One-handed pianist

[Gimlet]

Just seen this guy interviewed on the GB news channel. Nicolas McCarthy, born with no right hand he nevertheless decided at a young age that he wanted to become a concert pianist. And he's done it.

Here he is playing a Scriabin nocturne written for the left hand. Harmonically complex, it sounds tricky enough to play with two hands. And note the skillful use of the sustain pedal.

The resilience and ingenuity of some people is remarkable.

 

[huntertrw]

Mr. McCarthy reminds me of Mr. Eddie Balchowsky, the one-handed pianist about whom the late Jimmy Buffett sang in his song titled He Went to Paris. Here is a link to Mr. Balchowsky's citation on en.wikipedia.org.

 

[Sigmund]

There is an excellet one hand sax player out there too. He had a very inventive technician rework the keys so he could access them all. There is a right and left hand set of keys on sax so you cant just jump around. It has to be modified. Just more proof that if there is a will there is a way...at least many of the times.

 

[Gimlet]

There is an excellet one hand sax player out there too. He had a very inventive technician rework the keys so he could access them all. There is a right and left hand set of keys on sax so you cant just jump around. It has to be modified. Just more proof that if there is a will there is a way...at least many of the times.

Revalving a saxophone so it can be played with one hand sounds like as impressive a feat in engineering terms as playing one must be artistically. They're quite a complicated instrument.

 

[sablebrush52]

One handed sax is pretty common.

 

[Chasing Embers]

 

[Zero]

The human brain is malleable and adaptive. This being the first and only forum I have experienced, I finally learned what a moderator is and how to use the PM feature within this past year... adaptive.
Artists Who Paint With Their Feet Have Unique Brain Patterns | Science| Smithsonian Magazine

Artists Who Paint With Their Feet Have Unique Brain Patterns

Neuroscientists determined that certain "sensory maps" in the brain become more refined when people use their feet like hands

www.smithsonianmag.com

 

[kcghost]

I stand in awe of the talent and their determination.

 

[Gimlet]

Filling and lighting a pipe with your feet would be a challenge.

 

[Zero]

Filling and lighting a pipe with your feet would be a challenge.

I was just thinking the same thing. You would want to stay flexible, do yoga, or have some help. But with great determination, a pipe smoker would figure it out.