[MusicTlk] Singers

Mon Jul 1 09:48:24 UTC 2019

Hello Anne,
I’d like to echo most of what has already been said in reply to you. I
am a Soprano singer and have sung as a soloist and a choir member in a
number of Churches. I have never had this problem of not being allowed
to sing or only singing when the congregation is thin on the ground. I
have experienced directors/managers who do not know about visual
impairment and do not know how to ask the right questions, making
incorrect assumptions as a result. Communication is key. When you
refer to “the look,” are you talking about posture or about having a
Braille score in your hand? Maybe you could email me off list
Sandragayer7 at gmail.com

I’d like to help you, if I can.
Very best wishes,
Sandra.

On 7/1/19, Mike Jolls via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> It’s very possible that the director has misconceptions about blindness.  He
> might think … “how can this person read the music” … “how will they
> function?”.  Not saying everyone will think this way, but I’ve heard people
> voice unfounded similar concerns.
>
>
>
> One time I was discussing how blind people do math.  The person I was
> talking to said … “I just don’t see how blind people can do upper level math
> when they can’t see”.  I can understand the comment.  They’re thinking about
> dealing with graphs, and writing equations.  Still, talk about ignorance and
> being uninformed!!  It’s called alternative methods.  It’s called Nemeth
> math.  I’d like to see them make that statement to Dr. Nemeth!!
>
> I’ve also had bosses that have thought similar type things.  One time I was
> in a training class (at the time I was using a white cane because my vision
> was really down) and everyone thought I was amazing because I could
> participate in class.  I wasn’t totally blind, but that was their perception
> because of the cane.  And like most blind people do, again you find
> alternate methods.  And let’s not think that just because we’re low vision,
> or blind, we don’t have a brain and aren’t capable of doing things.
>
>
>
> If the choir director is being an a@#$, I’d directly go up to him and say …
> “I’d like to be in the choir” .. and put him on the spot.  If he gives you
> some mealy-mouth excuse, maybe perceptions are at the root.  You would
> think, though, that if he ever heard you sing, and you were good, he’d want
> to take advantage of your talent and at least try to accommodate what you
> need to make it happen.
>
>
>
> Sorry about the rant.  I’ve just seen a lot of this in my lifetime, as I’m
> sure all of us have.  I wonder what is worse.  Being low vision or blind, or
> dealing with misconceptions and attitudes?
>
>
>
> Incidentally, I hope the originator of this message can get in the choir.
> Good luck.
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows
> 10
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of Sandra Streeter
> via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2019 8:04:45 PM
> To: 'Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians'
> Cc: Sandra Streeter
> Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Singers
>
> From a different Sandra:
>
> There's hope--it doesn't always happen that way. Not sure why it does when
> it does. Fortunately, I've never received that kind of treatment; usually,
> if I didn't sing, it was because the church had plenty of praise singers
> and
> didn't need another, or the church didn't have a choir at all except during
> Easter or Christmas, and I was always well-received in being part of that.
> When I joined the Mystic River Chorale in 1988 or so, the current dir. Was
> my high school choir dir., and he knew of my capabilities; when we later
> became an audition group, I passed--though it took years to succeed at
> getting into the Chamber Singers, a select group from the larger group, and
> that was because others had better pipes and the competition was stiff, not
> because of blindness. I have heard of other blind people being passed over
> because of misperceptions related to blindness, though, and that is
> exceedingly sad, and kind of ironical, when you consider that one of the
> persistent myths is that we all must have pipes like Ray Charles!
>
>
>
> Sandra
>
> Something is wrong, I know it, if I don't keep my attention on eternity.
> May
> I be the tiniest nail in the house of the universe, tiny but useful.
> (Mary Oliver)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Debra Baxley via
> MusicTlk
> Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2019 7:17 PM
> To: Anne Martin via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Debra Baxley <debrabaxley330 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Singers
>
> My children's and Youth Choir Director always let me sing in his choirs
> as a totally blind person.
>
>
> Debra
>
> On 6/30/2019 6:02 PM, Anne Martin via MusicTlk wrote:
>> Sandra,
>>
>> I don't play the guitar, but I have another question for you.
>>
>> Why do choir directors not let blind singers sing?  Or if they do, they
> have you sing on the least attended Sunday, and/or when they, and/or the
> preacher is out of town.
>>
>> I'm not the only one that has had that happen.
>> Is it possibly the difference in the Look?
>> Your thoughts,
>> Anne
>> ----  -Original Message-----
>> From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sandra Gayer
>> via
> MusicTlk
>> Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2019 5:45 PM
>> To: Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Sandra Gayer <sandragayer7 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Guitars
>>
>> Hello Tony,
>> A key part of playing any musical instrument, without sight, as you put
> it, is muscle memory. If you play certain combinations of notes and chords
> often enough, your hands will learn the distances they have to travel. I'm
> sure sighted guitarists aren't staring at their hands for fret positions as
> they need their sight to read the music. It's the same for other string
> players like violinists. Sighted violinists aren't staring at their hands
> either and they have no frets to guide their finger positions.
>>
>> I am a blind Soprano Singer but I used to play the guitar.
>>
>> Very best wishes,
>> Sandra.
>>
>> On 6/30/19, Tony Malykh via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Hello musicians,
>>> I am now re-learning to play guitar and I was wondering if there are
>>> any techniques/tips on how play it without sight? I have about 10
>>> years of experience, although I haven't been playing much all that
>>> time, but now I'm trying to relearn how to play it without sight.
>>> For example, my biggest problem is to position my hand correctly at a
>>> certain fret, especially when that fret is far from either ends. I was
>>> thinking of putting some sticky bump dots on the back of guitar  neck,
>>> so that I'd be able to feel them with my thumb. Has anyone tried
>>> anything like that, and does it work? Or are there any other tricks?
>>> Another question is about new guitars - I am looking to buy a new
>>> guitar for myself and I am wondering if there is anything I should
>>> know before buying it? I am not looking for general advice - I have a
>>> few guitar experts among my friends, who know a lot about guitars, I
>>> am rather interested if there is anything a blind guitarist should
>>> know before buying a guitar. Like for example maybe some models are
>>> easier to play for blind people than others.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> Tony
>>>
>>>
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>>
>> --
>> Sandra Gayer DipABRSM, LRSM.
>>
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-- 
Sandra Gayer DipABRSM, LRSM.

Soprano Singer
www.sandragayer.com

Broadcast Presenter
www.rnibconnectradio.org.uk/music-box.html

Actor
www.visablepeople.com

Voiceover Artist
www.archangelvoices.co.uk/content/sandra-gayer