[MusicTlk] Getting music translation questions answered

[Chris Nusbaum]

Hi Ella:

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I agree that it's not necessary to be note-perfect for accompaniment, as long as the person one is accompanying is being supported and both the  lead instrument/vocal and the accompanist are using the same arrangement. My only concern is the fact that this is for a jury, which, for those who are unfamiliar with college music classes, is basically the performance version of a final exam. So I just want to be sure I'm supporting my friend accurately in an important performance for him.

Back to this particular project, I think it's likely that an XML can be created through resources already at our disposal. Since the person I'm accompanying has access to a college music studio's computer lab, which I have not had access to in several years, he would likely be able to convert the necessary files to XML. A member of this listserv has also generously offered to help with the transcription. Unfortunately, though, I realized in sending the PDF to her that the file he sent me was actually a copy of the entire book the pieces he is playing are included in, so this complicates matters. I'll need to see if he can send the individual pieces we're playing separately, preferably as XML files if he can do so in the campus computer lab.

Thanks again for your help!

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Ella Yu via MusicTlk
Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2025 1:01 PM
To: Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Ella Yu <ellaxyu at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Getting music translation questions answered

Hi Chris, I use Sao Mai Braille, which is a free MusicXML to braille program. Its output quality is excellent, and I am very grateful for it, as I, too, find Dancing Dots far too expensive. Getting the PDF to XML, however, is going to be a bit of an issue, and basically it comes down to finding a sighted person who is proficient with MuseScore, Sibelius, or Dorico who can type up the PDF for you. Alternatively, you could get PlayScore or SharpEye, which are musical OCR tools (I know SharpEye comes with Dancing Dots, but you can get it separately), and make yourself a rough copy. As you know, musical OCR will never be perfect so expect errors and inaccuracies. However, if you can find a recording of the piano accompaniment, you can use that to help you as well. I've also done some piano accompaniment stuff before, and bunlike solo or orchestral situations, being note perfect isn't absolutely necessary in my opinion, it's about being as close as possible to the original while being musically supportive. Hope this helps.

On Thu, Dec 4, 2025 at 9:52 AM Chris Nusbaum via MusicTlk < musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi Tracy:
>
> Good idea—thanks for the tip. I'm currently facing a similar dilemma. 
> I have been asked to accompany a friend in his upcoming student 
> recital, and I have a PDF of the print music for the piano 
> accompaniment alone. He was also able to find audio recordings of the 
> pieces which include both my part and his, and I think I could 
> practice with those if necessary, but having the Braille music with the piano part isolated would be very helpful.
> Unfortunately, I don't have a Braille embosser at home, and I haven't 
> bought a personal copy of the Dancing Dots suite yet, thinking it was 
> far too expensive for a hobbyist; maybe this performance will make me do it.
> Perhaps I could use Aira as you suggested. If anyone else has any 
> ideas, I would love to hear them.
> Chris Nusbaum
>
> > On Dec 4, 2025, at 10:01 AM, carcione--- via MusicTlk <
> musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > I'm in the middle of translating some simple music into braille, 
> > but I
> had
> > questions about a couple bars.  I called AIRA and got a person who 
> > can
> read
> > simple music, and she was able to answer my questions.  I'm happy to 
> > have that as a possible solution when things aren't coming out right.
> >
> > Tracy
> >
> >
> >
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