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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello, everyone,I recently found out about MENVI and joined. My two postings didn’t make it, so I’m trying again.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I just wanted to introduce myself very briefly. I am a lifetime braille music reader, having earned a B.A. degree in music literature (St. Mary’s College’s term for music history) and a M.M. in trumpet some years later. In between those two, I was certified asa board certified music therapist. After being fired from my last music therapy position and an extended period of unemployment, I held a position as a customer service agent for the government. Now that I’m retired (and loving it), I am studying classical guitar.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>One of the best things my beginning piano teacher did was to make sure we could both read and write braille music. I still have all my notebooks which contain trumpet parts from the various ensembles in which I participated.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>However, when braille music is not available, and there’s no one to read at a particular time, it does help tremendously to be able to pick up by ear. Both are important. So far in my classical guitar studies, I have used my Victor Reader Trek to record notes, chords, and fingerings dictated by my instructor.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you for reading this. Any comments and/or questions will be greatly appreciated.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeanne Gallagher<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeanne50.gallagher@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>