Learning

Music books and braille transcription

Summary: Where to get magazines, books and accessible music scores (eg braille, large print, modified stave notation and talking scores).

• RNIB library services
• Music magazines in braille and on CD
• RNIB Transcription Centres
• Braille music transcribers
• Books teaching braille music from RNIB Peterborough
• Books from other sources

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Summary: Music resources for blind and partially sighted people.

RNIB library services

The RNIB National Library Service has an extensive collection of braille music available for loan. We have approximately 14,000 titles covering a variety of instruments and musical styles.

The music collection is a valuable resource for blind and partially sighted musicians, both professional and amateur, and music can be lent to readers anywhere within the UK and overseas.

In addition to braille music, there is also a small amount of large print music and instructional CDs and cassettes, and the facility to borrow braille, large print, CDs and cassettes from overseas libraries.

For availability of braille music and to place orders, contact: megan.chivers@rnib.org.uk (the Music Librarian).

For queries about the braille music code, transcriptions of printed music into braille or related issues, please contact Customer Services: cservices@rnib.org.uk.

Music magazines in braille and on CD

Music Magazine
UK: 83p
International: £4.40
Monthly. Available in braille, email and CD.

Good Vibrations
UK: 44p
International: £2.08
Monthly. Available in braille, email and CD.

Piano Tuners Quarterly
UK: 54p
International: £2.24
Quarterly and available in most formats (not cassette).

Proms Guide
£3. Braille codes stay the same, but CD codes are now TC21087 & TC21088.

Upbeat Magazine
UK: 70p
International: £3.34
Monthly. Available on braille, email and CD.

RNIB Transcription Centres

Peterborough

Braille music is produced at Peterborough within the Transcription area. For enquiries about how something in print is transcribed into braille, eg layout and conventions, email john.armstrong@rnib.org.uk.

For further details on customer queries and orders, contact cservices@rnib.org.uk.

RNIB Transcription Centre South West

This centre provides a free service to individuals who are blind or partially sighted, although organisations are subject to charges. Any type of print material can be transcribed to the individual's requirements. They have put many musical scores into modified print.

For further information, contact:
Ruth Frampton
Telephone: 01752 69 00 92
Email ruth.frampton@rnib.org.uk

Braille music transcribers

Please contact any of the following for information on cost, transcription time, layouts, terms and conditions and further information.

• RNIB Peterborough: cservices@rnib.org.uk
• Golden Chord
• Braille Transcan
• HMP Prison Full Sutton, Braille Unit, York, YO14 1PS, 01759 47 53 06.

Books teaching braille music from RNIB Peterborough

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.

• Print: TC20011. £6.90
• Braille: TC20185. £6.90

A Guide to Braille Music Notation by Edward Watson

Updated in 1994, 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.

• Print: TC20278. £7.00
• Braille: TC20279. £7.00

Books from other sources

The braille music code is available at Braille Through Remote Learning, and in the New International Manual of Braille Music Notation. This is a full guide to the current braille music code for reference purposes, covering general, instrumental and vocal music. It contains a useful index of signs and the order of their use. Print, braille and CD-ROM copies are available from Opus Technologies.

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.

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.

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Content author: mas@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 22/07/2008 10:47