INDIA BEATS Poignant notes
AYESHA MATTHAN It has been a tough but rewarding musical journey for Ruby Alphonse, who learnt to play the piano in spite of her handicap. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I play with my left hand; run the fingers of my right hand over the compositions written in Braille. I memorise bar after bar." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Photo: K. Gopinathan Against odds:Ruby Alphonse at the piano. Past dusty lanes in Banaswadi, Bangalore, the sound of a piano playing, from the first floor of a pink, two-storied flat fills the neighbourhood. Ruby Alphonse, in a bright, canary-yellow kurta and a smile like the African-American, visually-challenged pianist Stevie Wonder, is hesitant to talk. With her head bent in concentration, her black glasses reflect beams of the musical notes, which reverberate in her cosy flat where she lives by herself. And with each ringing note, she narrates her poignant musical journey. Brought up as an orphan, she studied at Divine Light School for the Blind in Whitefield. It was here, at the age of 15, curious and enthralled, that Ruby started fiddling around with the organ in secret. She used to listen to it being played when she was lying down in her room or during meal times. She was promptly told that she can't play it as she was blind and hence cannot learn. Pursuing a dream But Ruby pursued her musical dream, persisted with nuns at the convent and found Louise Pinto, a piano teacher at St. Joseph's Convent. "It must have been hard for her to tutor a visually challenged student, and it was painful and tough for me." She continues, "No teacher came forward to teach me. I know I cannot go to another teacher. I don't know if she liked me, but I am very fond of her." Ruby lapses into silence. "I don't want to talk about the period that followed where I was unable to continue to learn music", she says drifting away. "I learned for one year, but then I had no place to stay. So I moved to Tamil Nadu, to an ashram for six years, and that's where I met Gabriel and Elizabeth Gardner, who are from England." It took eight years in all for this gifted and determined pianist to finish eighth grade. As she fumbles over unfamiliar notes and new compositions, Ruby reveals how she learnt to play on her own and practise. "I play with my left hand; run the fingers of my right hand over the compositions written in Braille. I memorise bar after bar. And then I repeat the procedure with my right hand, and learn with the left." It takes one week to 10 days to learn a piece thoroughly, she says while playing a melodious Johann Sebastian Bach composition. Twice a week, Ruby goes to the Jyoti Seva School for the Blind in Venkateshpura where she teaches nine blind students the piano on a one-to-one basis. "There is no direct bus and if I get late, I take an auto even though it might be difficult for me financially. But I use my stick to get me to my destination." She also teaches three blind students at Tunbridge High School weekly, where she remains the whole day. "I write to the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London for piano compositions in Braille which takes a few weeks to be delivered. Earlier, I always used to worry about where I can get books from. With the help of Gabriel and Elizabeth, who keep sending me books, help me financially and gifted me this B Steiner piano, I am able to manage." I accompanied Ruby one day from her house in Banaswadi to the school in Venkateshpura, and we got off at the ITC Factory on the way. Autos flew by, insensitive and blind to a visually challenged woman attempting to hail them. When the 10th auto stopped, he helped her in, directing her stick and guiding her every step. Enjoying teaching In the music room of Jyoti Seva School for the Blind, where Ruby has been teaching for three years, 13-year-old Mary Sunita walks in. She is appearing for the Grade I piano exam and Ruby is nervous. "I am really scared for her, but don't tell her! I think I am a better teacher than a player," says Ruby who becomes nervous when she plays for a large audience. Glenn Peter, a 13-year-old sighted student who comes for piano lessons to Ruby's house every evening, is appearing for the Grade II exam. "He was very stiff, so I took him over to Louise Pinto to see about his hand movements, for, the examiners will not approve," says this worried teacher. Mary Sunita, in a cheery, orange T-shirt and tunic, starts practising on the Clavinova for her exams. "Three...one...two..." Ruby sings as Mary goes assuredly over the notes of a new piece. "Nooo...that didn't come out well," Ruby gently protests. "Yes miss", she replies repeatedly as she bends down in concentration and attempts again. "They have to learn how to read, write and play the pieces. They have to count and play, for, rhythm is a must." "I cook, manage the flat, buy groceries and phone the bazaar for items to be delivered to my house. Otherwise, my sighted pupils help me by buying things when I ask them to." Ruby, who turned 41 recently, holds piano classes for children at her residence in Banaswadi. "I hope in time when I earn some more, I am able to move to a bigger house, keep somebody to help me with the housework and have a dog for a companion", she says, her face brightening. ________________________________ Notice: The information contained in this e-mail message and/or attachments to it may contain confidential or privileged information. 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