Blind guitarist plays blues and all the other colours
20th June 2009, 14:55
A determined guitar teacher has used the threat of her blindness to help other musicians. After more than 25 years of eye problems Wendy Leckernian, a graduate of the London College of Music and a former examiner with Trinity Rockschool Examinations, endured 13 operations and 59 hospital visits in four years. Now, with her sight saved, the mother of two has designed coloured nylon strings to help visually impaired children to play the instrument she loves. Wendy, 44, who teaches at Belmont House School in Newton Mearns, Glasgow and runs the Glasgow Guitar Studio, said yesterday. “Playing was more of a problem than teaching. Then it struck me what a difference coloured strings would make. They didn’t exist, so I designed some and had them made in America. I’ve shown them to my specialist, Professor Peng Tee Khaw. He is involved with the Richard Desmond Children’s Eye Centre in London and he thinks they are brilliant.” Wendy added: “What I’ve been through is helping others to discover the joy of guitar playing.”
|
