失明男孩定义他的生活与音乐

Blind Boy Defines¹ His Life With Music 失明男孩定义他的生活与音乐

When Frankie Moran first saw his son Cole, he could not imagine ever sharing his love of music with the boy. Cole had cognitive² delays and other birth defects. And he was blind.

"When he was born I didn't see any eyes like how we have eyes. And my heart sank."

But Cole was not deaf, and quickly showed an interest in music. Mr. Moran is a singer and songwriter. He says his son liked to be nearby when he was making music at home. He says Cole would touch the instruments.  

At around the age of one, Cole started playing notes of simple songs on a toy piano.

“That is about the same time we discovered he had perfect pitch. Because when he would miss a note and hit the wrong note in a melody³ like ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,’ he would go back and find that note. So that’s how we figured he knew what he was hearing.”

Constant practice

Cole Moran is now 12 years old. Cole plays music every day. He records his performances and listens back to the sound. He enjoys the work.

"Happy. When I am playing music, I am happy.”

Father-Son duets

Cole's choice of instrument since he was four has been the harmonica, which he often plays with his dad. Last year, the father and son duo won second place at a Fiddler's Convention⁴ in their hometown, Berlin, Maryland. 

Now and then, Cole performs with his father under the name Blind Wind at a restaurant in Berlin.

The 12-year-old released his first CD recently. His mother, Jenny Moran, was excited.

“It is wonderful that he has something that he can do for the rest of his life that he will always enjoy."

Cole attends Maryland School for the Blind in Baltimore. There will be lots of time for music when classes end for the summer break. Frankie Moran says he and Cole plan to hit the road. They want to do a series of Blind Wind performances around the country.

Words in This Story

cognitive – adj. of, relating to, or involving mental activities (such as thinking, understanding, learning and remembering)

defect – n. a physical problem that causes something to be less valuable, effective or healthy

blind – adj. unable to see

perfect pitch – n. the ability to correctly identify any musical note that you hear or to sing any musical note correctly without help

duo – n. two people who perform together, are usually seen together, or with ties to each other

hit the road – verb phrase to travel; to go on a trip

1 defines   

规定( define的第三人称单数 )； 使明确； 精确地解释； 画出…的线条

参考例句：

• This name defines us all. 这个名字造就了我们。 来自演讲部分
• The range of incomes over which this happens defines the 'poverty trap'. 发生在这种情况的收入范围，称为“贫困陷阱。”

2 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

3 melody   

n.旋律，曲调，悦耳的音乐

参考例句：

• She struck up a folk melody on the piano.她开始用钢琴演奏那首民歌。
• After she wrote the melody,she asked us for criticisms.她做好曲之后，请我们提意见。

4 convention   

n.惯例，习俗，常规，会议，大会

参考例句：

• How many delegates have checked in at the convention?大会已有多少代表报到？
• He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。