The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music tells the inspiring stories of two great musicians — the deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie and the shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan. The page summarises both parts and provides exam-style questions.
Learning objectives
- Recall the two parts of the lesson.
- Understand how each musician overcame challenges.
- Identify the themes of the lesson.
- Answer comprehension and exam questions.
Key concepts
Part I — Evelyn Glennie
This part tells the story of Evelyn Glennie, a Scottish girl who gradually became profoundly deaf as a child. Refusing to give up her love of music, she learned to sense sound through vibrations felt in her body rather than through her ears. With great determination and the help of an understanding teacher, she trained as a percussionist and became a world-famous multi-percussionist, proving that disability need not stop a person from achieving their dreams.
Part II — Bismillah Khan
This part is about Ustad Bismillah Khan, the renowned Indian shehnai player. Born into a family of musicians, he practised devotedly from a young age and raised the shehnai, once limited to weddings and temples, to the status of a respected classical concert instrument. Deeply attached to his country and his city of Benares, he refused offers to settle abroad, and he became one of India's most loved and honoured musicians.
Theme
Both parts celebrate dedication, hard work and the love of music. Evelyn Glennie's story shows determination overcoming disability, while Bismillah Khan's story shows lifelong devotion to an art and to one's homeland. Together they reveal the power of music and the spirit needed to reach the top of one's field.
Two inspiring figures
The lesson brings together two very different musicians — one a young Western percussionist, the other a legendary Indian shehnai master — yet both are united by their passion, perseverance and the joy they bring through music. Their lives serve as models of how talent, combined with hard work and devotion, can lead to greatness.
Key definitions
- Percussionist
- A musician who plays instruments struck or beaten, like drums.
- Vibration
- A rapid back-and-forth movement; how Evelyn sensed sound.
- Shehnai
- An Indian wind instrument made famous by Bismillah Khan.
- Maestro
- A master in an art, especially music.
Solved examples
Q1. How did Evelyn Glennie experience sound?
Solution: Through vibrations felt in her body, since she was deaf.
Q2. Which instrument did Bismillah Khan play?
Solution: The shehnai.
Q3. What did Bismillah Khan refuse to do?
Solution: To leave India and settle abroad.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up the two musicians or their instruments.
- Thinking Evelyn Glennie could hear normally (she was deaf and sensed vibrations).
- Forgetting Bismillah Khan raised the shehnai to classical concert status.
- Missing the shared theme of dedication and overcoming challenges.
The Sound of Music — MCQ Quiz
10 questions with instant feedback. Use number keys 1–4 to answer.
How many parts does the lesson have?
Practice questions
Short answer
Who are the two musicians in the lesson?
Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan.
How did Evelyn Glennie overcome deafness?
By learning to feel sound as vibrations through her body.
What did Bismillah Khan do for the shehnai?
He raised it to the status of a respected classical concert instrument.
Long answer
How did Evelyn Glennie overcome her disability to become a great musician?
Evelyn Glennie's story is one of remarkable determination triumphing over disability. As a young Scottish girl, she gradually lost her hearing and became profoundly deaf, which might have ended any hope of a musical career. But Evelyn refused to give up her love of music. Instead of relying on her ears, she learned to sense sound in a different way — feeling the vibrations of the music through her body, for example through her feet and skin. With the encouragement of an understanding teacher who believed in her, she trained hard as a percussionist, mastering many instruments. Through sheer dedication and perseverance, she rose to become a world-famous multi-percussionist, performing across the globe. Her life shows that with determination and the right support, even a severe disability cannot stop a person from achieving greatness.
Describe Bismillah Khan's devotion to the shehnai and to his country.
Bismillah Khan was devoted both to his music and to his homeland. Born into a family of musicians, he began practising the shehnai from a very young age and gave his whole life to the instrument. Through his genius and hard work, he transformed the shehnai, which had earlier been associated mainly with weddings and temple ceremonies, into a respected instrument fit for the classical concert stage, winning it a place in serious Indian music. His devotion was matched by a deep love for his country and especially for his city of Benares, on the banks of the Ganga. Despite his international fame, he refused tempting offers to leave India and settle abroad, saying he could not be happy away from his homeland and the river he loved. For his lifelong dedication, Bismillah Khan became one of India's most honoured and beloved musicians.
HOTS (Higher Order Thinking)
What quality is common to both Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan?
Both shared a deep dedication and love for music, along with the perseverance to overcome obstacles and devote their lives to their art.
Why is Evelyn Glennie's achievement especially inspiring?
Because she succeeded as a percussionist despite being deaf, showing that determination and a different way of sensing the world can overcome even a severe disability.
Quick revision
Revision notes
- Two parts: Evelyn Glennie (Part I) and Bismillah Khan (Part II).
- Evelyn Glennie: deaf percussionist who feels sound as vibrations; great determination.
- Bismillah Khan: shehnai maestro; raised the shehnai to classical concert status; loved Benares, refused to leave India.
- Theme: dedication, hard work, love of music; overcoming challenges.
Key takeaways
- Determination overcomes disability (Evelyn Glennie).
- Devotion can elevate an art (Bismillah Khan and the shehnai).
- Both show the power of dedication and music.
Frequently asked questions
How many parts are in The Sound of Music?
Two — about Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan.
How did Evelyn Glennie hear music?
She sensed it as vibrations through her body, being deaf.
What instrument did Bismillah Khan play?
The shehnai.