[MusicTlk] Newbie Intro

Tue Feb 4 13:22:29 UTC 2020

Hello Tyler and Bill,
I've never heard of LilyPond but after looking on Google it looks
interesting. The only drawback I can see from using it is that I have no
knowledge of computer programming so there would be a bit of a learning
curve in learning to use this program and I use Windows so not sure if all
the modules are compatible. The LilyPond website is a bit cluttered and a
bit confusing to navigate.  I've heard of the Lime Aloud software but am not
sure if this will fit my needs either. I only have one laptop and I know
it's recommended to give Lime Aloud and the other Dancing Dots software
their own computer to take advantage of processor use and things like
that-at least that's what the Dancing Dots site says. I'll have to look at
the subscription pricing for this product. I am also looking at a few apps:
Symphony Pro on IOS and SM Music Reader and PhonicScore on Android. I think
Lime Aloud is very similar to MuseScore in that you can read scores note by
note and can import music in other formats but the major difference is that
Lime Aloud allows you to input your own music independently whereas
inserting notes and other musical symbols using MuseScore doesn't seem to be
as accessible. I am definitely looking at Lime Aloud to see how it develops
in the future. I am looking for a portable option that I can bring to
practice too. Something that I can put on a tablet or something so that I
can review pieces during practice and make notes when the conductor makes
adjustments to the score. I'd still love to learn braille music and will
continue with that as best I can. There aren't a lot of music resources here
in Canada that I'm aware of for blind musicians so I'm glad that I was able
to find this list.

Shannon

-----Original Message-----
From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tyler Zahnke via
MusicTlk
Sent: February 4, 2020 7:09 AM
To: Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Tyler Zahnke <programmer651 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Newbie Intro

I've never heard of a GPX file. Okay, LilyPond itself only takes Lily
files and can save MIDI and PDF, however, LilyPond comes with Python,
and some programs that can run on Python. One of these Python programs
can take a MusicXML file and convert it to LilyPond format; another
can convert MIDI to LilyPond, however, this one produces overly
complicated code with specific note velocities and such; well, maybe
the complexity depends on the complexity of the MIDI file itself. So
there are modules for converting those formats to LilyPond; LilyPond
music can be edited in regular text programs like Notepad. However,
I've never heard of a GPX file, however, LilyPond is open-source, so
there are probably Python modules for converting it to LilyPond; maybe
someone wrote a reverse module that can convert LilyPond to MusicXML,
but like I said, LilyPond itself only converts its own format to MIDI
and PDF, but there are so many little modules that there are
definitely files being converted to and from the LilyPond format, but
I've never heard of GPX, it sounds like a format specific to a certain
program.

On 2/4/20, RicksPlace via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Hi:
> I am an old Programmer who plays ukulele, use to play guitar.
> I have been thinking about using MuseScore to take in a guitarPro file and
> generate a Music XML file.
> I found  out that it may be possible to just use MuseScore to read the
music
> within the MuseScore user interface itself as was mentioned about
LillyPond
> and Lime.
> I want to get sheet music files in some form, Tablature would likely be
> best,  and be able to learn the chords and guitar solos and finger style
or
> even jazz on guitar.
>  I can usually convert music from guitar to ukulele in many cases.
> What features can be used by blind folks in the projects you mentioned and
> do they provide .gpx file support?
> Can you talk a little about the commonalities and diferences in LillyPond,
> MuseScore and Lime?
> I was going to take in a .GPX file from someplace like Ultimate Guitar or
> some site that exports .gpx files for download.
> Then use MuseScore to generate a xml file.
> Finally I would write a computer program to parse the xml, produce a
Screen
> Reader friendly and, or, other user interface types for the blind, and
save
> it all to a DataBase.
> Do these  projects you mention take in Guitar Pro files?
> I might also set up my project to be hands free so I can keep both hands
on
> my uke when working through a piece, foot peddles?.
> But if these features already exist I dont want to ReInvent the wheel as
it
> were.
> Later and it is great to hear others have been there and done that as it
> were.
> Rick USA
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>
> From: Bill McCann via MusicTlk
> Sent: Monday, February 3, 2020 5:21 PM
> To: 'Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians'
> Cc: Bill McCann
> Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Newbie Intro
>
> Hi Shannon,
>
> You might consider a suite of software called Lime Aloud which is a subset
> of the components that comprise the product we call GOODFEEL.  Lime Aloud
> is
> basically GOODFEEL without the braille music.  We have numerous customers
> who have learned a lot of music simply by listening to Lime Aloud play the
> piece back at any tempo or by moving along note by note to hear the pitch
> sound as the screen reader speaks the pitch, octave, and duration of that
> note plus any other related details such as a dynamic mark of pianissimo.
>
> If you or anyone else would like to evaluate the software for 15 days at
no
> cost, please write me off-list using my info at DancingDots.com address and I
> will send you download and authorization directions.  We can schedule a
> time
> to meet by phone and I can walk you through basic operations.
>
> In closing, here is a brief functional description of the Lime Aloud
suite.
> Remember, if you are interested in braille music output, GOODFEEL can do
> all
> of what is described below plus automatically transcribe the music to the
> equivalent braille music.
>
> We do offer a subscription alternative to purchasing our software which
> makes it more affordable for many people.
>
> ...
> Lime Aloud Suite
> Typical user:           Auditory learner who does not use braille music
who
> needs to study and/or create musical scores
>                   Sighted assistant who needs to create accessible scores
> for auditory learners to study
>
> Purpose: Automates transcription of printed scores into accessible
> "talking"
> scores consisting of verbal and musical cues and provides accessible
> environment for writing print scores. Suite of 3 software titles:
> SharpEye (music-scanning),
> Lime (read/write print scores),
> Lime Aloud (scripts JAWS screen reader to generate verbal cues from Lime).
> Other screen readers such as NVDA now supported.
>
> .	Blind users can read and write musical scores using verbal, and
> musical cues.
> .	Blind users can read and write scores and print their compositions
> and arrangements out in standard staff notation for sighted people to
read.
>
> .	Sighted people can prepare scores for blind users to access with
> Lime.
>
> Options for creating scores in Lime format (applies to both GOODFEEL and
> Lime Lighter solution for partially sighted):
> 1. Scores can be imported into Lime as MusicXML, NIFF, or MIDI from
> programs
> like Finale and Sibelius.
> 2. Scores can be scanned with SharpEye and results passed to Lime.
> 3. Score information can be entered manually into Lime using the mouse, PC
> keyboard, a musical keyboard, or any combination of all three.
>
> To listen to a presentation of the talking score feature called Lime
Aloud,
> choose the link
> "Lime Aloud Audio Presentation" on our page at
> https://www.dancingdots.com/main/presentations.htm
>
> Details at:
> http://www.dancingdots.com/prodesc/limealoud.htm
>
>
> Bill McCann
> Dancing Dots
>
> Tel: +1 610-783-6692
> www.DancingDots.com
> Dancing Dots
> 1754 Quarry LN
> Ste DD
> Phoenixville, PA  19460-4620
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MusicTlk [mailto:musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Shannon
> Williams via MusicTlk
> Sent: Monday, February 3, 2020 4:11 PM
> To: musictlk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: shanahanw1983 at gmail.com
> Subject: [MusicTlk] Newbie Intro
>
> Hello,
>
> My name is Shannon and I'm from Ontario Canada. I've always loved music
> from
> a young age and took piano lessons as a young child. When I was in high
> school I learned to play the flute and still play today in a local concert
> band. When learning piano and the flute I was able to use very large
> printed
> music to learn all the theory and notes and such but now my vision has
> changed and I'm having to find new ways of learning new pieces. I used to
> have a fellow band mate input the flute music into MuseScore so that I
> could
> learn it that way and have another friend who records the part as an mp3
on
> piano so I can learn the notes and phrasing. I need to find some new ways
> of
> learning the music though because the person who used MuseScore can't do
it
> anymore so all I have is the mp3 recordings. I've started looking at
> braille
> music as an option as well as Dancing Dots software. It looks like Dancing
> Dots is a bit out of my price range and it looks like getting Braille
music
> from my local blindness organization (CNIB) will take a long time. I was
> wondering what other people use for learning new pieces if you don't have
> perfect pitch? Also what tools can I use during practice so that when our
> director asks us to start at a certain bar of music I can quickly
reference
> where they're starting from and play along? Also if anyone knows of any
> flute tutorials or instructional material that is accessible I'm always
> looking for things like that. As I live in Canada, I do not have access to
> NLS so it's a bit more difficult for me to find instructional and practice
> material.  Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Shannon
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> MusicTlk mailing list
> MusicTlk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/musictlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> MusicTlk:
>
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/musictlk_nfbnet.org/billlist1%40verizon.ne
> t
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> MusicTlk mailing list
> MusicTlk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/musictlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> MusicTlk:
>
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/musictlk_nfbnet.org/richardrthomas48%40gma
il.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> MusicTlk mailing list
> MusicTlk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/musictlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> MusicTlk:
>
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/musictlk_nfbnet.org/programmer651%40gmail.
com
>

_______________________________________________
MusicTlk mailing list
MusicTlk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/musictlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
MusicTlk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/musictlk_nfbnet.org/shanahanw1983%40gmail.
com