Harmonie Foundation
Despite being unable to read sheet music, she plays in the orchestra. Playing the violin has changed Tina’s life completely!
She has had several congenital visual defects since birth. Her vision is blurred and her spatial orientation and visual acuity are impaired. Even when she wears glasses, she can only see a limited distance. She didn’t have an easy time at school. However, when she was 12, she discovered the Harmonie Foundation, picked up a violin, and transformed from a girl who couldn’t read sheet music into a member of the orchestra. Christiana Daňková is now 22 years old, confident and studying at university, while also passing on her musical skills to other children.
Music can really change lives
At the Harmonie Foundation, everyone calls me Týna. I have been part of the Harmonie orchestra for ten years. It is an organisation that believes music can change children’s lives, and that every child has the potential to play in an orchestra.
I am proving that many limits can be broken down if you want to badly enough and have the right support. Without it, I would probably never have played the violin. And that would be a great pity!
Due to my congenital visual impairment, I was not really in the best position to become a violinist. Everything I see moves from side to side and I can only see a limited distance, even when I’m wearing glasses. My visual acuity and spatial orientation are impaired, and I can’t see any details.
She can’t read sheet music, but she has an incredible memory
I can’t read sheet music at all, and if I can, I am not very good at it. I play everything by heart and by ear. As I hear it, I learn it. It’s difficult when someone tells me the number we’re supposed to be playing. I don’t know that right away, but the teachers and even the children I teach help me a lot. Everything in the Harmonie orchestra is based on cooperation and mutual help, and on the philosophy that music is for everyone.
Thanks to the orchestra’s inclusive attitude, I got into music and made friends with people who were nice to me. Until then, I didn’t know people like that.
I know for sure that the Harmonie Foundation and its orchestra have completely transformed my life. Thanks to them, I am where I am today, both mentally and musically. The orchestra has boosted my self-esteem. Suddenly, you feel like you belong somewhere and are part of a big community of friends who support each other. It has also helped me cope with my vision problems, and I now see this very positively.
Unforgettable experiences
Not only I play in the Harmonie orchestra, I have also been a teaching assistant there for two years. Harmonie and the violin are literally my life. I love it there. The atmosphere is amazing — I spend most of my time there, and I love every moment. I really enjoy the work, and I love being able to bring joy to new children and show them that they can achieve anything, no matter what their circumstances.
I have had many unforgettable experiences with the Harmonie orchestra, its teachers and its students, and I am extremely grateful for all of them. I have been to Gothenburg in Sweden twice, where orchestras of this type from all over Europe meet every year. Back in 2017, I also took part in the SEYO camp that was held in Greece. I remember the big concerts and having lots of fun with the children and teachers. I also had the opportunity to play solo three times at the Czech Museum of Music. It’s an amazing feeling, even if you’re very nervous beforehand. I will never forget these experiences, and I would like to thank you, all the teachers and everyone who went on this journey with me. I hope that we will continue together.
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Source/Translated from Proženy.cz: Nadační fond Harmonie: Hudba mění životy dětí!