Can you still enjoy music if you can no longer hear naturally? Joke Veltman, a professional musician herself, lost her hearing and was told by the hospital (UMC Utrecht) that whilst she might be able to learn to understand speech, she would have to forget about music. The cochlear implant (CI) fitted in her inner ear (cochlea) has too low a resolution to convey the rich sounds of music to the brain. At best, a soft piano piece sounded to her at the time like a thunderstorm.
The thought of never being able to enjoy music again was unbearable, so Joke Veltman set out to find a way to get her music back. It turned out that, through targeted training, it was possible to help the brain form new connections. The music returned. Different, but still music. She has since developed a training programme specifically for cochlear implant users, in which, over two blocks a year, cochlear implant users practise together and share experiences to help them rediscover their music.
We’ll be discussing how this works and exactly what the training involves in the first episode of a new season of live-recorded podcasts from the Vrije Ruimte at Tivoli Vredenburg, on Wednesday afternoon, 30 September, at 2.00 pm. You’re welcome to join us. Guests Brechtje Roos and Joke Veltman will also be on hand to answer your questions.
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