[MusicTlk] Looking to Connect with Blind Musicians who Sing or Play in Large Ensembles

Sun Sep 3 16:06:58 UTC 2023

Thank you Ella.  Yes the email address for the MENVI webmaster is incorrect on the error page that comes up when you try to submit an application.  So I resent my troubleshooting message to the email address you provided and am hoping that works.  Not sure why the system isn't accepting my application.  Definitely a few technical issues.

Yes I work intensively with recordings, both for purposes of memorization of my individual part and to understand the flow of the piece for the whole ensemble.  Guess I picked a risky instrument when it comes to not being able to see the conductor ha-ha.  Though there have definitely been times where the band is kind of falling apart (happens in community music sometimes), and I am able to hear where most of the band is, play my part confidently as it fits in, and pull the group back together.  I should probably think about using sighted colleagues more for cuing.  Trumpet ego getting in the way I guess (smile).
Catherine

-----Original Message-----
From: sMusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Ella Yu via MusicTlk
Sent: Saturday, September 2, 2023 10:15 PM
To: Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Ella Yu <ellaxyu at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Looking to Connect with Blind Musicians who Sing or Play in Large Ensembles

Hi Catherine, The MENVI webmaster email actually is menvi-webmaster at menvi.org The reason I suggested MENVI is because there's just more likely to be the kind of people you're looking for on that list from what I can tell.

Re: following the conductor. Those are really good questions and hard to answer. For tempo changes, I usually listen a lot and just play it by feel.
I practice my parts with YouTube recordings a lot so I know what notes and harmonies to listen for, even though I know the conductor's going to do it differently. Coming in after a long rest or a tempo change on a fanfare is a bit of a tricky one, and unfortunately I don't quite have first hand experience with this. This is because I'm a string player, so if I'm not 100% sure exactly where to come in, I'll just listen and start a fraction of a second late. This doesn't matter so much in a string section, but since you're playing your part alone, it's a bigger issue. I think the best solution is to have someone cue you in those instances, as you said. Hope this helps.

On Sat, Sep 2, 2023 at 7:03 PM Catherine Getchell via MusicTlk < musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi Linda and Ella,
>
> Thanks for getting back to me!  It's great to hear there are others 
> out there.  Ella I tried to join MENVI per your suggestion, but when I 
> submitted the application on their website, I got a 500 internal 
> server error.  I tried twice, same error both times.  When I then 
> tried to send an email to the webmaster per the instructions on the 
> error page, I just got an email bounce that the email address webmaster at menvi.org is not valid.
> So I'm not sure they're still active?  Maybe I'm doing something wrong.
>
> I'm curious what your tips and techniques are for following the 
> conductor?  I usually do fairly well with this, but there are times, 
> like coming in with a big trumpet fanfare right at the beginning of a 
> piece, or a sudden tempo change where the trumpet needs to lead the 
> way with the new tempo, where I struggle.  If I'm lucky, the conductor 
> or someone next to me will give a nice breath cue before the downbeat, 
> but sometimes they forget, or it's not loud enough.  For the tempo 
> changes, conductors usually figure out that they should stick with 
> consistent tempo changes from rehearsal to rehearsal, at least if they 
> want me to lock in the correct new tempo right away.  I read about a 
> haptic baton by a company called Human Instruments, but it doesn't 
> look like this is something you can purchase.  Just curious what others do to work around these challenges.  Thanks!
> Catherine
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Linda 
> Mentink via MusicTlk
> Sent: Saturday, September 2, 2023 9:41 PM
> To: Catherine Getchell via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Linda Mentink <lmentink7360 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Looking to Connect with Blind Musicians who 
> Sing or Play in Large Ensembles
>
> Good evening Catherine,
>
> Welcome.
>
> I sang in choirs for many years when I lived in Wisconsin, beginning 
> with Concert Choir and Madrigals in college. I had readers dictate all 
> the words and music to me. My sharing this is not specific to your 
> questions, but I share to say that I'm sure you'll find some here who 
> will be able to help and encourage you.
>
> Blessings,
>
> Linda
>
> On Sep 2, 2023 8:17 PM, Catherine Getchell via MusicTlk < 
> musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> >
> >
> > I'm new to this list and am not sure how active it is.  But I'm 
> > wondering if there's anyone on the list who plays or sings in a 
> > large ensemble such as a band, orchestra, or choir.  I'm a totally 
> > blind trumpet player and have played for decades in bands and 
> > orchestras, both in college and in the community.  Not 
> > professionally usually, but I'm pretty active.  I know there are 
> > lots of blind musicians out there, but I've never met anyone who 
> > plays in large groups.  I'd be interested in meeting people who do, 
> > to exchange tips and tricks on things like memorizing large volumes 
> > of music, following the conductor,
> and getting music in accessible formats.  Thanks!
> >
> > Catherine
> >
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