KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 — Being visually impaired is not a hindrance to becoming talented musicians as proven by members of the Eyelitz Buskers with their outstanding performance.
The four members of the group have great talent in playing the guitar, keyboard, drum and electric guitar, despite being visually impaired, and their performance captivates the audience.
The group’s vocalist, Mohd Nazri Mohd Sahri, 30, who was born blind, proved to be a talented singer and guitarist.
He started his singing career at the age of 14 by playing the guitar. The sound of he guitar caught his attention since he was four after hearing his uncle play the musical instrument,
“I learn (to play the guitar) by listening or by heart. We (the blind) listen from the heart and we can know the key, the note, whether it is A minor or B minor, ”he told Bernama when met after the “ Kau dan Aku” mini concert at the Damansara Performing Arts Centre yesterday.
Another member of the group, Muhammad Tirmizi Muslim, 30, who plays the electric guitar, expressed his gratitude for being given the opportunity to be in the concert , which was held in conjunction with the. International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which falls on Dec 3.
Tirmizi, who also does street performance or busking with the group, said he was nervous at first when performing at the concert, but the stage fright disappeared when he heard the applause and voices of support from the audience.
The group’s drummer, Mohamad Zaki Norizan, 28, a graduate in Malay Studies from Universiti Malaya, said he lost his sight when he was five years old after being diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer (Hodgkin lymphoma), a cancer of the lymphatic system which is part of the immune system.
Apart from busking, Zaki said he hoped to be able to get a more secure job to develop his musical talent.
Meanwhile, keyboard player Mohd Safiq Arshad, 29, who was also born blind, said he learned to play the musical instrument by himself when he was in primary school by using his own hearing and hand movements.
“I learn to play the keyboard by myself. I did not attend any class,” he added.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency