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Although his earliest instrumental lessons were on the recorder, it was whilst watching an episode of a children’s music education programme – BBC’s Music Time if he recalls it correctly – that the oboe first caught Gareth’s eye. It seemed ‘incredibly exotic’ and soon became his wind instrument of choice when he trained up to music college level. 

Surviving and thriving after a stroke​

In October 2000, Gareth was to suffer a devastating stroke. Aged only 20, it left him with permanent disabilities including losing the use of his left hand. He was, however, keen to get back to playing music, albeit little by little, as soon as he could. As he continued his recovery in hospital, a keyboard brought in by friends provided a welcome focus.  

Keyboard playing became a daily activity along with getting to grips with learning to undertake everyday activities with the use of only his right hand. 

An introduction to OHMI and the one-handed recorder

Whilst playing the keyboard certainly provided a creative outlet for Gareth, he missed the expressive quality of wind instruments.

As he reflects, returning to the oboe – a reminder of life pre-stroke – would have been ‘too painful’. The recorder, on the other hand, was an instrument he had played only briefly in early childhood and, therefore, did not hold the same sentimental value. Whilst there was a difference too in the sounds created by the two instruments, the basic fingering held a certain familiarity. 

Armed with this knowledge and looking to rekindle his love for this first childhood instrument, Gareth put out a request on Facebook for help in tracking down a one-handed recorder. 

His plea was seen by university friend and fellow composer, Jo Thomas, who suggested that OHMI would be well placed to help. Gareth became one of the first recipients to benefit from OHMI’s Instrument Hire Scheme, and has now hired a right-handed recorder for some two years.

How the adapted recorder works 

The front of the instrument has four (sets of) holes and four keys which the player uses. The keys operate pads over an additional four holes on the back of the instrument which are closed in their normal position. These keys correspond to the missing hand on a conventional instrument and mean that simply blowing through the instrument will produce a G.
 
Gareth’s right-handed instrument is the same as a traditional, unadapted instrument in that the bottom fifth of the notes are fingered in the conventional way. In addition to using the holes, however, each finger is also responsible for operating one of the four keys.
 
The holes and keys, with considerable use of ‘forked’ fingerings, can then be used to produce a fully chromatic range of about two octaves, although tone quality and intonation are more of a challenge in higher registers.

Composing music on an adapted instrument 

Gareth’s recorder sits proudly atop his piano, within easy grasp for daily practice and composing; the latter also for the benefit of the world’s only large-scale integrated virtuoso ensemble of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians, Paraorchestra based in Bristol. 

Reflecting on OHMI’s support in helping him to compose and make music, Gareth comments, 
OHMI has provided really excellent support, at a time when I most needed it. Unfortunately, one of the lasting effects associated with my condition has been memory loss. I was rather lost for a time when I misplaced my fingering chart. OHMI kindly came to my aid and sent out a new chart. When I had my stroke, I wrote off being able to perform. I may have once dropped the recorder in favour of the oboe but it’s an instrument that’s highly compatible with folk music and playing by ear. As such, it’s given me the opportunity to play in my local pub on open mic nights. Thanks to OHMI, I’m able to fully participate in music-making.

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There are so many disabled people who are desperate to play music with their peers. We can help to make that happen – but we can only do that with the wonderful support of our funders and donors.

As our instruments have to be hand-made by experts, they can only be produced in small numbers and are therefore expensive.
Every little really does help.

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