[Perform-Talk] Seeking blind musicians

[Jason Castonguay]

Hi, everyone!

Over the Summer at some point, I heard that MuseScore had a major release (version 4) which made some big leaps in accessibility. I meant to check it out, but got distracted. It wasn’t until a couple of months ago that I finally got to it and I have to say that I am quite impressed! I am using it on a Mac and I have watched all of the accessibility-related YouTube videos on the Mastering MuseScore channel. That is what really helped get me started. The videos apply to both Windows and Mac, but with a Windows machine being used in the sessions. This is the link <https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/accessibility> to the accessibility section of the handbook, which contains the list of videos and lots of other helpful info. Unfortunately, Jaws isn’t working as well with it as compared to other screen readers. Also, I haven’t yet figured out how to input music in music braille, but haven’t had much time to investigate yet as the update came out just a week or so ago.


Best regards,


-Jason







> On Jan 4, 2024, at 13:34, Leslie Hamric via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I teach braille music.
> Leslie Hamric
> Cello and Braille Music Teacher
> 
>> On Jan 4, 2024, at 12:29 PM, Daryl Swinson via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:perform-talk at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
>> 
>> Does the log say anything about accessibility with JAWS? I'm new to
>> music, learning guitar for the past 2 years.
>> I had hoped to find something that would read Tab via JaWS, but
>> nothing so far. I don't know Braille music notation at all. But it
>> seems like music notation may be the way I have to go. *shrug* Just
>> seems like a fairly significant hurtle and investment of time and
>> mental energy.
>> 
>> 
>>> On 1/4/24, Leslie Hamric via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Hello. I am definitely going to try this out.
>>> Leslie Hamric
>>> Cello and Braille Music Teacher
>>> 
>>>> On Jan 4, 2024, at 9:47 AM, Cricket Bidleman via Perform-Talk
>>>> <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> The music composition/editing software MuseScore, which is a mainstream
>>>> program, is (according to their blog) now accessible with Braille music.
>>>> It purportedly allows people to use six-key keyboard entry for Braille
>>>> music notation, and also allows for assistive technology to read Braille
>>>> music. I would be extremely interested to hear from anyone who has tried
>>>> this out, or is willing to. You can find the MuseScore blog on this below,
>>>> as well as a download. Please let me know what the user experience is
>>>> like, any obstacles you encounter, etc. This could be a major step forward
>>>> for blind composers and performers.
>>>> 
>>>> MuseScore blog:
>>>> https://www.mu.se/post/704tef5v71-accessibility-breakthrough-compose-in-br
>>>>> 
>>>>> Download page: https://musescore.org/en/download[image: National
>>>>> Federation of the Blind]
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> --
>>      Regards,
>> 
>>      Daryl Swinson, M.S., M.A.
>> 
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> 
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--
Jason Castonguay <jcast77 at gmail.com>

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