Music Education Network

Music Education Network

Introducing Music Education

Network for the Visually Impaired

by Richard Taesch

From the Editor: In general education circles

in recent years, people have become increasingly aware of the importance of music

education to the entire child, particularly with respect to developing skills in

mathematics and logic. This discovery or rediscovery has obvious implications for blind

youngsters as well. (See the article "Music Education: Not Just a Frill" in the

Summer, 1997, issue of Future Reflections, the quarterly magazine of the National

Organization of Parents of Blind Children.)

The following article first appeared in the

MENVI (Music Education Network for The Visually Impaired) Fall/Winter, 1997, newsletter.

Richard Taesch is the director and founder of the Braille Music Division of the Southern

California Conservatory of Music near Los Angeles and has chaired the conservatory's

Department of Guitar since 1976. He also serves as Music Specialist for CTEVH (California

Transcribers and Educators of The Visually Handicapped) and writes for their journal.

MENVI is a coalition of parents, educators,

and students. Its advisory committee is made up entirely of blind musicians and teachers.

MENVI exists for and is managed by blind musicians. It is committed to the principle that

the needs of blind students of music are unique. Parents have a right to know what is

available for their children in music education, and educators must have access to

specialized materials and know how to use them. Not all teachers of music know the Braille

music code. They should, however, encourage Braille music literacy at the earliest

opportunity. MENVI provides a network of information as well as a resource guide to

Braille music and the teaching of blind children and adults. Here is Mr. Taesch's article:

Teaching For Tomorrow

We have learned much about academic development

through the teaching of music. At the Southern California Conservatory of Music, Braille

Music Division, we have seen youngsters begin new lives in the world of literary Braille

by means of their own natural musical gifts. We must, however, continue to look well

beyond the obvious advantages of providing music to our children and beyond merely

providing the opportunity to play a musical instrument.

Whether a youngster will plan to pursue music

studies in college or simply to play a band instrument in middle or high school, we have a

serious obligation to see that proper groundwork is done at the most basic levels. Care

must be taken to see that music fundamentals are established as real academic skills that

can be built upon by future teachers. Perhaps no subject is more difficult to re-teach

than music. It is for this reason that music classes are the one subject area in which

most universities and conservatories will not allow direct transfer of credits. Normally

students must either test out of a subject or re-take it. In music, unlike other academic

subjects, you must be able clearly to demonstrate skills required—you can't simply

fake it!

The SCCM Braille Music Division has the

opportunity to advise about and serve the music-transcription needs of at least eight

middle schools and several universities. From this vantage point we are able to observe

the weaknesses in Braille music disciplines. Schools are becoming aware that blind

students can use written music just as sighted students do and are requiring these skills

at an accelerating rate. They are no longer forced to treat VH students differently, other

than procuring the specialized media required.

We must, therefore, insist on requiring and

providing specific approaches and good pedagogy for even the youngest children. The

educational consequences of weak fundamentals for a musical blind child can be just as

devastating as the inability to read or write.

For more information contact Richard Taesch, SCCM

Braille Music

Division, 8711 Sunland Blvd., Sun Valley,

California 91352,

Phone: (818) 767-6554, e-mail:

<[email protected]>