[blindkid] braille music notation?

[Bonnie Lucas]

As a child, I learned Braille music in the 60's. I didn't really use it much 
once I grew up. However, my daughter Aubrie, a blind 13 year old, was 
forced, by me, to learn Braille music. We borrowed the "An Introduction To 
Music: A course in Braille Music Reading," by Richard Taesch, from the music 
division of NLS. We didn't get too far and although she had been taking 
violin for several years, we didn't actually use the Braille music for that 
instrument. She was going into fifth grade and when she was in sixth grade, 
she took band and started playing the flute. The TVI ordered the book that 
the teacher requested in Braille and with what I had helped her learn and 
the tips included in the book by the transcriber, she had no problem 
learning to read what she needed to learn to play. Now, after three years of 
band, she is able to look at the music in class and pretty much play along 
with the other students as they go through the pieces. Now, of course, she 
probably doesn't get everything perfect the first time through but I'm 
guessing that a few of the other students don't either. I will say, however, 
that with a few run throughs, she gets the notes perfect and no one has to 
either record or read any notes to her. After seeing her do this, I am a 
complete believer in Braille music. If music is extremely difficult, then 
hearing it can help but if you can read it as weel, you can pick up so much 
more about the dynamics and spacific notes. In fact, we just found a Juliet 
embosser on Ebay and will probably by the Goodfill program at some point. 
The woman who transcribes music for school is able to email music back to be 
embossed and she is very reasonable with her prices. I say, go for the 
Braille music. Oh, one other thing, we also bought the print copy of the 
programs mentioned above. With this book, you could easily teach your son 
what he needs to know, especially if he had the Braille copy. Hope that 
helps. Call or write me off list if you have more questions.
Sincerely,
Bonnie Lucas
770-992-0484

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rosina Solano" <colemangirly at yahoo.com>
To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2010 9:27 AM
Subject: [blindkid] braille music notation?




Okay, I have a couple questions for both the kids and the parents:

My sons love music, my ycounger one can read larger size, but my older one 
is strictly a braille reader. What do you all think of braille music 
notation?

I have read anywhere from, "you can't read braille music and play at the 
same time, so why bother" to "just learn to play by ear".

Or that "he is at a difficult time and just needs to concentrate on doing 
his math and regular braille better right now"

Ok, that all said and done, how many of you learned braille music and do you 
really use it?

My big thing is that if he really loves it, then I hate for him to have to 
wait for me or someone else to "read" to him the music or to have to find a 
copy of it somewhere for him to listen to. Shouldn't all good musicians be 
able to "read" the music in the way it was written?

Okay, so maybe he can't read and play at the same time, but he CAN memorize, 
after all he memorizes all his songs now and he does great with it.

I just want him to reach his potential and he really LOVES music. He is 12.5 
years old and plays piano and drums. He loves band in school and wants to 
take his piano even further.

So if you are for or against braille music, please chime in and tell me 
about it. And if you are for it, do you know of a good system to teach him 
this at home. keep in mind I know NO music myself and don't know the pros or 
cons.

Thank you in advance;
Rosina