Music is a sensory art, but that doesn’t mean it requires the use of all five senses. High school senior, Sebastian Calvillo, has defied the odds to play his favorite instrument.
- High school drummer was born blind
- Rather than putting him at a disadvantage, he's able to better hear frequencies and pitches
- He has a passion for music and wants to play in a heavy metal band
If you ever have the chance to watch the Chaffey High School jazz band, you'll find Calvillo with his ear turned towards the music. That's because although he can feel the drum sticks in his hands and hear the sounds coming through, he cannot see the instrument in front of him.
“I want to have eyes to see where I play them, but I just really want to keep playing, even if I’m blind,” he said.
Calvillo was born blind, but has always been interested in music, specifically in heavy metal.
“Music will always be my best thing to do every day," Calvillo explained. "It’s like coffee every morning. It’s a medicine. So, I love it.”
In addition to the drums, Calvillo also plays the guitar and excels in playing. That's often the case for musicians who are blind. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by the Institute of Education in London, blind children are 4,000 times more likely to have perfect pitch -- a sign of exceptional musical ability.
“He hears things that a lot of us in the room aren’t able to hear, certain frequencies, certain pitches," said band director, Greg Andrews. "Maybe they’ll remember Sebastian’s story and say 'If he can do it, I can do it.'"
Calvillo's dreams are a bit bigger.
"I’m getting close to where I’m going to be in a heavy metal band. One day I’ll play at a concert and I’ll make $100 thousand dollars a day."
So he keeps doing his thing; a stick in hand, a smile on his face, and beautiful music coming through.