble managing with the size of some instruments. Thuy saidthat the guitar was initially bigger than her boy.
"I have no sight, but as a compensation, my ears and hands work well," Thinh said, "I feel the world with musical notes."
Nowhe can play about 300 songs with different musical instruments. Thisprompted the Nha Trang Culture Art and Tourism College to enroll him forfurther study.
Every day, beside practising music, Thinh also learns Braille and accumulates knowledge through the internet.-VNA
