[MusicTlk] Braille display versus paper braille for music

[Julie A. Orozco]

Hi ruben,

First, I'm also a choir director, so it's great to come across another person doing this work. I am primarily a vocalist though. 

I prefer hard copy Braille for what I have to do. First, your comment about spacial memory is true. I have a hard enough time quickly finding measure numbers and sections of music in rehearsal. I can't imagine relying on a Braille display to do this. So, for conducting purposes, I will always prefer hard copy Braille. 

For singing, I prefer hard copy so I can read lyrics and music at the same time. But I can use a Braille display if I have to, especially if I know the song well enough. I am also happy to write out music on a Braille display if I have to transcribe my own part for a song. (Not my favorite activity.) 

As for music storage, I use binders. I have my main binder where I store all the music I'm using for church in any given couple weeks. Then, I keep binders on a book shelf in my church office that contain all the music I've gotten transcribed. This is also where I keep some books I got from friends and the NLS music Braille section. Like you, I prefer the letter sized paper and try to only use that. Even when I get pieces transcribed, I still have to hand Braille them myself, so it's easy enough to Braille on the letter-sized paper. My transcriber Brailles for 40 cells a line, so sometimes I have to adjust, but it always works out. 

Hope this helps. If you have other questions, I'm happy to answer them. 

Julie


-----Original Message-----
From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Ruben Rincon, Jr. via MusicTlk
Sent: Monday, June 1, 2026 10:49 PM
To: MusicTlk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Ruben Rincon, Jr. <rrj782 at gmail.com>
Subject: [MusicTlk] Braille display versus paper braille for music

Hey everyone. I may have asked this question before on social media but I don't think I've asked on this list, and if so it's been quite a while and ideas may have changed. For those who read braille music, do you prefer a braille display or reading on paper braille? I'm in a transition period with my vision, going from primarily low vision techniques to mostly braille music now. 

I am an organist and choir director and I very much prefer paper because it is much faster to read one line to the next and to go between sections, probably because of spatial memory. What I mean by that is that for me, it is easy to remember that a certain section starts at the top of a page, or in the middle, or something similar. This is probably common for many of you, too. I don't get this with a braille display but the convenience of not having to haul loads of paper around is quite nice.  

Secondary question about paper. I much prefer letter size paper (I'm in the United States, so that is quite close to A4 paper) over the standard large paper size just for the sake of portability. I do practice both at work and home and haven't figured out how to easily transport large braille paper easily. The smaller size fits in a backpack and also is easily stored in files without special sizes of folders or shelf space being needed. Just wondering your thoughts. 

Thank you,
Ruben 
_______________________________________________
MusicTlk mailing list
MusicTlk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/musictlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for MusicTlk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/musictlk_nfbnet.org/kaybaycar%40gmail.com