The RNIB Music Advisory Service (MAS) works to support young Braille music readers using Braille music in a variety of contexts from exams involving score and harmonic analysis to learning parts for orchestral performance. This ongoing support work has highlighted the need to consider how scores for specific purposes may be produced so as to be fit for purpose and of maximum benefit to the blind musician.
The paper below represents a summary of our work thus far. It incorporates many helpful suggestions and revisions from teachers and transcribers in the UK to whom we are indebted. We should also like to thank the young blind musicians who have inspired our work in this area.
We have also received enthusiastic responses from professionals from other countries, and would welcome further comments from anyone involved in the teaching or transcription of Braille music around the world. Our aim is simply to encourage the use of Braille music among young blind musicians to enable greater musical independence. We hope our proposals will stimulate wider discussion and interest.
If you would like to comment on this article, please email mas@rnib.org.uk