Name: Arthur
Age: 11*
Amber Service: Amber Music Awards
Instrument: Alto Saxophone
Arthur has Type 2 Oculocutaneous Albinism and Nystagmus. He has music lessons with a teacher from the local authority music service and has been supported by Amber for 2.5 years.
Arthur has completed ABRSM Grades 1, 2 and 3, achieving distinctions in all three exams. He is currently preparing for his Grade 4 Jazz.
Arthur tends to learn music by ear, which he then memorises, and he also enjoys improvising on jazz pieces. Arthur’s mum, Jo says, “he likes being able to work things out for himself, recently he has enjoyed working out ‘Lava Chicken’ from the Minecraft movie!”
Arthur enjoys playing with others and has thrived playing in his school orchestra, with thanks in part to a teaching assistant from the school. This teaching assistant also plays the violin and sits close to Arthur so they can help him out.
Jo plays a huge role in supporting Arthur’s music making too – from helping him practice each day and accessing his music, to liaising with his teacher.
Arthur is grateful that there is a charity out there helping children who have vision impairments to enjoy music. Jo told us “I feel very blessed that at a time when money is tight, The Amber Trust is there to help Arthur on his musical journey.
“I’d love to see him continuing to improve, and I really hope that Arthur will continue to enjoy playing a wide range of music as a soloist and as part of an ensemble.
“Many of the blind and vision impaired children and young people I have met find it hard to participate in activities outside of school, like music and sport – Amber does a great job facilitating their enjoyment of and engagement with music.”
*Age correct at time of publishing
To support other children like Arthur on their musical journey, please donate to The Amber Trust. Your support enables us to provide music opportunities to vision impaired children across the UK, including those with additional needs.