“When you have no sense, others sharpen it.”

Titi Montoliu and Ignasi Terrazza are two of the great names in jazz music in our country. They have one thing in common: neither of them can see, they are blind, but this did not prevent them from becoming great pianists, with an important international career. You can add other names to them…

Ignatius’s room He already has a distinguished career, Guillem Leon He is studying for a Masters in Piano Performance in London and Laura BarraAt only 13 years old, he has already won several piano competitions.

What do they all have in common? They are blind, and they play the piano. They had the same teacher: Luisa Alegre, who gave them the lessons and tools to learn to play without seeing the keys or the sheet music.

The teacher who had to learn too

It all started more than 20 years ago, when Ignacy’s parents asked him to give him piano lessons, as he had already done with his brothers. It was a big challenge. She had to learn Braille herself, to be able to record scores with which Ignasi can train. Although Braille is still very useful, over time programs and methods for studying the parts of the ear appeared, which she also had to learn.

“I have often closed my eyes, without seeing, and thought: How can you do this, without seeing, what can I teach him, how can I teach him?” With others it was much easier, because I already had many years of experience.”

Ignasi Cambra continued his studies in the United States and now has an important international career. “I think every person naturally carries their own identity or circumstances,” Ignasi says. love others, He does not face blindness as an obstacle: “I think there are situations that would make life more difficult for someone who wants to play the piano than not being able to play.”

Pros and cons of playing without seeing

Now that she has years of experience with blind students, Louise is clear about the first thing they need to learn.

“They’re used to touching everything and looking, and you have to get rid of that. You can’t look for the keys, you have to skip them And not giving the option to think: “This, what key is it?” Because if it’s not, you’re not going to get there, and that’s the learning that has to be done.”

And also the advantages they have.

“They all have excellent ears. Because when you don’t have a sense, others sharpen up. They also know how to listen, and listen to each other, and that costs a lot when you see, and you look more and listen less.”