Aimee-Louise Paddock, 18, of Kirstead in Fairstead, Lynn, plays saxophone, flute, keyboard, piano and the guitar to a high standard.

Deaf girl becomes musician
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Updated at: 1536 PST



LONDON: A talented teenager is following her dreams to become a musician despite being deaf in both ears.

Aimee-Louise Paddock, 18, of Kirstead in Fairstead, Lynn, plays saxophone, flute, keyboard, piano and the guitar to a high standard.

She lost her hearing in the left ear aged just 16, became fully deaf in May and can only understand speech by lip reading.

Aimee-Louise has been referred to a specialist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and a cochlear implant for both ears is being considered.

The Springwood sixth form student has applied to study a four-year music degree at the Royal Welsh College of Music in Cardiff.

She is currently studying A-levels in music, French and ICT and is predicted A and B grades.

The 18-year-old also received the highest mark in the music AS level written exam this year, despite it relying on listening to pieces of music – she had to learn the compositions by looking at the notes.

Her love of music started when she was seven-years-old after she started recorder lessons at primary school.

Aimee-Louise told the Lynn News: “I decided I wanted to take up the saxophone because I liked the television cartoon character Lisa Simpson. When I started at Springwood High School I wanted to play either the flute or clarinet.”

After saving her money she bought her first flute for £450, aged just 11, and started lessons at Springwood High School two years later.

Her saxophone lessons which were also taught at the high school began when she was 12-years-old.

She went to Lynn Music School, in Norfolk Street, from the age of ten for keyboard lessons.

But since it closed in June last year, Aimee-Louise has attended Musikademy in Acer Road, on South Lynn’s Saddlebow Industrial Estate.

Aimee-Louise was presented with the Musikademy pupil of the year two weeks ago out of 270 other students.

“I was very surprised,” she added.

The 18-year-old, who is an adult leader at the 15th Lynn Brownies, is a member of several orchestras, including the West Norfolk Junior Youth Orchestra and Springwood school’s swing band, saxophone quartet and woodwind ensemble.

She said: “Music is completely different to everything else and it is something which I love. Being able to do that as a career would be wonderful. I love performing.

“I would like to be a recording artist and play at the Royal Albert Hall.

“I can only get a sense of rhythm but not pitch but I’d go completely mental without my music.

“It is my dream to have an open-holed flute.”

The instrument costs between £2,600 and £3,400 and would help Aimee-Louise because it allows musicians to feel vibrations from different sounds.

Her mother Lucille Omurcan, 40, said: “I don’t think she realises how inspirational she is and what impact she has on people. It is amazing.”

Kirsty Wright, who teaches Aimee-Louise A-level music, added: “She is a star. She is extremely diligent, dedicated and talented. She is a great kid and we all love her.”