Learning to sing is just like learning to speak, it takes effort to practice over and over again. It took a whole year to prepare the single “Happy Children, Happy Singing.” Joann was one of 11 young singers selected from the audition in Children’s Hearing Foundation. After intensive training in singing and dancing, they finally entered the studio to record the single and music video.

Seven years ago, when Joann(喬安) was born, she was diagnosed with congenital hearing loss. As her parents held her in their arms for the first time, their hearts sank despite the joy of her birth. Not only were they in shock, but they also felt helpless and were with endless worries. One day, Joann’s mother saw the edition of the Music Video “Happy Paradise (快樂天堂)” performed by children with hearing loss released by the Children’s Hearing Foundation (CHF) in Taipei, Taiwan. “Every time I watched it, I was touched. It turns out that children with hearing loss can sing so well,” she said. This gave them faith in facing Joann’s hearing loss and started their journey of auditory-verbal therapy.

Fast forward seven years, Joann turned the same age as the children in the “Happy Paradise” Music Video, and she also became fluent in listening and speaking and loved to sing. When Joann’s mother learned that CHF was going to launch another project for children with hearing loss to release a single, she took the initiative to sign Joann up. “I hope Joann may pay it forward and spread positivity,” Joann’s mother said. Through their singing, the children expressed gratitude to all who supported them along the way, and inspired young souls like them.

Learning to sing is just like learning to speak, it takes effort to practice over and over again. 
It took a whole year to prepare the single “Happy Children, Happy Singing.” Joann was one of 11 young singers selected from the audition in CHF. After intensive training in singing and dancing, they finally entered the studio to record the single and music video.

The producer of this single, Hank Hsieh, said, “It was the first time I collaborated with children with hearing loss after making children’s music for so many years. What amazed me was that their accuracy to beats and tempo are better than average. I guessed it is related to their auditory training, which makes them more attentive and conscious in listening, differentiating them from others.”

For the little singers to comprehend the lyrics, the producer asked the children to draw what they heard while practicing singing. The paintings were also expressions of their feelings. “I noticed that a few little singers liked to draw a full version, which meant that the children are confident in themselves. These children become more confident through the singing and audition.”

“Okay, well done! Let’s do it one more time!” During the recording in the studio, the producer often encouraged the little singers through the microphone. Just like speaking, there were no shortcuts to recording. Only countless efforts could bring out their beautiful voices along with music.

Singing the voice of happiness through the pandemic

During the preparation of the single, Covid-19 hit and brought unpredictable challenges to the project. However, none of the children opted out and still held on to their dreams of being a singer. Because being able to express their unique voice and sing their stories meant the world to them. Just like the lyrics of “Happy Children, Happy Singing,”

“I suddenly realize what happiness is like.

Happiness is like a song.

As I sing aloud pleasingly,

I become happy and alive.”

The vitality and liveliness showed by the little singers through “Happy Children, Happy Singing” had also become a testimony for the theme of World Hearing Day 2022 – “To hear for life, listen with care.”

The CHF especially recorded the journey of how the little singers’ dreams came true to release the single. The process was filled with tears and laughter in showing the children’s desire to dream. It had received nearly a million people’s review within a week of its launch. This story not only encouraged parents of children with hearing loss, but also everyone to appreciate hearing health even more. As long as we listen carefully and speak thoughtfully, our happiness will last a long time!

“Happy Children, Happy Singing” Charity Single

Authorized by Windie Music & The Happy Singing Creative Parenting Limited

Children’s Hearing Foundation

The Children’s Hearing Foundation was founded by Joanna Nichols and her husband Kenny Cheng in December 1996. It is dedicated to early intervention of hearing loss and helps children with hearing loss in the Mandarin-Chinese speaking world learn to listen and speak. So far, the Children’s Hearing Foundation has accompanied more than 5,000 children with hearing loss and their families. The CHF collaborates with the families to promote social awareness on “listen carefully and speak thoughtfully” to create a communication-friendly environment.