September 20, 2008
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Music Videos for Deaf People (and us, too)
Some of you know I teach Sign Language at a high school, and that I was an ASL interpreter before that. What you may not know (Jimmish does), is that I love music to the point where it touches and feeds my soul. Worship music feeds me and helps me get my head on straight. Signing to worship music takes it even a few steps further. The double whammy of auditory input from music and visual or kinesthetic input from sign hits me emotionally on several levels (including spiritually) like nothing else can (Spanish songs come close).
One of my students told me about a website called D-Pan. They have made several music videos including sign language, combining video elements just like on MTV with signing. The impact is indescribable. The original purpose was to bring music to the deaf in a way they can enjoy it more than they already do. And yes, many, many deaf people love music!
Very few deaf people are completely deaf. Most of them have at least SOME hearing, and with earphones turned up real loud, or the drum/base line at maximum, they can enjoy music… of course they can’t usually hear the lyrics but they enjoy the music in their own way, and many love to dance to music.
Enter D-Pan: Deaf Performing Artists’ Network. The driving force behind this is a young deaf man born hearing to two musical parents, who lost his hearing at age 1, and has always loved music. With him is a successful producer who shares his passion for bringing music and creative videos to the deaf. They have made videos of several popular songs (not worship songs).
I don’t know how to put a video in a blog, but you can find their videos on You Tube. Just search for DPan. Their rendition of the Christina Aguilera song “Beautiful” is innovative, and “Waiting for the World to Change” by John Mayer is fun and touching at the same time. You can also see some of them by going to the website http://www.dpan.com.
There are several more; my student loaned me the DVD she bought, and tonight i bought my own. I showed these above two videos to my classes and they loved them.
Watch them, and let me know what you think. Notice the “other” parts besides the signing, of “Waiting for the World to Change.” It’s a message the deaf community has wished for a long time that the hearing community would get.
Even the Bible has a scripture about not putting a stumbling block in front of the blind or talk about the deaf behind their back.
Love to all,
Gerrie
Comments (10)
That is fantastic! I can hardly wait to share it with some of my friends, including my private student. She has some degree of deafness, & although she doesn’t really need to know sign language for herself, she began a class last year in signing. I think that she will be impressed. I watched the “Beautiful” video and was really impressed. I’ll be watching more later, but it is past “beddie-time” for this night-owl. Thanks for sharing this great resource!
Ahh…music calms the savage beast!! Me too!!! I don’t think I could live if I couldn’t listen to music. I prefer it over the TV actually. I’ll have to check that site out when I get home from work today. God bless your weekend. I’ll be in touch about the trip.
Neat post!! Have a great weekend….Mike
If I can remember I’m going to tell Megan. She is a deaf girl at our church and she signs to songs and church and I hardly ever make it through one of her songs without crying. What a blessing signing is I think it is such a beautiful way to communicate.
Love ya, Darlena
That is really kewl, I didn’t know you did that!! SOOO Kewl!! Good post, thanks for sharing and for commenting on my site too! It’s always a joy to hear from you!
Have a great weekend!
“Waiting On The World To Change” brought tears to my eyes, and I’ve already shared it on several online communities. Thanks for sharing these. They’re great!
How interesting! I can’t wait to watch/listen….
Have a good week, my friend. Hugs.
That’s really neat. Yeah, I know music speaks to you like it does. It does me, too. You are right. Deaf people DO love music. Most of the deaf people I know were born that way and are completely deaf, but they love to dance. I went to a dance with them once and it was so much fun! Blessings, Gerrie! ~ Chris
this was good. Good post today. It must be hard being a teacher in High school.
Music brings goodness to the soul…what a wonderful talent…at my brothers church that’s the first time I ever seen sign to music I loved it and very spiritual indeed. Thanks so much for sharing this…just passing by.
Be blessed….
Linda