[MusicTlk] Looking for accessible stand alone keyboard

Thu Feb 26 04:11:46 UTC 2026

In my humble experience, the digital pianos have the best accessibility, from a UI perspective. I have a friend that lives close to me, and she has a Yamaha P115 digital piano. I really love it because there are 7 buttons near the middle, towards the Middle C key on the top pannel, where you can flip between 14 different instruments, such as acoustic piano, organ, strings, electric pianos (both Wurlizer and Rhodes), ETC. and for the pianos, for instance, I press once for one piano, and press twice for the other piano, and so two instruments share a button. 
There is a metronome  and all that. The P series are not very expensive. 
When I was a boy I hang out a lot by portable 61-key keyboard workstations, and those are not very accessible. The best thing I found is just simply memorizing the configurations, gegistrations, ETC for each voice, voicing mode, auto-accompanying styles, ETC. so in theory you can memorize the numbers that go with each instrument, and all that you want, but that fefies the point of looking for a truly accessible 61-key keyboard which, sadly in my experience, do not exist, as in, having screen readers / accessible controls. Maybe there are ones that still have fully organized and laid out keypads, but still you've gotta memorize what each button does, how to play around with all the MIDI capabilities, and on top of that, getting the most out of the potential of the musical arrangement capabilities where you plug in a USB drive and install / play your own MIDI sequenced files, ETC, as most keyboards these days can do. 
Just some food for thought. 

-----Original Message-----
From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Dan TeVelde via MusicTlk
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 12:07 PM
To: 'Catherine Samuel' <cgtrumpet at gmail.com>; 'Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians' <musictlk at nfbnet.org>; nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Cc: dan.tevelde at comcast.net
Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Looking for accessible stand alone keyboard

Now I feel stupid. I should have checked that this was going to a music list. Then it would have been obvious to me what type of keyboard he needs. I play various keyboard instruments and have often thought of purchasing a digital piano since I don't have room in my apartment for an acoustic piano.

Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: Catherine Samuel <cgtrumpet at gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 4:31 PM
To: 'Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians' <musictlk at nfbnet.org>; nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Cc: dan.tevelde at comcast.net
Subject: RE: [MusicTlk] Looking for accessible stand alone keyboard

Hi Dan,
I think the question was about keyboards that play music, not computer keyboards.
Catherine

-----Original Message-----
From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Dan TeVelde via MusicTlk
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 12:13 PM
To: 'Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians' <musictlk at nfbnet.org>; nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Cc: dan.tevelde at comcast.net
Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Looking for accessible stand alone keyboard

Hi Robert,

I'm not sure I understand your question. What do you want to do with this type of keyboard? There are small folding keyboards but the one I have doesn't have a num pad.

Thanks,
Dan

-----Original Message-----
From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Robert Jaquiss via MusicTlk
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 10:14 AM
To: 'Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians' <musictlk at nfbnet.org>; nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Cc: rjaquiss at earthlink.net
Subject: [MusicTlk] Looking for accessible stand alone keyboard

Hello:

     My wife and I would like to find an accessible keyboard. I have in mind something that is fully self contained. Our living space is to small for an external amplifier etc. Thank you.

Regards,
Robert

-----Original Message-----
From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Katelyn MacIntyre via MusicTlk
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2026 1:10 PM
To: Musicians Music Talk Mailing List for Blind <musictlk at nfbnet.org>; nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Cc: Katelyn MacIntyre <katelynmacmusic at gmail.com>
Subject: [MusicTlk] Fwd: [Perform-Talk] Upcoming Braille Music Workshop today Feb 22

If you haven’t seen this yet, please see below. We’d love to have you join us for anyone interested in learning the basics of Braille music!

~Katelyn MacIntyre, M.M.
www.katelynmac.com
www.facebook.com/KatelynMacMusic
@KatelynMacMusic
President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Dezman Jackson via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Date: February 22, 2026 at 6:35:03 AM EST
> To: perform-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: jackson.dezman at gmail.com
> Subject: [Perform-Talk] Upcoming Braille Music Workshop today
> Reply-To: Performing Arts Division list <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
> 
> Good morning all,
> 
> 
> 
> Just a final reminder of our Basics of Braille music workshop taking 
> place this evening at 7 PM Eastern. We are very much looking forward 
> to having folks join in. Below you find the outline as well as Zoom 
> information and attached the supplemental file you may emboss or load 
> into an electronic braille device.
> 
> 
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Dezman Jackson
> 
> 
> 
> Please mark your calendars and join us for an upcoming interactive 
> workshop, The Basics of Braille Music, happening Sunday, February 22,
> 2026 from
> 7:00-8:30 PM Eastern on Zoom.
> 
> This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the foundations 
> of Braille music and help demystify how music is read and written nonvisually.
> Whether you are brand new to Braille music or have some prior 
> knowledge, all are welcome.
> 
> During the workshop, we will cover:
> 
> *    The history and development of Braille music
> *    Key differences between Braille music and print music formats
> *    Basic Braille music symbols to get you up and going
> *    Interactive reading, writing, and rhythm exercises
> *    Group discussion and Q&A throughout the session
> 
> Practice files for the interactive exercises will be provided ahead of 
> time, and participants will also receive resources for further 
> learning and reference.
> 
> Helpful (but not required) background for participants includes:
> 
> *    Knowledge of literary grade 1 (uncontracted) Braille
> *    Familiarity with basic music concepts such as notes and note values
> *    A way to read Braille exercises (for example, a Braille embosser or
> refreshable Braille display/notetaker)
> *    A way to write Braille (such as a Perkins Brailler or slate and
> stylus)
> 
> Most important of all is a willingness to participate, explore, and 
> learn together.
> 
> We hope you'll join us for this engaging and hands-on introduction to 
> Braille music.
> 
> 
> 
> Dezman Jackson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
> 
> 
> 
> Topic: Basics of Braille Music Workshop
> 
> Time: Feb 22, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
> 
> Join Zoom Meeting
> 
> https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83601000567
> 
> 
> 
> Meeting ID: 836 0100 0567
> 
> 
> 
> Join instructions
> 
> https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/83601000567/invitations?signature=-im
> I4Xmtn
> Z60MeWBf5Fx2xHe8ClSdL-POlmexTeoawo
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Perform-Talk mailing list
> Perform-Talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/perform-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Perform-Talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/perform-talk_nfbnet.org/katelynmacmu
> sic%40gmail.com
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