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

Tue Apr 20 01:42:51 UTC 2021

Those books should be in Braille from Library Of Congress.

Debra

On 4/19/2021 8:22 PM, Jennifer Bose via MusicTlk wrote:
> thanks for all the great advice. I welcome any and all suggestions.
> I'm kind of bummed out that the Hannon and John Thompson books don't
> appear to be in Braille, though. I hope I'm wrong. I really appreciate
> everyone's help.
>
> Jen
>
> On 4/19/21, Sandra Gayer via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 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.
>>
>> Soprano Singer
>> www.sandragayer.com
>>
>> Broadcast Presenter
>> www.rnibconnectradio.org.uk/music-box.html
>>
>> Actor
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>>
>> Voiceover Artist
>> www.archangelvoices.co.uk/content/sandra-gayer
>>
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>