An Influential Instrument: Stevie Wonder’s Piano on Display at The Dot Experience
Music speaks to everyone, and for those with a talent for it, they can change the world through song. Stevie Wonder is one of the great superstars of the twentieth century who is also blind. His music has made an impact on countless fans, and today, The Dot Experience has a piano that he used while attending the Michigan School for the Blind on display in our gallery.
About Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Judkins was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on May 13, 1950. Blind from infancy due to complications related to excess oxygen in an incubator, he showed exceptional musical talent at a young age. In 1961, Ronnie White of the Miracles discovered him and introduced him to Motown founder Berry Gordy. Gordy signed the young musician to Motown, giving him the stage name “Little Stevie Wonder.” His 1963 recording of “Fingertips” became a major hit, launching his career while he was still a child. However, balancing a growing music career with his education presented challenges.
Wonder was frequently away from school while touring and spending time at the recording studio. Looking for a way to support his education while allowing him to continue performing, a Louisville promoter suggested that Motown hire a teacher from the Kentucky School for the Blind to travel with Wonder on the Motown Revue. That arrangement did not work out, but it eventually led Motown to the Michigan School for the Blind (MSB). The school recommended recent graduate Ted Hull, who became Wonder’s teacher and traveling companion.
For the next six years, Hull and Wonder traveled extensively, carrying braille books and a braillewriter with them as Wonder continued his education on the road. When he wasn’t touring, Wonder attended MSB as a regular student before graduating in 1969. Wonder developed into an accomplished singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, known for blending soul, pop, R&B, funk, and jazz. Over his career, he recorded dozens of hits, won 25 Grammy Awards, and sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
About the Piano
In July 2012, a moving company from Michigan delivered a black 1922 Steinway Model grand piano to the old APH museum. The Michigan School for the Blind opened in Lansing, Michigan in 1880 and was closed by the state in 1995 due to declining enrollment. The stage piano from the school auditorium was used by many students, including their most famous graduate, Stevie Wonder, while he attended the school in the mid-1960s.
In the spring of 2012, Collette Bauman with Michigan’s Department of Education, Low Incidence Outreach contacted APH about finding the famous piano a new home. It was installed and put on display in the museum on October 11 of that year. In 2023, the piano was moved into storage as construction began on The Dot Experience.
When we open our doors this fall, guests will be able to touch the piano on display in the We Are Many Things gallery. As they run their fingers over the instrument, visitors can appreciate its craftsmanship and draw inspiration from the Steinway model that influenced Stevie Wonder’s formative years. After all, every instrument has a story to tell, and this one just happens to have been played by a superstar. Whether you are a musician or not, everyone can enjoy this grand piano.
The Dot Experience team is excited to welcome everyone in October. To stay up-to-date on The Dot Experience, follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Listen to some great songs by the APH Blind Musicians Collection on Spotify.