Music is thought of as an auditory experience. We listen to albums, stream singles through our headphones. But how do deaf and hard of hearing (HOH) people experience music?

How music is heard

Hearing people experience music through sound waves. Sound waves are created through an object’s vibration (such as a guitar). When the vibration is fast enough, it reaches their ears and they hear sound. Sounds are experienced at a variety of volumes based on factors such as distance from the sound source and the medium through which the vibration travels (open space versus through a wall).

The ability to hear sounds varies depending on the hearing threshold. Frequencies and volumes are measured to get a range on the decibel hearing loss scale (dBHL). Hearing people typically have a range of 20 dBHL or lower. People with hearing loss experience ranges from 20 to 95 dBHL. 71 dBHL and greater is considered profound hearing loss.

Experiencing music when deaf

So how do deaf people experience music if they cannot experience sound waves? Deaf and HOH people use the same parts of the brain to interpret sound as hearing people; they just use a different process. Sound waves reach the brain by touch instead of by ear. Once the vibration has been felt, the nucleus accumbens, amygdala and sensory cortex help deaf and HOH people process the sound.

The importance of physical sensations for deaf and HOH people means they often listen to music that naturally contains more vibration. Music with heavy bass, such as hip-hop or hard rock, provides a more obvious vibration, making it easier for the brain to interpret.

For people with mild to moderate hearing loss, lower pitches and timbres can still be interpreted by the brain. Timbre is the unique sound quality of a particular source. For example, a C note will sound different on a piano versus a violin. Pitch is sensed based on vibration frequency: low pitch means slower vibrations and vice versa.

Understanding how deaf and HOH people hear differently than hearing people do, is there a way to make music more inclusive? Italian DJ and music producer Francesco Spaggiari thinks there is.

Making music more inclusive

Spaggiari is the director of Eufonia. Eufonia describes itself as “investigating & demonstrating connections between sound, art & science….” The organisation aims to use sound as a medium to connect people.  After Eufonia’s first festival in 2019, Spaggiari says he “realized sound wasn’t enough to unite people, because deaf people couldn’t be included.”

Enter Sub_Bar, one of the organisation’s most innovative projects. Hearing, HOH and deaf artists compose music using sub-frequencies instead of sound. Compositions range from 20 hertz to 150 hertz. The music is universally interpreted through physical vibrations. The Sub_Bar project shows its commitment to an inclusive music space in several ways.

Sub_Bar events

Sub_Bar events were the project’s first launch. The events combine the project’s compositions with visual elements to create an immersive experience. Subwoofers (low-frequency speakers) are used to project the vibrations.

The audience at a Sub_Bar event is seated so they can better feel the physical sensation of the sub-frequencies. These innovative, multi-dimensional events create a concert-like experience— only more inclusive.

Sub_Bar Academy

Sub_Bar now also has an academy. Sub_Bar Academy teaches music courses specifically for sub-frequencies. In-person courses run in Berlin, Lisbon and Vienna. They are offered in local sign languages, so they are accessible to deaf and HOH students.

Sub_Bar Academy issues Subpac haptic devices with which the compositions are created. At the end of each course, Sub_Bar Academy puts on a showcase to present their students’ composition. The project says these showcases, “[bring] together diverse talents and [foster] an inclusive community.”

Changing the music scene

With Eufonia’s project Sub_Bar, Spaggiari has successfully created a space in the music world where deaf and HOH people are included from the start of the creative process. Other organizations can look to Sub_Bar’s contribution to music as a jumping off point to create a global music scene that is accessible to deaf and HOH audiences.

At the time of this blog publication, Sub_Bar is only operating in Lisbon, Berlin and Vienna. Eufonia is hoping to expand its projects across Europe. Sub_Bar events and Sub_Bar Academy courses (in-person and online) can be booked through the company’s website, https://www.subbar.net/.

Anna Farinaccio is a Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Anna’s parents raised her on a wide range of music. They taught her about the significant role music plays in society and culture. She grew up pursuing many creative passions, such as dance and theatre. These passions led her to a career in writing. Musicians and their influence inspire Anna everyday. A long-time punk fan, the first song she added to her childhood MP3 player was The Clash’s “Train in Vain.”