The National Federation of Blind has many members and friends who pursue careers and hobbies related to music. Please watch our video about the importance of Braille music literacy.
The ability to read and write music, therefore, is the cornerstone for anyone who is planning to make a serious commitment to the art. A blind student needs to have that ability just as much as his sighted peers. — David Goldstein, Director, National Resource Center for Blind Musicians
Braille Music and Technology
Braille Music Kit
A plug-in for Windows that allows the creation of Braille music scores.
Website: dodiesis.com
Dancing Dots Music
Scan scores, listen to results, or convert to Braille music. Convert to print notation, Braille score, or audio.
Website: dancingdots.com
Opus Technologies
Software and Braille music resources.
Website: opustec.com/index.html
Toccata
Provides Braille transcription from MIDI and NIF files. It incorporates a notation editor and sequencer, and displays the translated Braille indexed to the original score.
Website: members.optusnet.com.au/~terryk/toccata.htm
Education and Listservs
NFB Blind Musicians Group
Listserv: nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/musictlk_nfbnet.org
NFB Performing Arts Division
Listserv: nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/perform-talk_nfbnet.org
Braille Beats
Summer residential intensive program for children age nine through high school. It teaches Braille music, art, yoga, and independent living. Participants attend classes in voice, keyboard, and instruments, and integrate Braille music into practical performance situations.
Email: [email protected]
Braille Music Symbols
Compiled by Jennifer Dunnam; helpful as an introduction.
Chart of Braille music symbols (BRF)
Chart of Braille music symbols (PDF)
Course for Teachers of Braille Music at UMASS Boston
Website: nercve.umb.edu/index.php?page=080326
Marcus Roberts
Illustrious jazz musician who reads Braille music and promotes Braille literacy.
Website: marcusroberts.com
Music Education Network for the Visually Impaired
Listserv and Braille music resources especially for students, educators, and parents.
Website: menvi.org
National Resource Center for Blind Musicians
Articles, lists of resources, and information about summer training in Braille music and technology for blind music students.
Website: blindmusicstudent.org
Southern California Conservatory of Music
Provides private instruction to blind and sighted students at preparatory, conservatory, and adult levels. Its Braille Music Division teaches Braille music and prepares musicians to compete at the highest levels, and it "houses one of the most comprehensive music reference libraries in Braille."
Website: sccmusic.com
Braille Music Scores
National Braille Association
Website: nationalbraille.org/transcribers/Music/music.html
National Library Service of the Library of Congress
Website: loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/music-materials
Alternate Text Production Center
Website: atpc.net
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (Canada)
Website: cniblibrary.ca or biblioinca.ca
Danmarks Blindebibliotek (Denmark)
Teglvaerksgade 37
2100 Kobenhavn 0
Denmark
Email: [email protected]
Website: dbb.dk
La Bibilioteca Italiana i Ciechi (Italy)
Via G. Ferrari 5/A
Monza 20052
Italy
Website: bibciechi.it
American Printing House Louis Database
Website: aph.org/louis.htm
Royal National Institute of Blind People (United Kingdom)
Email: [email protected]
Website: rniblibrary.com
Schweizerische Bibliothek fur Blinde und Sehbehinderte Braille Press Zurich Albisriederstrasse (Switzerland)
400 Postfach
CH-8047 Zurich
Switzerland
Email: [email protected]
Website: sbs-online.ch
SVB Studie-en vakbibliotheek voor visueel en andrszins gehandicapten (Netherlands)
Molenpad 2 1016 Gm
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Phone: +31-206266465
Fax: +31-206208459
Verein zur F'rderung der Blindenbildung (Germany)
26, Blekstrasse, Hannover
Phone: +49-511-954650
Fax: +49-511-9546580
Website: vzfb.de
Articles
- "Resources for Helping Blind Music Students," Mary A. Smaligo, Future Reflections, Spring 1999
- "LEARNING AND TEACHING BRAILLE MUSIC: Resources, Explanations, and Pointers for Student and Teacher," David Goldstein, National Resource Center for Blind Musicians
- "Music Education: Not Just a Frill," Dr. Ralph Bartley and Karen McDonald, Future Reflections, Convention Report 1997
- "Music in Education," Richard Taesch, California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually Handicapped, Inc., Journal, Spring 2008
- "The Literacy Movement - What Does Braille Music Have to Do with It?," Richard Taesch, National Resource Center for Blind Musicians