Braille Music Resources

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

Dancing Dots Music

Scan scores, listen to results, or convert to Braille music. Convert to print notation, Braille score, or audio.
Website: dancingdots.com

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

    Braille Music Scores

    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

    BrailleMuse

    Braille music translation software. This program works well on Chrome and Safari.
    Website: https://www.braillemuse.net/braille_music_score/en2/index.html

    Canadian National Institute for the Blind (Canada)

    Website: cniblibrary.ca or biblioinca.ca

    IMSLP 

    IMSLP has a Braille Scores category.
    Website: https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Works_with_Braille_scores

    Royal National Institute of Blind People (United Kingdom)

    Email: [email protected] 
    Website: rniblibrary.com

    Sao Mai Braille 

    Sao Mai Braille is a free Braille translation software. Among its many functions, Sao Mai Braille contains a highly-configurable Music Braille translator called SM-BungSang.
    Website: https://saomaicenter.org/en/smsoft/smb

    SVB Studie-en vakbibliotheek voor visueel en andrszins gehandicapten (Netherlands)

    Molenpad 2 1016 Gm
    Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Phone: +31-206266465
    Fax: +31-206208459

     

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