[MusicTlk] Two quick questions about learning piano pieces and getting better at Braille music

Mon Apr 19 20:15:30 UTC 2021

Hello Jennifer,
I am a Braille Music Teacher and one of the best ways of improving
reading skills is to keep reading and playing. One way of learning
music quickly is to read and play sections one hand at a time and, as
it were, glew them together. For example, reading the lefthand part of
bars 1-4 with your righthand so that you could play it with your
lefthand at the same time. Then swapping over and then you have a 4
bar phrase learned before moving onto the next chunk.

Very best wishes,
Sandra.

On 4/19/21, Mike Jolls via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Dear Jennifer
>
> I can’t speak to reading Braille music, but I can speak to playing
> classical.
>
> First, find a good method book series that can prepare you with some simpler
> music, give you theory, etc …  I studied the John Thompson books (I would
> suggest avoiding the Shuam books … too juvenile).  And while you’re doing
> that, make sure you study your scales, keys, and exercises such as Hannon.
> I have the book with all 60 exercises.  Hannon is good for stretching your
> fingers, and there are some exercises that you will use in classical pieces.
>  The Trill (covered in Hannon) is a critical skill, for example.  I’ve found
> other skills in Hannon that I practice on a regular basis to keep the skills
> up.  Starting off with the method book and Hannon and other exercises will
> give you a background when you eventually get to the classical works.  And
> it won’t take you that long to get through this prep work if you’re serious.
>  I think I studied for a couple of years before starting to tackle my first
> classical piece (Chopin Nocturne 9 No. 2).  And I really NEEDED to do that
> prep work.
>
> Make sure you have a good teacher.  If you don’t have one, get one.  A good
> teacher is worth their weight in gold.  They will save you time.  They’ll
> show you fingering patters that will be important when learning certain
> pieces.  They will correct mistakes from becoming bad habits that have to be
> broken.  And trust me on this … ALL TEAHCERS ARE NOT CREATED EQUALLY.  The
> teacher I had before COVID was a teacher of blind students.  He knew how to
> teach me to play by feel.  That was important because with my poor vision,
> seeing to hit the keys rapidly was a bit beyond my visual ability.  Playing
> by feel and using muscle memory has been key to my success.  My first two
> teachers didn’t have a clue about helping me with my vision problem.  My
> third teacher really cut through the problem and helped me a lot.
>
> And let me say, if the teacher that you find that works for you is more
> expensive, PAY IT.  My third teacher was $35 a half hour, but he was SOOOOO
> worth it.  The first two teachers were less money, but they couldn’t help me
> deal with the vision problem in the way I needed help.
>
> Also, if the teacher tells you all you need to learn is to play chords in
> the left hand and melody in the right (which is what my first teacher did ..
> who worked at a music store) .. and says you don’t need Hannon, find another
> teacher.  I improved so much with learning Hannon, and I wasted a year with
> him.  Well, I did learn SOME THINGS, but I eventually left.
>
> When playing classical pieces, repetition will be key.  Take it a line on
> the page at a time, or maybe even a couple of measures at a time.  Play
> hands separate, and a bit slowly on each hand until you get it in your
> brain.  Then when both hands can play their part and you know the timing,
> play hands together slowly.  As you get the passages you’re working on, you
> can speed it up.  Remember what my third teacher told me.  If you can’t play
> it slowly, you can’t play it fast.  SO TRUE!!
>
> In your case with Braille music, you’ll be reading it a measure or two at a
> time and learning each hand and putting them together.  I’m a low vision
> sighted player.  I play off of sheet music and read it with a telescope, and
> I have to do that too.  The only difference is that I’m reading sheet music
> and you’re reading Braille.
>
> I hope that gives you some tips.  So far I’ve learned how to play (with my
> third teacher’s help)
>
> Scott Joplin … Maple Leaf Rag, Easy Winners, The Entertainer
> Claude Debussay … Claire De Lune
> Chopin … Nocturne in Eb major
>
> Each of these pieces took about 3 months at minimum to learn.  It takes time
> and dedication and practice on a regular basis but it is sooooo worth it as
> you’re going along and you get it.
>
> I’ve been on my own for about a year because of COVID and I’m learning Franz
> Liszt’s Liebestraum.  It’s definitely challenging.  Maybe I can get back to
> my teacher.  I miss working with him.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows
> 10
>
> From: Debra Baxley via MusicTlk<mailto:musictlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2021 4:23 PM
> To: Jennifer Bose via MusicTlk<mailto:musictlk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Debra Baxley<mailto:debrabaxley330 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Two quick questions about learning piano pieces and
> getting better at Braille music
>
> The Dancing Dots series of books is a good resource.  Though an older
> resource, try Primer Of Braille Music by Bettye Krolick. Also, How To
> Read Braille MMusic is a good one.
>
>
> Debra
>
> On 4/17/2021 4:13 PM, Jennifer Bose via MusicTlk wrote:
>> Hi, listers.
>>
>> I hope you're all well. Two quick questions here for anyone interested
>> in answering:
>> 1. What are good strategies to learn complex classical pieces (besides
>> practicing, of course): A combination of Braille music and playing by
>> ear? Any apps helpful with this?
>> What are the best current resources for getting good at reading
>> Braille piano music?
>>
>> Thanks, everyone.
>>
>> Jen
>>
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-- 
Sandra Gayer DipABRSM, LRSM.

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