No-Handed Pianist

I’ve always had a great deal of admiration for the one-handed pianist Nicholas McCarthy. It must be so difficult playing the piano without a full set of digits. But what about trying to play when you were born with no proper fingers at all?

The Mail tells the inspiring story of Russian teenager Alexey Romanov who taught himself to play the piano by ear – listening carefully to the chord progressions. Having watched the video of him playing, I am amazed by the incredible sound he manages to make. Few teenagers can play the piano this well even when they don’t have a disability.

I can’t work out how he manages to manoeuvre his uniquely shaped ‘hands’ with such dexterity. All I know is I’m very glad to hear he was self-taught … I can’t imagine most piano teachers knowing where to start with him. I certainly couldn’t apply my own tried and tested methods