Arizona piano teacher helps Irish teen Freya Terris make one-handed music history

The Brief

  • A 17-year-old Irish pianist has made history by becoming the first one-handed musician to pass the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music grade 8 exam program.
  • The teenager re-learned to play using only her left hand through online lessons after an eroded bone in her right hand impacted her nerves and required surgery.
  • The historic accomplishment was achieved through a year of instruction across a seven-hour time difference with an Arizona-based music teacher.

PHOENIX Piano has always been a part of Freya Terris’ life.

“The first thing I remember really doing was playing Defying Gravity from Wicked with my piano teacher … I was about six,” Terris said.

Two years ago, everything changed.

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