Page 22 - North Haven Magazine Issue 9 Summer 2019

Teaching the Unteachable:
Eva Louise Bradley
by Marisa Hexter
The Life of

hat remarkable North Haven woman explored, in- ting pressure on Ione’s
Wvented, wrote, and produced wonderful changes to shoulders to commu-
the music world as a composer, musician, and teacher? Who nicate changes in nota-
would teach a deaf girl how to play the piano? Her name? tion. The second tactic
Eva Louise Bradley, born on October 7, 1977 to Charles W. had Ione put the heel
and Elizabeth Lines Bradley on the Eri Bradley Homestead. of her foot over a hole
As a child, Eva developed an interest in music and through in the plate of the piano
her maternal aunt, Rosabelle Frushour Lines, she was taught to feel the vibration so
to play the piano. Eva thrived in her lessons and also found she could understand
a talent in composing music. Yale Professor, Edward A. Par- how the song should
sons (who moonlighted as a magician under the name Hen- be played. This was the
ry Hardin), made her his pupil in New Haven, allowing Eva first time Ione could
to distinguish herself as an accomplished, prolific musician “hear” music.
and composer. This led her to study at the Yale School of Mu-
sic for two years. After her time at the School of Music, Eva In 1906, after al-
taught at the Phelps Private School for Girls (later becom- most a year of contin-
ing part of Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford) and later ual practice, Eva held
opened her own studio on 39 Center Street in New Haven to a recital to show Ione’s
teach music. amazing accomplish-
ment. At the recital,
In 1905, Eva’s skills attendees noted that if
were put to the test Ione missed or played
after she was contact- an incorrect note, she
ed by a 17 year-old was able to go back and
named Ione Lucas. correct herself without
Lucas lost her hearing needing Eva’s help. What was different about Ione’s musical
with no recollection ability was not limited to being able to play the piano; it was
of sound as a result of also how she performed the songs. At this time, those who
contracting Meningitis were hearing impaired and played music would play each
at a young age (sources note, but it would sound mechanical. Ione was able to per-
give the age anywhere form each song with emotion and correct notation. Local
from 3 to 9). She had newspapers from across the state and shoreline wrote about
recently graduated Eva and Ione’s work together. The New Haven Register in
from the American May, 1906 wrote, “Investigation reveals no parallel case in
School for the Deaf musical development among the deaf.”
in Hartford. In her
letter to Bradley, it is
said Ione told Eva how
she always wanted to
learn to play the pia-
no. Her parents never
allowed her because
they thought it impos-
sible because of her affliction. Ione was resolute on the idea
of learning to play and asked Eva is she would be her teacher.
Before agreeing to do so, Eva contacted professors at Yale
and other musicians to ask if this had been already done, but
no one could find any example of a deaf person playing the
piano. Instead of deterring her, the inquiry only intrigued
Eva more and she agreed to teach Ione.
Communication was the first hurdle in their relationship
as teacher and pupil. Eva learned sign language to speak to
Ione. But on top of learning Ione’s language, Eva invented
two methods for Ione so that she could understand the lan-
guage of music. The first method Eva created involved put-
22 North Haven Magazine - Summer 2019