Amy Hansel
When piano teacher Amy Hansel got a new student who was legally blind, she says she had to make a few adjustments to how she taught. Her student had some usable vision and benefited from large-print music, further enlarged by a magnifier attached to his piano. The experience of working with this student encouraged Amy to support organizations that helped people with vision loss continue doing what they love, so she started a fundraiser with her students to support those groups.
Amy has been running Sightreading for Sight with her students for two years. Sightreading, or playing through a piece of music without practicing it first, is a skill that is already taught to many of Amy’s students. During Sightreading for Sight, which Amy runs throughout October, every piece of music that her students sightread results in one quarter being placed in a bucket. This year, Amy had 21 students sightread over 300 pieces of music, with every quarter being donated to the Council.
“In October 2024, I had two cataract surgeries, so that’s why I run Sightread for Sight during October,” Amy says. “It encourages my students to practice an important musical skill and gets them excited about supporting an important organization. While raising money a quarter at a time might not sound like much, we know that the Council can make that gift go a long way.”
A year-end gift to the Council of any amount helps us continue our mission to support the dignity and independence of people across Wisconsin who are blind or low vision. A gift of $35 provides a white cane to anyone who needs one at no cost to the user. A gift of $80 pays for an orientation and mobility lesson to teach that person how to use their white cane effectively. No matter what you are able to give, a year-end gift can help a person with vision loss live the life they want. Join Amy in supporting the Council at WCBlind.org/Donate.