Blind Sweetwater teen overcomes adversity through music

SWEETWATER, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – The melodic notes of Beethoven are second nature for Sweetwater High School junior Cash Miles.

Miles has mastered several instruments, including the piano, harmonica, and percussion, but he does not need his eyes to make a melody.

“20/20 is perfect; 20/1600 is what I’ve got,” Miles said.

He was born blind, with no peripheral vision or depth perception. He learned to play the piano by ear and formally in braille.

Cash’s father, Matt Miles, mentioned that Cash showed musical talents from a very young age. Even before he could walk at 1 year old, Cash could play simple songs on the piano.

“He was a little bitty child, an infant, almost. He would make music out of anything,” Matt said. “My aunt got him a miniature grand piano, a little bitty thing. One day, we heard it playing, and he was listening to commercials, and he was mimicking the songs from the commercial.”

Since then, music has become a pillar of Cash’s life. He says the sounds of the melody helped him through tough times as a child.

“Why was I born without sight? Why don’t I have sight like the rest of these people? I’m surrounded by a school full of people with sight. Why bless me with the curse? I’ll just realize, well, it’s a gift. If they don’t go away, I just start making jokes about it.”

After graduation, Cash hopes to pursue a career in music and attend the University of North Texas.

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