[Perform-Talk] Alternative Techniques for Performing Arts

Tue Dec 22 15:59:15 UTC 2015

Rob, that's super funny!

I haven't seriously performed since I was sighted. The few things I have
done, have been small and few and far between. I took a theatre class during
the pursuit of my second degree. We had to select excerpts from literature
we read in class and perform in front of the class. We did several solo
performances and one duet. For the solos, I selected my section of text,
wrote my lines down in a Word document then memorized by reading through
with JAWS. Even when sighted, I like to learn lines, whether it be music or
scripts, by doing one line at a time, and with each line I learn, I go back
from the top and recite before moving onto next line. As already stated, I
have a medical reason for why Braille is difficult. I can write it fine and
use it as much as possible, but it's tedious to read. I prefer using my
screenreader over a recording because I can learn with my own interpretation
of the piece, and I can stop and double check words or spellings or phrases
along with marking direction. For the duet, it was from Much Ado About
Nothing, and basically I wrote down both mine and my partner's lines,
memorizing each. This is how I would do it with print, or even Braille, the
only difference being that it's difficult to do a cold read and rehearse
with JAWS. But I worked it out, and in fact, two of my solo performances
were recorded, and the instructor asked to keep them for future reference as
a demo, which is cool. A couple of semesters later, I was sitting outside
the small studio space and suddenly heard the intro music to my recording
then me speaking. I called my husband and was so excited the instructor was
actually using my recording!

Even when sighted, I could learn vocal music by ear, so that works to my
advantage now. Sight reading is more difficult, but once I hear a song, I
can learn it. I actually have more difficulty learning lyrics than the
melody or harmony. But again, I will use JAWS in addition to listening to a
recording, if it exist. I sang with my dad last Christmas Eve at his church
with a small group. I was never able to practice with them, and when we
started singing, no one had learned any harmonies, so I picked one out and
brought a little depth to the performance. I have always loved picking out
harmonies when performing duets or in groups, unless a more structured
performance, like with a choir. But this skill to learn music by ear is very
handy now.

I am hired to do public speaking locally from time-to-time. Most the time,
I'm going off an outline in my head based on past speaking themes, but if I
need more structure or need to remember specific info, I will Braille it
out, or use my laptop (which is a compact netbook). I have always done very
well with public speaking, and it's something I do well with little practice
or writing out a speech verbatim. But I do whatever the situation calls for.

In all these things, I use my cane. The one exception is when I did the
acting duet for a class. I brought my cane up to the stage, but set it down
for the performance itself. We were not moving in a large space, and my
partner did not require me to move using the full stage, so I was
comfortable leaving it on the ground for the duration, focusing solely on
the performance. Had we been using more of the stage, I would have used it
though.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Perform-talk [mailto:perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rob
Kaiser via Perform-talk
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 12:04 AM
To: 'Performing Arts Division list' <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Rob Kaiser <rcubfank at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Alternative Techniques for Performing Arts

Also, the problem with recordings is they can sometimes be dificult to
understand especially if you are trying to learn an opera roll in another
language. I never (when I was a dog user) had my dog on stage when I was
doing opera rolls. I did, sometimes have my dogs on stage during concerts. 

There was a time, however, when the choral director of the school I was
going to didn't think there would be room for the dog on stage, when We
locked up the dog in a room. We were performing at the Scottish right
Cathedral in Chicago. My dad locked my Leader dog (Liter dog) Nuggett in 1
of the offices on the other side of the building. While we were singing A
BOY WAS BORN IN BETHLEHAM (a very quiet piece) by Bengemen Britton, Nugget,
somehow, got out of the office & ran across the entire building. She ran
down the isle & on to the stage to get to me. Needless to say, everyone in
the chorus laughed & we had to do the piece over again. 

It was just 1 of those things. 

Sorry for the long message. 

Rob Kaiser
Email;
rcubfank at sbcglobal.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Perform-talk [mailto:perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Julie McGinnity via Perform-talk
Sent: Monday, December 21, 2015 9:41 PM
To: Performing Arts Division list <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Julie McGinnity <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Alternative Techniques for Performing Arts

Hi all,

This is a great discussion!  :)

I don't think I'll be much help for advice on learning scripts and
memorization because I've learned over the years that Braille is the best
(sometimes the only) way I can learn music and lines well.
Recordings are great and may work if reading Braille isn't the right choice
for you.  I have used recordings to learn music, and you could certainly do
the same.  The only thing you have to remember when using recordings is that
the recording is those people's interpretation of the work being presented.

I do not take my current guide dog on stage in most situations, but my
previous dog went on stage in almost every situation.  I don't take my dogs
on stage for opera performances.  I took my first dog on stage for short
solo performances in recitals, solos and choir performances at church, a few
choir performances at school, and for performances at weddings and the like.
I only work my current dog on stage when we are in studio class, at church,
or for other special occasions.  He just isn't very still on stage.  He also
has some serious allergy problems that cause him to scratch himself a lot,
and we can't have that on stage.  :) As for other alternative techniques I
use...  I read Braille music, use my Braille Note to keep notes on
rehearsals and the students I teach, and sometimes I have to rely on
recordings to learn if I can't get the music in Braille.  I probably use
more alternative techniques with my students as well as in my own
performing, but I'll have to think of them and write them down as they occur
to me.

On 12/21/15, Rob Kaiser via Perform-talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Years ago, when I was working with a small opera company in Chicago, I 
> had my voice teacher put the roll I was playing on tape for me. I also 
> got recordings of the opera so that I had 2 ways to learn the part.
>
> Rob Kaiser
> Email;
> rcubfank at sbcglobal.net
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Perform-talk [mailto:perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf 
> Of Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Perform-talk
> Sent: Monday, December 21, 2015 6:58 AM
> To: 'Performing Arts Division list' <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter <bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Alternative Techniques for Performing Arts
>
> This is a fantastic thread. I would like to hear how actors go about 
> learning scripts. Due to a mild nerve condition, reading Braille is 
> tedious for me. During university, I memorized lines for very short 
> pieces for classes using JAWS, but the pieces were short enough for me 
> to memorize in a weekend and come back to class ready to rehearse. I 
> have not been able to devise a more efficient way to learn lines for a 
> longer script, especially during the rehearsal process when no one is 
> off book yet. Curious to hear from others.
>
> Bridgit
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Perform-talk [mailto:perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf 
> Of Lizzy via Perform-talk
> Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2015 10:35 PM
> To: perform-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Lizzy <lizzym0827 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Perform-Talk] Alternative Techniques for Performing Arts
>
> Hi All,
> I'm curious, what alternative techniques do you use in your performing
art?
> It can be anything, I'm just curious to know what's out there.  
> Technology wise, in terms of mobility, etc.
> Do guide dog users prefer not to take dogs on stage because of what 
> they might do during a performance? Do you prefer to find things such 
> as microphones on your own or do you think that it is alright to get 
> sighted assistance? What alternative techniques did you use for 
> learning a certain instrument? What apps or software do you use for 
> DJing? Do you use your cane when acting?
> Got any alternative techniques for teaching or taking vocal lessons.  
> Share them here, we're all curious to know what works for you and why.
> Hope to hear from you soon,
> Lizzy
>
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--
Julie A. McGinnity
President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division, Second
Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri "For we walk by
faith, not by sight"
2 Cor. 7

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