Learning braille music - for sighted learners
The Music Advisory Service have written a Braille Music Course in ten lessons with exercises for sighted people who have knowledge of literary Braille and an understanding of stave notation. It is specifically aimed at classroom assistants, music teachers and instrumental teachers supporting blind pupils.
The course is designed to cover the notation currently required by students studying general music in schools up to and including AS standard (Highers in Scotland). In doing this, it will also be suitable for supporting instrumental teachers working with melody instruments to about Grade 5 standard. It does not cover notation used by keyboard and pianists where suitable tutors are available.
We welcome your feedback and would love to hear from anyone who has used the course to support a blind musician using Braille music. Please contact the Music Advisory Service by telephone on 020 3791 2273 or by email to mas@rnib.org.uk.
Learning Braille music - for blind learners
Braille Music for Beginners by Joan Partridge
A piano tutor for beginner pianists which teaches the piano and the Braille music code in parallel, taking the student to about Grade 2 standard. Available from RNIB
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Print: TC20011. £8.50
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Braille: TC20185. £8.50
A Guide to Braille Music Notation by Edward Watson
Updated in 2009, this guide uses mainly keyboard examples and is suitable for obtaining a general knowledge of the code to A-level standard. There are plenty of examples but no exercises. Available from RNIB
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Print: TC20278. £10.50
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Braille: TC20279. £10.50
A course in Braille Music by Maeve Smith
This course is suitable for beginners of all ages wishing to learn Braille music. It is keyboard orientated but not a piano course, and will introduce most of the notation needed up to AS level with lenty of exercises. Available from St. Josephs Centre for the Visually Impaired Publications Ltd.
Focus on Music by Lisette Wesseling
This is published by Musicians in Focus, and is available from Technovision.
Who's afraid of braille music? by Richard Taesch and William R. McCann
Available from Dancing Dots.
Braille music code
The braille music code is available at Braille Through Remote Learning, and in the New International Manual of Braille Music Notation (revised in 1997) compiled by Bettye Krollick. This is a full guide to the current braille music code for reference purposes, covering general, instrumental and vocal music. It contains illustrated examples, a useful index of signs and the order of their use. Print, braille and CD-ROM copies are available from Opus Technologies.
Books for learning how to transcribe Braille music from RNIB
Braille Music Training Manual, RNIB
Compiled and Edited by Jane Ware
RNIB: Peterborough (2002)
1 85878 5553 TC 21039
Braille Music Layout Manual, RNIB
Compiled and Edited by Jane Ware
RNIB: Peterborough (2002)
1 85878 5561 TC 21038.