Sunday, February 9, 2025
53.6 F
Roseville

Blindness Rebecca Kragnes

The National Federal of the Blind Web site reports that about 1.3 million Americans are legally blind, and of those only one percent were born that way. The vast majority of the blind lose their vision later in life, primarily due to diabetes, glaucoma or macular degeneration.

Rebecca Kragnes, 34, of Minneapolis, was one of the rare few. “I’m a mystery child,” said Kragnes in a telephone interview. “They don’t know why I am blind. I was just born blind and also had birth defects with my hands. I suspect it had something to do with the farm chemicals my dad used.”

Kragnes was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and at age three was sent 250 miles away nine months out of the year to a school for the blind, where she would learn Braille and was educated until age 12. After the sixth grade, her parents mainstreamed her near home.

By age five, she had begun piano lessons.

“My grandmother was an extremely talented musician,” she said. “She had a piano and organ at her home, and I went there on weekends. She and I often played duets.”

Over time, Kragnes acquired enough talent to major in music in college, but decided against it. “For one, I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life playing somebody else’s work,” she said. “I have a huge interest in composition, and wanted to combine the styles of pop and classical into something different.”

Also, the stereotype existed of blind people being only musicians, such as Ray Charles, Jose Feliciano and Stevie Wonder, she said. She wanted to prove to people that she could do more than play piano. So along with minoring in music, she majored in counseling at Briar Cliff College and later earned a Master’s degree.

To shorten a long story, Kragnes married, moved to Minneapolis, and in 1998 during a period in which she and her husband were unemployed she launched a professional musical career. Since 2000, she has released four CDs of her unique free-flowing piano music, which sounds similar to “New Age” music. Another album is in the works. She also has a weekly piano gig at a Minneapolis restaurant, and plays at her Catholic church.

To parents of a blind child, she said, “Let your child find his or her own interests, but be realistic about it.”



Brighter Side

Trending

LA-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Décor in Roseville

Transform your living room and bedroom with La-Z-Boy's comfortable home furniture. Shop for sofas, couches, recliners, chairs, tables, mattress in a box, and more today.

Roseville Pleasant Grove Creek Trail closure for critical repairs

Roseville, Calif. - The trail crossing over Pleasant Grove Creek is closed for critical repairs between Old Coach Drive/Phillips Park and the Orchard View Road trailhead parking lot.

RG Philips Park in Roseville

RG Philips Park "This 6.5 acre park features a children’s...

Roseville welcomes US Quadball West Coast National Qualifier to Maidu Park

Roseville, Calif. - Quadball, an action-packed sport that evolved from the Harry Potter novels, will hold its only West Coast national qualifier Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9 at Maidu Regional Park in Roseville.

The Crepe Stop in Roseville

The Crepe Stop in Roseville. Savory & Sweet. Crepes, Pancakes, Waffles, Gelato, Boba Tea.

Topics

LA-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Décor in Roseville

Transform your living room and bedroom with La-Z-Boy's comfortable home furniture. Shop for sofas, couches, recliners, chairs, tables, mattress in a box, and more today.

Roseville Pleasant Grove Creek Trail closure for critical repairs

Roseville, Calif. - The trail crossing over Pleasant Grove Creek is closed for critical repairs between Old Coach Drive/Phillips Park and the Orchard View Road trailhead parking lot.

RG Philips Park in Roseville

RG Philips Park "This 6.5 acre park features a children’s...

Roseville welcomes US Quadball West Coast National Qualifier to Maidu Park

Roseville, Calif. - Quadball, an action-packed sport that evolved from the Harry Potter novels, will hold its only West Coast national qualifier Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9 at Maidu Regional Park in Roseville.

The Crepe Stop in Roseville

The Crepe Stop in Roseville. Savory & Sweet. Crepes, Pancakes, Waffles, Gelato, Boba Tea.

Roseville Today Super Bowl party picks for Eagles and Chiefs game

Roseville, Calif.- This Sunday at the Superdome in New Orleans, the Philadelphia take on the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. A super-sized rematch and unofficial national holiday of $8 million dollar commercials, food and drink and a little football.

Quarry Oaks Apartments in Rocklin

Quarry Oaks Apartments in Rocklin, Calif.

All American Sweeping Co. in Roseville

All American Sweeping's objective is to provide personalized customer service with an emphasis on professionalism, communication, responsiveness and quality at a fair price

Related Articles

Local Spotlight

Mobley Pest Services in Roseville serving the community and region for over 20 years

Roseville, Calif.- Fully licensed and bonded, Mobley Pest Services in Roseville has been providing reliable pest control services for well over 20 years. Serving residents and businesses in the greater Placer and Sacramento region, Mobley Pest Services is locally owned and operated in Roseville.

California Fence and Patio serving Placer County for over 30 years

Loomis, Calif. - California Fence & Patio is proud of their reputation as the premier fencing and patio cover contractor in the Roseville,, Sacramento and Placer County region.

Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry in Rocklin serving the local community since 2000

Rocklin, Calif.- For nearly 24 years, Jason and Heather have grown their successful Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry practice by faithfully serving patients throughout the Rocklin, Roseville, and greater South Placer County region. Their business has grown to now employ over a dozen employees which helps them meet the growing demands of a successful local business.