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DARTMOUTH, N.S. – A group of Nova Scotia Community College students in a deaf studies program performed in American Sign Language for an annual holiday concert series Wednesday.

“I really enjoy coming up with ways to show the music, and lots of hearing people are interested in the same type of thing as well,” instructor Jim McDermott said through interpreter Karen Staples.

The songs performed included several well-known Christmas hits.

Performers took a few artistic liberties with how they signed.

“When you’re in a signed conversation, you’re still using your facial expressions and gestures, but it’s not as grandiose as you would if you were singing,” student Shayna Langlois said.

Participants said the performance is somewhat similar to singing.

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“You’re relying a lot on tonal volumes and all of that, so it’s great to have the opportunity to use your body to show that kind of thing instead of just your voice,” said Charly Kelley, another student.

McDermott, who is deaf, said people who are deaf can appreciate singing even if some can’t hear any of it.

“The way that we would typically enjoy music is, if it’s loud, you can feel the vibration,” he said.