Seeing Music? An Inquiry into the Place of Music in Deaf Culture

Translated and produced by Noah Buchholz
To cite this published work, copy this line:
Buchholz, N. (2018). Seeing Music? An Inquiry into the Place of Music in Deaf Culture. Journal of American Sign Languages and Literatures.
Seeing Music? An Inquiry into the Place of Music in Deaf Culture by Noah Buchholz is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
#ASLized #JournalofASL #DeafMusic

[@ASLInterpreterSHansen]

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and research! Here is a different question that might be part of that answer about a Deaf musicality that is yet to be found or recognized. If I think of the purposes of music some of them are: 1. Music emotionally regulates people. It affects how you manage emotions. Music can sooth you, make you inspired, make you sad, happy, angry...it is a direct emotional channel that can be turned on almost immediately and affect your mood and motivation 2. Music is memorable..it creates a memory path like a unique roller coaster that cannot be forgotten. You remember songs permanently. This makes it a good match for education and teaching kids thru music to help them remember content. 3. Music is a way to unite a group of people. It unifies people almost like they are sharing the same heartbeat or physical breathing rhythm. When people are in a large or small group they can experience a shared existence that over-rides other differences. This is why every country has a national anthem. 4. Music is an avenue for creativity. It allows you to make something new that can be shared with others. So if you think of the Deaf community, are there ways that those functions are accomplished or could be accomplished? I think the BISON song is a perfect example. It affects emotions, it is memorable, it unites Gallaudet alumni in a shared experience and it is a creative product of the Deaf student body. A found Deaf musicality would fulfill a set of unique purposes ;o) SH

[@robertariddlebaugh859]

Oh, yes, there is music in Heaven! Therefore let us seek what genre inspires the deaf culture, we just haven’t found it yet. Music, music, music is everywhere in heaven. Our Heavenly Father adores to hear us sing , play instruments, make vibrations, and whatever else there may be yet to discover. YES, YES, YES, BE INSPIRED, BE MOTIVATED, SEEK . . . . . AH, didn’t God say Seek and we shall find. .. . Knock and it will be open. . .. . Ask and it shall be given . . . .. Lord, You know all things. . Omniscience lead us to seek “music” for our deaf ears help us find it so we can express our feelings thru music, give Your praises, . . . . On earth Is short but in heaven is eternity! Hear us , Heavenly Father. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen

[@Defmusicman1]

Loved the video! You offer a unique perspective on music and the deaf culture. I’ve been a deaf musician for almost 20 years and I’ve performed with bands for both deaf and hearing audiences. Music is a powerful force that does affect feelings and emotions.

[@missylasku]

Good video and good point taken! Was wondering if you had seen Deaf Harbor music and feel it with drum beats that comes with it and Deaf wrote the songs and created the timing beats and myself am Deaf since birth and can not hear music like i used to when i was young but when i saw this Deaf Harbor Video music and use loud bass speakers to feel the drum beats and it really moved within me and want to move. Wondering if that is something to look into?

[@tiggerlady2352]

I saw some of their videos. Are they Deaf or hearing cuz I don’t see them wearing hearing aids or hearing implants. I’m Deaf 🧏🏼‍♀️ I use hearing aids. One of the music with asl is my favorite. It called Jesus: his life. I can hear the beats and they followed the beats and same time signs. It’s so perfect and beautiful asl. 😊