|

Musical Celebrity Profiles

by FamilyEducation Staff

Here's a list of performers and composers who hit some high notes in their careers. Each of them also happened to live with a disability. Their unique combination of intelligences -- strengths as well as weaknesses -- made them such successful people.

Cher
Pop star and Academy Award-winning actress. You know she's an outrageous dresser, but did you know she's dyslexic?

Sergei Rachmaninoff
Russian pianist, composer, and conductor. He had a learning disability.

Robert Schumann
German composer and music critic. A hand injury forced him to abandon a career as a pianist. He had a mental illness.

Itzhak Perlman
Celebrated Israeli violinist. He contracted polio as a child.

Ludwig van Beethoven
Revolutionary German composer who lost his hearing as an adult. Though he could no longer perform, he continued to compose works of great depth and complexity.

Stevie Wonder
Award-winning singer, composer, producer, arranger, and instrumentalist. He signed his first record deal at age 10. He has been blind since birth.

What do your kids think?
Ask your kids if they can think of any famous people who have high musical intelligence. Start them off with a few familiar names:

  • Carlos Santana
  • Barbara Streisand
  • Leonard Bernstein
  • Jimi Hendrix
  • Paul Simon
  • Sarah Brightman
  • Miles Davis

    Brought to you by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

    Source: Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom by Thomas Armstrong (ASCD 1994)

    Linguistic Logical-Mathematical Intrapersonal Interpersonal
    Bodily-Kinesthetic Musical Naturalistic Spatial

    More on: Cognitive and Psychological Development

    |

    • you might also like:

    from our community:


    what’s hot

    1. Top 10 End-of-the-Year Gifts for Teachers
    2. 10 Gender-Predicting Old Wives' Tales
    3. Top 12 Fundraising Ideas
    4. VIEW ALL

    stay connected

    Sign up for our free email newsletters and receive the latest advice and information on all things parenting.

    Enter your email address to sign up or manage your account.

    Facebook icon Twitter icon Follow Us on Pinterest

    editor’s picks

    highlights

    8 Printable Thank-You Cards for Teachers
    As the end of the school year approaches, it's nice to thank your favorite educators for all their hard work. Print any of these free printable teacher appreciation cards to show your gratitude in a cute and simple way.

    Great Gift Ideas for Dad's First Father's Day
    Every dad's first Father's Day is a special one. Honor Daddy's important new role with a fun and heartfelt gift from you and your baby.

    Explore Funbrain Jr. with Your Preschooler
    Looking for fun online games, adorable stories, and cool printables for preschoolers and kindergartners? Check out the new Funbrain Jr., a fun place to learn for children ages 2 to 6.

    11 Succulent Vegetarian Recipes for the Grill
    Barbecue season isn't just for meat-lovers! These vegetarian recipes for the grill are a healthy and delicious alternative to typical barbecue fare.