[Perform-Talk] need some ideas

Tue Aug 30 16:19:54 UTC 2016

Hi Sandra,

This sounds like an exciting opportunity.  here are my suggestions.
I'll try to come up with multiple suggestions for each item, since I
do not know what will suit your needs the best.  Sandra has already
provided some great ideas.

 1.. Attend registration and account for dues paid, by taking payment
and completing the info form so they can pick up music.
You can get the info form n a word doc by scanning it or acquiring it
if it has already been prepared that way.  Then you can write down the
names of the sopranos who have paid their dues and fill out the forms
outside of rehearsals.  You could also fill out the forms on a note
taker, but I imagine that filling out those forms would be difficult
during the rehearsals themselves.

   2.. Take and mark weekly attendance.
You can either ask everyone to check in with you when they arrive at
rehearsal.  For the most part, you will hear them anyway.  Or you can
ask someone right before rehearsal who is missing and to let you know
if someone walks in late.

   3.. Accept and total money and checks for donations/tickets and
fill out a Donations Received form and give it to the treasurer.
I do not know exactly what this means, but again, you can deal with
the forms on the computer and then print it for the treasurer.  I
suppose you could also take the money, write down who gave it to you
and whatever other information the form would require, and then just
dictate that to the treasurer so that she can fill out the form.  It
depends on your treasurer and what would be easier for all of you.

   4.. Compare donation/sponsorship monies to items on the donation
sheets and turn them in to sponsorship chair.
I may need some clarification on this one.  What are you comparing?
More forms?  Or are you comparing amounts of donations as they come
in?

   5.. Information taker and disseminator.   I often have to keep
track of music markings/notes and pass them along to sopranos that
have missed rehearsal.

This one is the most exciting...  Sandra's suggestion of having a
separate Braille page for notes is a good one.  You can also take a
recording of rehearsal as she does and provide it to those who miss
rehearsal.  If you have a note taker, you can have an open file during
rehearsal and make notes in that.  Then you can simply transfer your
document to the computer and send it to anyone who needs the notes
from that rehearsal.  I also use Braille music, but I usually keep my
Braille Sense with me so that if there are any notes from the
director, I can take them.

I hope this helps.  And I hope it won't be too difficult too difficult
to put those forms in a readable format for you.  :)

On 8/30/16, S L Johnson via Perform-talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Sandra:
>
> I am also a soprano and have acted as soloist and section leader.  There are
>
> several ways you can deal with the various duties of this position.  The
> financial forms can be done with a sighted person to help you or if someone
>
> has the forms on computer so all you have to do is fill in the information.
>
> Taking attendance can be done easily if you can recognize the voices of your
>
> fellow sopranos.  Otherwise, ask someone to let you know who is missing so
> you can make a note of their names.  The more difficult job will be the
> marks and notes the director gives the singers for the music.  I have done
> this many times but it does take some creative ways to get the job done.  I
>
> used Braille music so making marks or changes is not possible.  I could take
>
> a separate sheet of paper and write out the marks and changes but, that is
> much too slow at the speed most choral directors go as they are going
> through the music during rehearsals.  I always record rehearsals so I can go
>
> back and listen to any notes or marks that have been given.  Most of the
> time I just memorize them but have them written out just in case.  If there
>
> are too many notes within one piece of music.  In that case, you have to be
>
> able to read Braille on two different sheets with both hands at the same
> time.  It takes some juggling of pages but, I have done it many times.  I
> sang with one director who made many changes to the music often including
> having the sopranos join with the altos for some sections.  Most of the time
>
> in Braille music we only get our soprano part so I had to write out those
> sections myself.  I think you should give this a lot of thought and consider
>
> the ways you can modify the various tasks to suit your needs and still
> satisfy the choral director.  Then when you sit down with them you will
> already have some ideas to present.  Many times a director is more relaxed
> if you have already thought out how you can do what is required to fill this
>
> position as a section leader.  Good luck to you and feel free to contact me
>
> if you have any other questions.
>
> Sandra Johnson
> SLJohnson25 at comcast.net
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sandra Streeter via Perform-talk
> Sent: Monday, August 29, 2016 8:46 PM
> To: perform-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Sandra Streeter
> Subject: [Perform-Talk] need some ideas
>
> Hi, all,
>
>
>
> A wonderful opportunity may be crossing my path, and I wanted to check in
> with you for some â?oblind-friendlyâ?ť ideas as I consider this. Iâ?Tm
> seriously thinking about taking on the position of soprano section leader
> for a local community chorus of 40-50 members. Iâ?Tll be meeting with the
> current leader and our chorus manager when we re-convene in a couple weeks,
>
> to discuss the idea, and, having never had a post like this, Iâ?Tm open to
> suggestions. Here are the duties, as cited in an email from our current
> soprano section leader. Handling ticket and sponsor money may no longer be
> necessary, Iâ?Tm told by our president, since those tasks may be
> re-delegated elsewhere, but in case I ever need to address that, feel free
> to speak about that, too. Thanks!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>   1.. Attend registration and account for dues paid, by taking payment and
> completing the info form so they can pick up music.
>   2.. Take and mark weekly attendance.
>   3.. Accept and total money and checks for donations/tickets and fill out a
>
> Donations Received form and give it to the treasurer.
>   4.. Compare donation/sponsorship monies to items on the donation sheets
> and turn them in to sponsorship chair.
>   5.. Information taker and disseminator.   I often have to keep track of
> music markings/notes and pass them along to sopranos that have missed
> rehearsal.  I also have to pass along any information that has been shared
> with me via phone/email.
>   6.. Other miscellaneous items asked to do.
>
>
>
>
> Sandra
> "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is
> invisible to the eye." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
> The Little Prince
>
>
> ---
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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