[musictlk] choral Music in Braille

Wed Mar 23 01:42:02 UTC 2016

I actually don't use commercially-produced Braille scores; took about 2 
weeks of Braille music when I was around ten, and decided it wasn't for me. 
What I do is have a sighted reader record the words, measure numbers likely 
to be the focus of attention at rehearsals, dynamic markings (which I write 
above the appropriate words), page numbers (each page is indicated by a long 
horizontal line with the page # at its end), and other things that can be 
written on a Perkins; they also read any breath marks, crescendos, etc., and 
during rehearsals, I make note of quirky things like "hold that note longer 
than you expect," or "that note is the same as the note at "kyrie"." The 
non-lettered notations like the crescendos, decrescendos, breath marks, 
differences in rhythm or pitch that I have trouble with, I mark in with a 
pencil stylus on the back of the plastic paper I do my scores on--I've 
devised a raised-line tactile system that screams those reminders out to me. 
BTW, I triple or quadruple=space between lines, so that there's plenty of 
room for the markings. The only drawback to my system is, it ends up 
permanently marking up my score, so, if a conductor has major changes, or if 
you end up with changes the next time you do the score under, say, a 
different director, you can't get rid of the old markings, so you end up 
re-writing part or all of the score as revised. I'm looking for a 
semi-permanent way to do markings, that would be stable enough for a 
semester, say, (or, you could keep the markings, and then make any changes 
as they arise), but then, that you could remove so that, the next time you 
did the score, you could put fresh markings into it. I tried Wicky Sticks, 
but they don't stick to the plastic. So, if anyone has suggestions, I'm 
writing not only top explain how I handle getting a Braille score, but also, 
to make inquiries about improving the flexibility of my particular marking 
system. Thanks, everyone!

Sandra
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is 
invisible to the eye." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The Little Prince
-----Original Message----- 
From: Anne Martin
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 5:42 PM
To: 'Music Talk Mailing List'
Cc: 'Sandra Streeter'
Subject: [musictlk] choral Music in Braille

Sandra and all,

To those of you who sing with choir music in Braille:
Churches provide print music for choirs, so do you have to purchase your own
choir music in Braille, and if so, where do you get it from?
I just listen and learn it by ear, but was just wondering how you do that,
if I ever wanted to have some of it in Braille.
Thanks for sharing,
Anne
-----Original Message-----
From: musictlk [mailto:musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sandra
Streeter via musictlk
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2016 10:35 PM
To: Music Talk Mailing List
Cc: Sandra Streeter
Subject: Re: [musictlk] choral esthetics

The desk part of the stand is the rectangular flat part you'd put your
folder on. So, what you do is put the desk part of the music stand so that
the lip is farthest from you--in other words, turn that 180 degrees. The
flat part with no lip is, then, close to your body; it enables you to read
Braille without the lip getting in the way when you get to the bottom of the

page. And, if you're careful, and you use a thermal mug for tea as I do, you

can put the mug against that far-away lip, and it's easy to reach for when
you feel the need; the only drawback is, that puts your folder about two
inches closer to your body, but, oh, well; I still find it a handy system.
Obviously, you want the desk in a totally flat position, which I've found
not only holds the mug steady, but Braille is even easier to read that way.
Needless to say, you want to get use of a stand that's really stable, so
that it will not move from that position; my faves are the metal ones that
are solid, with two clamps that screw down once you've found your perfect
position. When I stand and sing, obviously, I move the desk higher up than
when I'm seated--but however high it is, I never change its angle: it's
always flat.

Also have to tell you: Emily LOVES that fringey kitty blankie you sent her
for Christmas!!

Blessings,

Sandra
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is
invisible to the eye." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The Little Prince
-----Original Message----- 
From: Lauren Merryfield via musictlk
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2016 6:38 PM
To: 'Music Talk Mailing List'
Cc: Lauren Merryfield
Subject: Re: [musictlk] choral esthetics

Hi,
Thanks. What is the deal about the music stand? Desk part? What is that?
What is the advantage of having it upsidedown? Curious.
Thanks,
Lauren

Blessings in Jesus' name! John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in
the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His
Son, purifies us from all sin. ... My digital evangelism blog is at:
w w w . ask in jesus name . org (remove the spaces).
Advice from my cats:"meow when you feel like it."

-----Original Message-----
From: musictlk [mailto:musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sandra
Streeter via musictlk
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2016 9:50 AM
To: musictlk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Sandra Streeter <sandrastreeter381 at gmail.com>
Subject: [musictlk] choral esthetics

Hi, Lauren and all,

So sorry you are continuing to experience friction at your current church-it

can be a running battle, huh. While my theological views often differ with
my current church (I'm sort-of-spirit-filled, attending a United Methodist
church in the northeast), I couldn't have asked for more, in terms of being
recruited for His service there. One reason I haven't fit in in the churches

more to my temperament/spiritual bent is that there were too many people
already fitting in slots I am made for: they had no choir, they had a BUNCH
of people for praise teams and no need for more, they didn't have a writing
ministry (nor had I ever thought of starting one), they had never thought of

involving me in skits or other artistic endeavors... You get the point. When

I started here five years ago, I found out about a requirement that someone
wait a couple weeks before joining choir-but because I'd had years of prior
successful choral experience, that was waived and I got to join right away.
When our new one took over a couple years ago and found out how terribly shy

I was about soloing-but also, how much I wanted to overcome that, in His
strength, and be able to use the gift He has given me-she gave me some good
breathing exercises to help me carry the longer phrases required of a
soloist, and had me doing a lot of descants in the beginning to avoid the
feeling of extreme exposure that held me back from soloing, and only then,
offered me solo opportunities-each of which I'm learning more from re
technique, and generalizing techniques from choral settings to solo, or from

coloratura soprano (my home) to my much-weaker alto range. Our director
checks in with me about using a chair for performances, and I'm usually able

to decline, since I can stand for short periods-and we always use on for
rehearsing so that my old knees don't suffer-but it's the fact that she
"gets" my old knees and doesn't let the esthetic obstruct my doing what I
need to to maximize what I do: when I need the chair for rehearsals, we have

it-when I don't, we set it aside. I also use a music stand with the
desk-part turned upside-down, a tip I learned from some of you, and that has

been wonderful for both choral work and soloing. I really, really hope,
Lauren, that your congregation and the powers that be can look beyond the
esthetics, as our Lord did, so that you can fully engage in using your
gifts. I will pray to that effect.

Blessings,

Sandra
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is
invisible to the eye." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery The Little Prince

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