A Musician's Sound Journey

The Same Air

In this episode, Ignasi Cambra sits down with David Lai, doctoral student at IU’s Jacobs School of Music and 2025 Performance Today Young Artist in Residence. David shares how he learns and memorizes repertoire without sight, what it’s really like to walk on stage without a score, and what it means to build a concert career as a blind pianist. Throughout the conversation, you’ll hear David perform excerpts from Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Featured Quote “I’m a pianist who happens to be blind — not a blind pianist.” — David Lai Blind Notes is produced with support from the Blind Travel Foundation. The Blind Travel Foundation's mission is to empower individuals to imagine, design, and lead impactful travel projects that elevate the blind and visually impaired community. These projects not only expand personal horizons but also drive positive change and demonstrate the creativity, innovation, and independence of individuals who are blind and visually impaired. Go to BlindTravel.org/Apply [http://BlindTravel.org/Apply] to learn more! Photo Description of the podcast cover image: Ignasi Cambra is seated indoors on a low bench, turned slightly to one side with a calm, reflective expression. He is wearing a light-colored jacket over a shirt. Beside him, at his feet, is a black guide dog resting attentively. The setting is simple and modern, with wood-paneled walls and soft natural light entering from the side. This podcast is powered by Pinecast [https://pinecast.com].

A Musician's Sound Journey

In this debut episode, blind classical pianist Ignasi Cambra introduces his new podcast series exploring the lives and professional journeys of visually impaired musicians. Recording from New York City, Cambra—a Juilliard graduate who has performed with the world's leading orchestras—shares his personal history and explains how he uses Braille music and audio recordings to navigate the world of performance. Through an immersive sound walk, he invites listeners to experience the city through his ears while introducing the themes he'll explore throughout the series: learning techniques, the role of specialized teachers, professional identity, and how blindness shapes a career in music. Ultimately, Cambra encourages aspiring musicians to follow their intuition and defines his artistry by the music itself rather than his disability. Featured Quote "I never chose to be a pianist. And I'm not really a pianist—I play piano, but it's scary to define yourself as something... If music feels right, it's probably for a reason. And if it's really calling you, you should probably do it." — Ignasi Cambra About the Blind Travel Foundation The Blind Travel Foundation's mission is to empower individuals to imagine, design, and lead impactful travel projects that elevate the blind and visually impaired community. These projects not only expand personal horizons but also drive positive change and demonstrate the creativity, innovation, and independence of individuals who are blind and visually impaired. Go to BlindTravel.org/Apply [http://BlindTravel.org/Apply] to learn more! Photo Description of the podcast cover image: Ignasi Cambra is seated indoors on a low bench, turned slightly to one side with a calm, reflective expression. He is wearing a light-colored jacket over a shirt. Beside him, at his feet, is a black guide dog resting attentively. The setting is simple and modern, with wood-paneled walls and soft natural light entering from the side. This podcast is powered by Pinecast [https://pinecast.com].