This list is not intended to be a complete listing of all music resources that are available, nor is it intended to be an endorsement of any organization or publication. For further information, please see our other resource lists.
BLINDFAM is a forum for discussions of all aspects of family life as they
are affected by the blindness of one or more family members, and welcomes
discussion of any topic directly related to how blindness has, is, or will
be affecting your family life, including how to teach your blind child to
play a musical instrument. All family members are invited to join including
spouses, parents, and children of a blind individual as well as any blind
person. To subscribe to BLINDFAM, type the command:
SUBSCRIBE BLINDFAM firstname lastname
in the BODY of an email message, and send it to:
LISTSERV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
You will receive a confirmation request from listserv. Reply to this
confirmation request message with the two-letter word OK as the body of
your reply message and you will receive the welcome message.
Music Braille Production and Instruction
Braille through Remote Learning Music Code link:
Braille Music Code 1997 Table of Contents
BrailleM: The Braille Music List is a listserv to discuss braille music.
To subscribe to BrailleM, type the command
SUBSCRIBE BRAILLEM
in the BODY of an e-mail message with a blank subject line, and send it to:
majordomo@majordomo.net
After you submit your subscription request, you will receive a
confirmation email message, to which you must reply in order to complete the
subscription process.
Brent Hugh's Music Instruction Software Page
Music Instruction Software: Free music software, shareware, sheet music, teaching links
contains pointers to
educational software of interest to music teachers and students. The main
focus is freely available software on the net that will help students
master the basics of music--note reading, music theory, ear training, and
music history. The page also has a list of instructional material
available on the Internet (text files and hypertext), a list of online
sheet music and a selection of web sites related to music education.
BVI-Parents has been created as a means of enabling the parents of
children who are blind or visually impaired to network and share ideas and
experiences. Teachers, blind adults, or other interested persons are also
welcome; however, the primary focus of the list is the needs of the parents
of blind and visually impaired children, and includes discussions of music
education. To subscribe to BVI-Parents, send a BLANK email message to:
bvi-parents-subscribe@associate.com
and you will receive a confirmation message, to which you will need to
reply, in order to complete the subscription process.
CakeWalk is a list dedicated to the discussion of the CakeWalk computer
program, which is used to compose music.
To subscribe to CakeWalk,
type this command:
SUBSCRIBE CAKEWALK firstname lastname
in the BODY of an email message, and send it to:
listproc@lists.colorado.edu
To post an email message to CakeWalk, once you have subscribed, send your
message to:
cakewalk@lists.colorado.edu
Opening the World of Music...Dancing Dots Announces New Braille Music Curriculum.
Valley Forge, PA: Dancing Dots, developer of GOODFEEL, the world's first braille music translator, has taken another step in the advancement of music opportunities and independence for blind and low vision students and professionals worldwide. Working with author, Richard Taesch of the Southern California Conservatory of Music, Dancing Dots has published An Introduction to Music For the Blind Student; A Course in Braille Music Reading to meet the basic need of blind music students: to become literate in music braille.
"Every blind and visually impaired person, young or old, deserves at least a chance to learn and experience music through the braille system," says Dancing Dots founder and president, Bill McCann. "With this new curriculum, we hope to provide a resource that gives the same opportunities to learn music that have always been available to sighted people."
No prior experience needed. One of the main benefits McCann sees to the new curriculum is that it is flexible and equips the mainstream educator with no prior experience with braille to teach and learn music braille.
"Braille music has traditionally been taught as the sighted musician views it from print music," says Taesch. "This course differs in that is a true instructional course-curriculum in music fundamentals (music reading, theory, etc) using the international braille music code as the medium. Print music is included for the convenience of the sighted teacher or tutor."
Colleagues in the field of braille music instruction agree on the value of the curriculum to sighted teachers and tutors. "Sighted teachers, who are not braille literate, can now guide blind students in their musical education. In the process, both the student and the teacher learn the braille music code," says David Simpson, a music educator of the Braille Institute of America. Lessons and Supplemental exercises are applications of the course which has been the official curriculum at the Southern California Conservatory Of Music - Braille Music Division for over five years. Taesch, the author of the curriculum has chaired the Guitar Department at the Conservatory since 1976 and is a certified by the Library of Congress as a music and literary braillist. Inclusion and independence. "Too often, basic music appreciation classes have only been accessible by children who could read the printed music that is handed out, or only by the blind children who displayed a 'good ear' in music", says McCann. "We've tried to take away the barrier that braille music is 'too hard to teach or learn', so that all students can receive music instruction in class with everyone else. This is a step forward in literacy for the blind. Literacy can lead to independence which is a key to success."
Dancing Dots began serving those in need of music assistive technology in 1997 with the release of the braille music translation software, GOODFEEL. Since then blind musicians and their educators and rehabilitation specialists in 24 countries have used GOODFEEL to automatically convert several kinds of music files to braille. Other assistive technology products have been added to open new opportunities in music literacy for blind and visually impaired people of all ages. This technology includes a mix of mainstream and assistive technology like their CakeTalking software that allows a blind student to create, edit, orchestrate and notate musical assignments, arrangements and compositions.
An Introduction To Music For The Blind Student has a retail price of $299 for three print and four braille volumes. Further information on ordering the course in braille music reading and other assistive technology is available by contacting Dancing Dots, Braille Music Technology at (610) 783 6692 or online at the Dancing Dots Home Page.
AN INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC FOR THE BLIND STUDENT, A Course in Braille Music reading - Part I is a new, flexible curriculum which equips the mainstream educator with no prior experience with braille to teach and learn music braille. The author, Richard Taesch, is a life-long music educator and guitarist who is certified by the Library of Congress as a braille music transcriber. He heads the Braille Music Division of the Southern California Conservatory of Music and chairs the guitar department.
Description of Curriculum: Braille music reading has traditionally been taught as a translation process from print music as the sighted musician views it. This course differs from the norm in that it is a true instructional course-curriculum in music fundamentals, music reading, sight singing, theory, and ear-training using the unified Braille Music Code as the medium. Print music is considered secondary, and included for the convenience of the sighted teacher or tutor.
It is, therefore, possible for a sighted (or blind) musician to administer or to study this work without prior knowledge of the braille music code. It is also intended that a sighted teacher, parent, or tutor with little or no knowledge of braille or conventional print music, may guide a blind student through this course. Teacher training is also a natural application for the course. Much testing by correspondence has been conducted, and the course has been the official curriculum at Southern California Conservatory of Music - Braille Music Division for many years.
Content Description: The course is divided into two Parts. Part I (Phases One through Four) is "ground level," and covers rudiments through intermediate melodic interpretation and key signatures. Part I is written into three separate print volumes- Lessons; Lesson Exercises; Supplemental Exercises. The braille edition exists in 4 braille volumes. All three print volumes are integrated and used simultaneously, however, each may also be used separately depending upon individual application. The course is intended to teach the essentials of music reading regardless of the student's chosen instrument. The piano is considered as a basic tool common to all instrumentalists. Separate instrumental Supplements will eventually become part of the course.
First Volume: Lessons Each Phase concludes with a lesson summary as an outline. This is intended to give experienced music teachers the option of flexibility, while guiding them through critical essentials specific to the braille Music Code. There are eighty-six print pages in this volume. "Phase One" addresses rudiments of music in five separate lessons. General content covers introductory ear training, and an introduction to solfege (sight singing) by reading braille scale step numbers only. Structural concepts of scales and intervals in the form of Musical Arithmetic is also a part of Phase One. "Phase Two" introduces true braille music notation and the braille Music Code. Notation covering the first five notes of the C Major Scale is taught in four lessons. Lesson 4 introduces the concept of Melodic Dictation, whereby the blind student is required to write the notes on the braille writer as they are played by the teacher or tutor. "Phase Three" introduces the braille melody line incorporating such concepts as time signatures, note duration, repeat signs, piano fingerings, notes in the third & fifth octave, accidentals, major and minor scales, and other essentials needed at this level. "Phase Four" covers key signatures and other musical devices such as ties, phrase marks, use of the braille music hyphen, and composition and formatting techniques. "Appendix" contains Theory Examinations pertinent to all four Phases, and concludes with a detailed Index of the text.
Second Volume: Lesson Exercises This volume includes the Lesson Exercises that are assigned in the Lessons text. A "facsimile" of the braille page as the braille reader sees it is shown on the left page with equivalent print music on the right page. Each braille facsimile page includes print fonts that point out each new braille sign as it is introduced in the lessons. The sighted teacher uses these fonts to reference their place on the braille page.
Third Volume: Supplemental Exercises This volume is composed of graded supplemental material intended to expand exercise opportunities, and serves to illustrate concepts presented in the course. It may be used independently of the rest of the course, however, it functions as an extension of the curriculum as it is written. There are sixty-seven print pages and one braille volume. All exercises have been composed by the author with the exception of a section called "Duets and Classic Themes". Some exercises are used for sight singing and playing, others are for singing only or playing only. Duets are common, and right and left hand fingered versions are plentiful. The text concludes with a section of scale exercises for comprehensive note study and review. Each print music exercise is immediately followed by simulated braille print dots.
To order, contact Dancing Dots:
Dancing Dots
Dancing Dots Home Page
E-mail:
info@dancingdots.com
1754 Quarry Lane
PO Box 927
Valley Forge, PA 19482-0927
Tel: 610-783-6692
Fax: 610-783-6732
Emil Fries School of Piano Tuning and Technology,
Vancouver, WA
SINCE 1949, PROVIDING SPECIALIZED QUALITY EDUCATION LEADING TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN PIANO SERVICE.
Welcome to Emil Fries School of Piano Tuning and Technology. As a graduate, you will perform commercially acceptable tuning, regulation and repairs to the
actions and other working parts of both vertical and grand pianos. You will begin at the entry level as a self-employeed clientele tuner-technician and/or
as an employee of music stores, schools, piano manufactures, rebuilders, recording studios, concert halls and wherever pianos are used and enjoyed.
The mission of the Emil Fries School of Piano Tuning and Technology is to provide specialized quality education leading to successful careers in the field
of piano service.
For more information, visit their website at
Emil Fries School of Piano Tuning and Technology - Home Page
Liz Gray's Links to Braille Information
gives a few braille music links and also notes that the Library of Congress
offers courses in Braille Music transcription.
MIDI-MAG is a list that exists to facilitate the sharing of information
among all interested parties who in some way deal with MIDI, the Musical
Instrument Digital Interface. The primary users of the list are visually
impaired persons who have an interest in or work with MIDI for home use or
professional purposes. To subscribe to MIDI-MAG, send an email message with a
blank subject line to:
listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu
In the BODY of your email message, type:
SUBSCRIBE MIDI-MAG firstname lastname
You will receive an email message by return e-mail to confirm your
subscription. Just reply to this message, with the word "ok", to confirm
your subscription.
Music and Arts Center for the Handicapped (MACH) has a Summer Music Institute for Blind Musicians at the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. For more information, call (203) 366-3300.
Opus Technologies Two CD-ROMs on Braille Music are available from Opus
Technologies: How to read Braille Music, 2nd Edition and New International
Manual of Braille Music Notation. The first is a multimedia-enhanced
version of the book by Bettye Krolick and the second documents the latest
braille music signs and rules adopted for international standardization by
16 countries. Click any music symbol to view its braille equivalent, or
click any braille sign for a popup description of what it means. Both
disks also contain audio playback. For more information, visit the Opus
web site at
Opus Technologies Home Page
Write to them at 1333 Thunderhead Street, San
Diego, CA 92129-2329, phone (619) 538-9401 or e-mail opus@opustec.com.
TacTiles has a braille music code set of Lego-type tiles designed to teach
braille music.
Visit their web site at
Tack-Tiles®_Home_Page
or call
1-800-TACK-TILE (822-5845) U.S. and Canada or 603 382 1904//Fax 603 382 1748.
TalkingTabs LLC
407-740-5080
The TalkingTabs all audio guitar instruction is the best way for those
who are blind or visually impaired to learn to play music. No notes, no
Braille, no videos, no software, no distractions. Simply listen to our
professionally designed lessons on a standard C D player, follow easy
step by step instructions, and you will be playing your favorite songs
in no time.
Inspired by Jared Hara who learned to play the guitar after he lost his
sight at the age of 13; TalkingTabs was created to teach people to play
music without the need for any visual references. To be sure of the
accuracy, clarity and effectiveness of our innovative all audio
approach, our team of 50 people tested it for over a year with the help
of a number of wonderful volunteers who were blind or visually impaired.
Begin your lessons by learning how to properly hold your guitar, fret
notes, tune, pick, and strum. Then learn to play scales, open chords,
power chords, the 12 bar blues, popular techniques and many other
essential skills necessary to play your favorite songs and to create
your own. The Complete Beginner Series consists of over 20 hours of
world class instruction on standard C D's, allowing you to learn guitar
whenever you want, wherever you want.
After you learn to play, or if you already know how, discover our Play
It Now Tunes. Unquestionably, Play It Now Tunes are the most
entertaining and effective way to learn to play your favorite songs from
yesterday and today. These individual song lessons, which come on
standard C D's, are taught with the same precision and clarity that
TalkingTabs is known for. Note by note, bar by bar, chord by chord, your
instructor along with our TalkingTabs band will teach you everything you
need to know.
Browse through hundreds of popular Rock, Country, Inspirational, Blues,
Folk and Holiday songs that we teach with our Play It Now Tunes.
TalkingTabs: The Best Way To Learn To Play
Music V. I.
Excellent Music Instruction on tapes, CDs, and MP3s!
Music V.I. Recorded Music Lessons for Guitar and Piano and Courses for the Blind and Visually
Impaired
The Summer Institute for Blind College Bound Musicians offers Braille music, technology, ensemble work, music theory, campus living and summer activities.
Eligibility (as per the brochure): To be eligible a student should have good academic standing, read braille, be fluent in and be receiving formal lessons in his or her instrument and be reasonably independent. The primary consideration is the student's motivation to learn braille music. Cost of the program for room, board and tuition is $2000. Some scholarship assistance is available. A complete application including teacher recommendations and an audition tape must be submitted. Enrollment is limited to 10 students. Students under the age of 15 or requiring significant financial assistance should apply early. Also there is an active braille music program in La Canada, CA. They offer braille music, technology and piano instruction. For further information about either program, contact David Goldstein, Director, National Resource Center for Blind Musicians, Music and Arts Center for Humanity, 600 University Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06601, phone (203) 366-3300.
Copyright 2006, American Council of the Blind. All rights reserved.
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