This Chinese musician plays piano with his toes
Skillful musician Liu Wei has proved a big hit on a leading talent show in China, by playing the piano with his toes.
Liu's arms were amputated from the shoulders at the age 10 after he was electrocuted while playing hide-and-seek with his friends.
"Music has become a habit for me. It is just like breathing air," Liu said during an interview with the Associated Press while he was visiting Shanghai.
Liu, a tall, slender man who peers shyly from behind his dark-rimmed glasses, was thrust into the limelight after performing earlier this month in the show "China's Got Talent".
The program, which has featured acts by disabled modern dancers and break-dancing migrant workers, is drawing attention to the hopes and challenges of ordinary and often disadvantaged Chinese.
Since it began in July, the program has gathered a wide audience, despite scepticism among some viewers over whether all the participants' stories are genuine.
But there was no doubting Liu's ability.
In his first "Got Talent" performance, he smoothly played "Mariage D'amour," by Richard Clayderman.
He won a standing ovation from the audience, many of whom were moved to tears.
Liu only began playing the piano in his late teens, when he decided that instead of attending university he would rather make music.
He uses his feet to navigate online, eat, dress and brush his teeth. However, he laughed when asked about the female fans his newfound fame has won him, saying he was too busy to think about getting a girlfriend.
Prosthetic limbs do not interest Liu, who says he has no need for special support.
However he does admit that he has often faced discrimination in China where disabled people, despite efforts to improve conditions, are all too often forced into begging on the sidewalks.
Liu said his aim was to be recognised for the quality of his music, rather than his unusual style of playing the piano.
"Right now, everyone looks at me and says, 'Oh, Liu Wei has no arms and it's very difficult for him to play the piano.' In the future, I want them to say, 'Oh he's good.' To first notice the work is great, and then say, 'Liu Wei did it.' he said.
Liu will stay in Shanghai to prepare for the next round of "China's Got Talent" show, in about a week's time and hopes to go on to make the final.
Liu's arms were amputated from the shoulders at the age 10 after he was electrocuted while playing hide-and-seek with his friends.
"Music has become a habit for me. It is just like breathing air," Liu said during an interview with the Associated Press while he was visiting Shanghai.
Liu, a tall, slender man who peers shyly from behind his dark-rimmed glasses, was thrust into the limelight after performing earlier this month in the show "China's Got Talent".
The program, which has featured acts by disabled modern dancers and break-dancing migrant workers, is drawing attention to the hopes and challenges of ordinary and often disadvantaged Chinese.
Since it began in July, the program has gathered a wide audience, despite scepticism among some viewers over whether all the participants' stories are genuine.
But there was no doubting Liu's ability.
In his first "Got Talent" performance, he smoothly played "Mariage D'amour," by Richard Clayderman.
He won a standing ovation from the audience, many of whom were moved to tears.
Liu only began playing the piano in his late teens, when he decided that instead of attending university he would rather make music.
He uses his feet to navigate online, eat, dress and brush his teeth. However, he laughed when asked about the female fans his newfound fame has won him, saying he was too busy to think about getting a girlfriend.
Prosthetic limbs do not interest Liu, who says he has no need for special support.
However he does admit that he has often faced discrimination in China where disabled people, despite efforts to improve conditions, are all too often forced into begging on the sidewalks.
Liu said his aim was to be recognised for the quality of his music, rather than his unusual style of playing the piano.
"Right now, everyone looks at me and says, 'Oh, Liu Wei has no arms and it's very difficult for him to play the piano.' In the future, I want them to say, 'Oh he's good.' To first notice the work is great, and then say, 'Liu Wei did it.' he said.
Liu will stay in Shanghai to prepare for the next round of "China's Got Talent" show, in about a week's time and hopes to go on to make the final.
posted by faburous @ 3:04 AM
0 Comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home