Radio, CD and MP3
RNIB surveys have found that between 80 and 90 per cent of people with sight problems are regular radio listeners. With technology moving at a fast pace, more and more radios, CD and MP3 players are being made accessible to blind and partially sighted users.
Digital Radio
Digital radios can offer many benefits such as hiss-free sound, the ability to save favourite stations and access to a wider range of stations and programming. However, their design can present significant difficulties to blind and partially sighted users. For further information about DAB (digital audio broadcasting) radio, including advice on choosing a suitable model, visit our digital radio page.
You can see details of talking analogue and digital radios available from RNIB by visiting our online shop.
RNIB's own radio station Insight Radio broadcasts online 24 hours a day via the Insight Radio website. You can also listen via Sky Channel 0188 and in Glasgow on 101FM, or on freesat channel 777.
For more information about digital radio call the RNIB helpline on 0303 123 9999 and ask for the information sheet "What is digital radio?"
DAISY
DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) has opened up more opportunities for people to independently access books, CDs and MP3s. DAISY content is fast and easy to access, and offers text only, audio or synchronised text and audio. DAISY allows the reader to jump to specific chapters, pages, set bookmarks and resume playback from the last position, making reading more enjoyable and efficient.
DAISY CDs cannot be read by conventional CD players, however, all DAISY talking book players can play standard CDs including MP3 recordings. Some Daisy players use SD memory cards allowing you to store several books and music on one SD memory card. These players require access to a computer in order to copy your books and music onto the memory card. Visit our online shop to browse the range of Daisy and MP3 players and Daisy books available from RNIB or to place an order.
For more information about Daisy, call the RNIB helpline on 0303 123 9999 and ask for a copy of the fact sheet "DAISY players and radios available from RNIB"
RNIB Talking Book Service
Subscribe to the RNIB Talking Book Service for the loan of over 10,000 DAISY leisure titles, most unabridged on just one disc. Phone 0845 762 6843 to find out how to join.
Listening on your computer
If you have a computer at home, you might be able to use it to listen to music.
There are software applications for all operating systems. Often the software you need is supplied with the computer but there are many free media players available on the internet as well as commercial packages. The right package depends on the format of the music you want to listen to, for instance streamed audio from the internet, CD, DVD, MP3 or MIDI files.
For more detail about music technology and compatible access technology, phone the Music Advisory Service on 020 7391 2273 or email mas@rnib.org.uk
British Wireless for the Blind Fund
The British Wireless for the Blind Fund supplies radios, radio cassette recorders and CD players to registered blind and partially sighted people, over the age of 8, who are in need and who live in the UK. Contact the British Wireless for the Blind Fund on 01634 83 25 01.
Music programmes
Nostalgic music
National Music for the Blind (NMLB) produces music programmes, presented in radio-show style on a 90 minute cassette tape. The programmes, which are monthly, comprise nostalgic music from around the world. NMLB's own library holds over two million titles covering old 78s, vinyl LPs and singles, tapes and CDs.
NMLB also produces Guiding Star, a music programme with quirky news items, requests and the occasional short story, and Soundtrax, a magazine show with a serial play, documentary, short story and comedy programme.
The cassette tapes are sent in wallets with reversible address cards and should be returned within the month for the next edition of programmes.
The service is now free to people with sight problems but they do ask for verification from a trusted source (for instance social services, a doctor, a blind society, RNIB etc). For more information please email music4blind@gmail.com or write to:
National Music for the Blind
Churchtown Studios
2 High Park Road
Southport
Merseyside
PR9 7QL
Tel: 01704 22 80 10
In Touch (Radio 4)
Every Tuesday evening, BBC Radio 4 broadcasts In Touch, a weekly programme featuring news, views and information of interest to people with sight loss. You can listen to the latest programmes on the BBC website.
Music magazines
RNIB's music magazines
RNIB produces a Radio Guide with programme information for the national BBC radio stations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Live and Virgin. There is also an optional supplement giving details of the BBC's regional services in Scotland, Wales and Ulster. The Guide is published every Friday, and is available in braille and via email, with a special edition at Christmas.
Information about BBC Radio 3 appears in the publication 3FM which focuses exclusively on Radio 3 and Classic FM. This is published weekly, every Friday, and is available in Braille and on email for £0.23 per issue.
A full list of other music-related magazines available from RNIB and Talking Newspapers and Magazines is available on our Braille music magazines and tutor books page. To subscribe to any of these, please contact RNIB Customer Services by telephone on 0303 123 9999 or email cservices@rnib.org.uk.
VI music
This service is specifically targeted towards music lovers with sight problems, offering a free audio catalogue on tape, detailing a broad range of new music releases. VI Music provides a 24 hour messaging service which is:
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Direct - second class post is included in the price
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Competitive - prices for CD albums around £13
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Hassle-free - payment by credit / debit card or cheque or postal order.
Call Mark Marriott on 01384 89 44 42 for your free audio, braille or large print catalogue, with no obligation to buy.
TNAUK (Talking Newspapers and Magazines)
TNAUK produce a wide range of music titles. See the music magazines section above for further details.
Music organisations visiting the home
Why not invite professional musicians into your home so that you can listen to them in the comfort of your armchair? Or ask them to come and run a session for you and a few friends. The following organisations can help:
Drake Music
Drake Music offer opportunities for any disabled people wishing to explore music making, this includes music making in the home. They currently have regional projects in the North West (mostly in Manchester), South West (mostly in Bristol), East Midlands and London and the South East.
For more information contact:
Anna Thorpe-Tracey
Administration Manager
Drake Music
Albany Centre
Douglas Way
Deptford
London SE6 4AG
Telephone: 020 8692 9000
Live Music Now
Live Music Now is a charitable scheme with branches located throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The scheme enables people to access the joy of live music, and is particularly aimed at those who have physical, sensory and learning disabilities. The young professional musicians work in settings including residential homes, hospitals and hospices. All musicians are young professionals starting out in their careers.
For more information please contact the head office at:
Live Music Now
10 Stratford Place
London
W1C 1BA
Telephone: 020 7493 3443
Sound it Out
Sound it Out's flagship project Musical Connections has a proven track record of successfully leading musicians who are isolated through disability or age. For the past ten years Sound It Out has been enabling people in the Midlands to work with professional musicians. One to one sessions take place either at MAC or in the participants' own homes as appropriate.
For more information contact:
Rebecca Parkes
Programme Officer
Sound It Out
The Arch, Unit F9
48 - 52 Floodgate Street
Birmingham B5 5SL
Telephone: 0121 772 8655
Email: enquiries@sounditout.co.uk