Beehive Chapter 2 Class 9 NCERT: The Sound of Music

Chapter Overview: What is 'The Sound of Music' About?

This chapter has two independent parts joined by a common theme — an unbreakable devotion to music despite hardship.

Part I – Evelyn Glennie: She began learning piano and clarinet as a child. By age eleven, she had lost almost all her hearing due to nerve damage but refused to give up music. Her percussion teacher, Ron Forbes, taught her to sense pitch and vibrations through different parts of her body instead of her ears. With immense hard work, she became the first full-time solo percussionist in the West, performing barefoot to feel vibrations through the floor.

Part II – Bismillah Khan: Born in Bihar, he inherited his love for the shehnai from his family (his uncle played at the Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi). He practised for hours in secluded spots near the Ganga, blending Hindu and Muslim traditions in his life and music. He gave the shehnai national recognition, played at India's independence ceremony in 1947, and refused lucrative offers abroad, staying loyal to Varanasi and his art till his death.

Both stories teach that talent flourishes through discipline, patience, and true love for one's craft — not merely natural ability.

Key Characters & Word Meanings

Evelyn Glennie

A Scottish percussionist who became profoundly deaf at 11 but achieved worldwide fame by learning to feel music through vibrations in her body.

Ron Forbes

Evelyn's percussion tutor who discovered she could sense pitch through her body and trained her accordingly, changing her approach to music forever.

Ustad Bismillah Khan

India's most renowned shehnai player, who elevated a folk instrument to classical concert status and became a cultural icon of Varanasi.

Shehnai

A classical wind instrument, similar to an oboe, traditionally played at auspicious occasions like weddings and temple ceremonies in North India.

Nadaswaram

A South Indian wind instrument, considered the shehnai's South Indian cousin, mentioned as another classical reed instrument.

Percussion

Musical instruments played by striking or shaking, such as drums, xylophones, and marimbas, which Evelyn Glennie mastered.

Central Themes of the Chapter

Worked Examples: Answering Common Textbook Questions

• Q: How did Evelyn Glennie's hearing loss affect her ambition to become a musician?
  Step 1: State the fact — Evelyn became profoundly deaf by age eleven due to nerve damage.
  Step 2: Explain her response — Instead of giving up, she was determined to continue her music studies.
  Step 3: Mention the solution — Percussionist Ron Forbes helped her realise she could sense pitch and vibration through her body (hands, arms, cheekbones, and bare feet) rather than her ears.
  Final answer: Though her hearing loss was a huge setback, Evelyn refused to let it stop her; she adapted her method of 'listening' through bodily vibrations and went on to become the first full-time virtuoso percussionist in the West.

• Q: Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to stay in America even though he was offered a comfortable life there?
  Step 1: Recall the incident — A friend in America wanted to arrange a comfortable life for him and offered to build a house.
  Step 2: State his reasoning — Bismillah Khan asked whether there was a river like the Ganga or a place like Varanasi and Benaras there.
  Step 3: Draw the conclusion — He valued his deep spiritual and emotional connection to Varanasi, the Ganga, and his art more than material comfort.
  Final answer: He declined because no place could replace his beloved Varanasi and the Ganga, which were inseparable from his music and identity.

Common Mistakes Students Make

• Mixing up details of Part I (Evelyn Glennie) and Part II (Bismillah Khan) — always identify which part a question refers to.
• Forgetting to mention specific names like Ron Forbes or the Vishwanath Temple, which examiners look for as key details.
• Writing very short one-line answers for 5-6 mark questions instead of explaining with proper sequence and examples from the text.
• Spelling errors in proper nouns such as 'Bismillah Khan', 'Varanasi', 'shehnai', and 'nadaswaram' that cost marks in board exams.
• Not connecting the theme (hard work, dedication) explicitly when asked 'what message does the chapter give' — examiners expect a clear thematic statement.

Board Exam Tip

For long-answer questions (5-6 marks) on this chapter, always structure your answer as: (1) brief context/background, (2) the main incident or detail asked, (3) the outcome or lesson learnt. Use quotes or specific facts from the text (like 'barefoot on the platform' for Evelyn or 'refused a comfortable life in America' for Bismillah Khan) to show textual understanding — CBSE examiners award extra marks for such specific references rather than vague, generalised answers.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: What is the significance of the phrase 'the sound of music' as the title of the chapter?
  A: Step 1: Consider both parts of the chapter — Evelyn Glennie mastering percussion despite deafness, and Bismillah Khan devoting his life to the shehnai.
  Step 2: Note that 'sound of music' refers not just to literal music but to the passion, dedication, and inner connection both artists have with their art.
  Step 3: Link the title to the theme — it represents how true music comes from feeling and devotion, not merely from hearing.
  Final answer: The title captures how both protagonists experience music beyond ordinary hearing — through vibration, feeling, and lifelong devotion — making 'sound' a symbol of passion and perseverance.

• Q: How did Ron Forbes help Evelyn discover a new way of listening to music?
  A: Step 1: Recall that Ron Forbes was Evelyn's percussion tutor after she lost her hearing.
  Step 2: He placed a drum against the wall and asked her to identify the notes by feeling the vibrations in different parts of her body.
  Step 3: Through repeated practice, Evelyn learned to distinguish high and low sounds through the sensations in her upper body, cheekbones and even bare feet.
  Final answer: Ron Forbes trained Evelyn to sense pitch and vibration through her body rather than her ears, opening a completely new, unconventional path for her to continue as a musician.

• Q: Describe the contribution of Bismillah Khan to the shehnai and Indian classical music.
  A: Step 1: Mention his background — his family had a hereditary connection with the shehnai, playing at the Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.
  Step 2: State his achievements — he elevated the shehnai from being purely a ceremonial folk instrument to a respected classical concert instrument.
  Step 3: Add recognition details — he performed at India's independence celebration in 1947 from the Red Fort, and received top national honours including the Bharat Ratna.
  Final answer: Bismillah Khan single-handedly gave the shehnai national and international recognition, transforming it into a serious classical instrument while remaining deeply rooted in Varanasi's cultural traditions.

• Q: What lesson do we learn from the lives of Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan?
  A: Step 1: Identify the common thread — both faced challenges (deafness, humble beginnings) but never abandoned their passion.
  Step 2: Note their approach — relentless practice, adaptation, and total devotion to their craft defined their success.
  Step 3: Generalise the lesson — true achievement comes from hard work, patience, and love for one's art, not just natural talent or favourable circumstances.
  Final answer: The chapter teaches us that determination, discipline, and genuine passion for one's art can help a person overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness.

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