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Saturday 23 November 2013

Profoundly deaf eight-year-old from Swiss Cottage wins piano funding


Adam Kassam, 8

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A budding pianist has secured more than £500 in sponsorship to fund his musical endeavours – despite being profoundly deaf.


Eight-year-old Adam Kassan, of Quickswood, Swiss Cottage, is now working towards his grade one exam on the piano after receiving the grant.


Adam, a pupil of University College School Junior Branch in Holly Hill, Hampstead, began to lose his hearing at the age of three due to a genetic disorder.


As a young child he loved listening and dancing to music of all kinds – and thanks to an ear implant system he can now indulge this passion once again.


His parents Altaf and Shahira entered him for the music grant competition after he was fitted with the cochlear implant last December.


Adam was treated at the Royal Free Hospital in Pond Street, Hampstead, before receiving a cochlear implant from manufacturer MED-EL.


The family then entered the draw for the MED-EL Music Grant and, as the winner, Adam received £500 towards a new instrument, £30 for sheet music and a year’s tuition.


He was previously playing on a small electric keyboard borrowed from a family friend.


Mr Kassan said: “We knew he was never going to get that far with that and wanted to take him to the next level. Then luckily we heard about the music sponsorship, I applied and luckily he won.”
The money was spent on a second-hand electric keyboard.

Mr Kassan said: “It has a weighted keyboard and pedals like a real piano. He knew he needed all these things to get to grade one which is what he wants. It also has a socket for earphones. Adam’s an early riser and likes to practice so he can without waking the whole house up!”



Source : Ham and High , 23rd November 2013 

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