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

[Jennifer Bose]

This is a great conversation! I'm Jen, and I sing in a choir and am
working on getting back into playing piano regularly. Playing piano as
part of an ensemble is a dream I have for the future, but I've sung in
choirs since I was a kid. I was a band kid (flute player) in middle
school and played chamber music and jazz in college ensembles, also on
the flute. I picked a different major, but music basically has my
heart. I'm also blind. Yes, trumpeters really stand out and can't get
away with missing entrances, but I bet it's great when you pull the
group together! I use Braille music when we do big well-known pieces
that are available, but I mostly end up writing down the words and
learning by ear. The choir director is great and uses a lot of YouTube
recordings, plus a program called Soundtrap which shows and plays
people's individual parts. Soundtrap could be more accessible than it
is, though. She always wants to know how I'm doing with the music, and
she provides opportunities to practice a lot in sections. I have the
same experience of missing cues sometimes and starting later, but on a
number of occasions, I've come in at the right place while other
people were staring at their music and not really listening, or
watching the director. Very interested in everyone's comments and
suggestions.

Jen

On 9/4/23, Humberto Avila via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hello Catherine,
>
>
> My name is Humberto and I have been blind all of my life. Starting in
> high school I joined the orchestra, playing the violin for 2 years in
> it. And, what I'm about to say may not nor doesn't have to apply to you.
> Certainly there are many musicians who are fully sighted who are, in air
> quotes, musically gifted, and those of us who are blind who pull this
> off rather well, presumably because our brains elastically work towards
> allowing us to efficiently use other senses like hearing. I was that
> stereotypical blind musician who learned the music by ear, just as is,
> whatever I heard being played by my fellow violinists stuck with me, and
> sometimes the music teacher would help out with my part, but most likely
> I learned the music on my own, with no help. I have learned Braille
> music, but for me, learning the music is by far more efficient by ear
> than it is in Braille.
>
> I still catch myself doing just that from time to time. I am a Braillist
> by profession, and recently I worked at a school where my Braillist's
> office was situated rather conveniently next to the band and orchestra
> rooms. sometimes I would find myself singing to or writing down the
> scores they rehearse as they stick in my head. :)
>
> but anyways, please feel free to ask more questions of us, and we can
> help you find the system that best works for you. One amazing thing
> about our digital age is that we can find most scores or even recorded
> concerts on YouTube, or even songs you are going to rehearse, on that
> platform. So, I would encourage it if you are an auditory learner.
>
>
> Take care and have an awesome day.
>
>
> Yours in Music,
>
> Humberto
>
> On 9/2/2023 6:17 PM, Catherine Getchell via MusicTlk 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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