[Menvi-discuss] braille music and piano lessons

Thu Oct 3 17:14:56 UTC 2013

The 5th paragraph suggesting that you look at the bottom dots first and clap out the rhythm is key.

On Oct 3, 2013, at 2:42 AM, Risdon, James wrote:

> Dear Kelsey, 
> 
> Did you say you are using a large print version of the primer of Braille
> music? How does that work?
> 
> Indeed, you will find that Braille music  often uses signs that can
> easily be confused, especially for learners at your stage where you
> might not recognise everything and are not experienced enough to guess
> from the context. 
> I had a pupil a few weeks ago who didn't spot the word sign (345) in the
> music. The letters etc followed the word sign, but she read them as a
> 8th note d, half note B and a slur. 
> 
> Braille music also uses many compound signs, that is, where two or more
> Braille signs are used to represent one sign in print. One example might
> be the pause sign (126 123). This could be confused for the flat sign
> (126) and then you might wonder what the )123) sign is doing until you
> know that it goes with the preceding cell. 
> 
> In my experience, the key to success is understanding the musical
> concepts that underpin the music you are reading. So, if you know you
> are in 4/4 time, you will immediately know that you cannot possibly have
> more than 2 half notes, four quarter notes, etc. So, if you have three
> notes in your bar, the chances are you will have say a half note and two
> quarter notes. A simple example, but you get the idea. The point has
> already been made that knowing what to expect can help you clamber over
> some of the signs you don't immediately recognise.  
> 
> Back to your original problem of telling apart a quarter note B and half
> note G, separating rhythm and pitch might also help, so look just at the
> bottom row of the cell. Work out the rhythm first, clap, stamp or tap it
> and then put in the pitches.
> 
> I also think reading familiar music at the early stages, especially when
> you have already been learning for so long, will help. So, go back to
> some of your favourite repertoire and get some of it, or even parts of
> pieces, into Braille to look at. You may well find that things you never
> understood suddenly make sense.
> 
> There is no easy answer to your particular question, just familiarity
> and regular reading. Sighted learners have exactly the same problems,
> and have clefs and ledger lines to worry about, something that will
> never trouble you. 
> 
> Good luck!
> 
> James 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf
> Of Kelsey Nicolay
> Sent: 03 October 2013 02:08
> To: menvi-discuss at menvi.org
> Subject: [Menvi-discuss] braille music and piano lessons
> 
> Hello,
> My piano teacher and I have been working together since 1999, but 
> we have been either using tapes or she has been telling me what 
> notes to play.  Now we are starting to learn Braille.  She is 
> helping me using the large print edition of "A Primer of Braille 
> Music." It is going fairly well, but I am finding that I tend to 
> confuse the quarter note B with a half note G.  I realize that 
> the difference is in the arrangement of the dots, but to me, they 
> feel similar.  I do not have this problem in literary Braille 
> though.  Does anyone have any suggestions en how to tell the 
> difference? Is this something that will come with practice? Also, 
> my teacher and I are beginning to realize that my fingers are 
> curved, but not curved enough, meaning that my wrist is dropping 
> further than it should be.  I know someone on an earlier post 
> mentioned that when typing, your fingers are curved, but when 
> using my braille note, they are flat.  Any ideas on how my 
> teacher and I can work on this? I find that since I have been 
> playing with flat fingers ever since I started, now when my 
> fingers are curved, I cannot judge as easily where my fingers are 
> on the keyboard.  Any suggestions to help with this would be 
> greatly appreciated as well.
> Have a good evening,
> Kelsey Nicolay
> 
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