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<div style="direction: ltr;font-family: Tahoma;color: #000000;font-size: 10pt;">Nancy,
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<div>I'm sighted and have been in church music, both full time and part time, for 40 years now, in various capacities, as organist, choir director, handbell choir director, praise and worship leader (of a worship band), etc. I also teach music theory full
time at Butler University in Indianapolis. I am happy to connect with Timothy. He can email me for starters, at jgillesp@butler.edu</div>
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<div>The good thing about church music is that there are a variety of options, from doing it "all" to being part of a team where the duties are divided up. Also, churches are all different now regarding musical style. It would help to know the denomination
and the worship style he prefers (traditional, contemporary, blended), and the size of church. I've been doing blended for 12 years now but started out very traditional years ago. I spend a lot of time now singing lead in front of a worship band, while I
play keyboard. I used to be a traditional "organist-choir director"! Anyway, I hope to hear from Timothy if he's interested in chatting.</div>
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<div>Jeff Gillespie<br>
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<div id="divRpF441498" style="direction: ltr; "><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> menvi-discuss-bounces@menvi.org [menvi-discuss-bounces@menvi.org] on behalf of Dale Lieser [dale.lieser@gmail.com]<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, May 05, 2012 7:44 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'This is for discussing music and braille literacy'<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Menvi-discuss] Want to talk to blind church pianists / organists<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">Hi, Nancy,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">I am totally blind and have been in church music many years as an accompanist of special music, hymn playing, etc.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">If it seems now that Timothy is pursuing the impossible, remember, God equips us for what he has called us to do.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">May I ask a couple questions about Timothy’s abilities? (Thank you. <smile>)</span></p>
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<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in; text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"><span style="">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">What is his strongest area of playing?</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in; text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"><span style="">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">What improvisation talents and experience does he have?</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in; text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"><span style="">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">Although it is hard to measure, how proficient has he become at reading braille music. I realize he has just finished a course. But does reading come fairly
easily, or is it yet quite a struggle?</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in; text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"><span style="">4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">What kind of theory training has Timothy experienced? The more the better, in my strong opinion, concerning informed expectation when learning new music,
whether with music or improvising from audio.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in; text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"><span style="">5.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">If his ear is good, try this site for learning hymns:
<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org" target="_blank">www.cyberhymnal.org</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in; text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"><span style="">6.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">In your current church does Timothy have opportunity to stretch his playing and learning skills to know what his limits might be presently? Then, gradually
take on more and more.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">If your son has some proficiency with a screen reader, get him involved in this discussion directly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">Dale</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> menvi-discuss-bounces@menvi.org [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces@menvi.org]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Paul R. Jones<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, May 04, 2012 9:46 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> menvi-discuss@menvi.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Menvi-discuss] Want to talk to blind church pianists / organists</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Hi all:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">My son Timothy wants me to try to put him into contact with people who are (or know) working in a church as a pianist or organist. He hopes to pursue a career in church
music, but is presently rather discouraged, since both his piano and organ teachers (both sighted) were doubtful as to a blind person’s (Braille reader only) ability to learn, every week, a new prelude, postlude, 3 or more hymns or praise songs, choir anthem,
offertory special, and any other special music, not to mention the seasonal cantatas and playing for weddings, funerals, etc. Both his teachers are pushing him more toward independent “concert” performance, but he feels called to church music and is torn,
not knowing if he is attempting to pursue the impossible or not.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He has over 12 years of piano training, and 5 of organ, and has won numerous local, state, and national awards and scholarships in both piano and organ, as well as having
performed publicly for various events and groups (from small senior citizens’ groups to state conventions). He has only light / shadow perception, and has just finished Dr. Taesch’s Braille Music Reading course.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">If any of you are in this line of work or know someone who is, whom he could talk to for advice and encouragement, or if you have knowledge in this area, please write and
share.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Thanks,
</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nancy Jones</span></b></p>
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