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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Dear Ms. Walker,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Here’s a quote from an interview Laurie Rubin gave to the Wall Street Journal blog:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>“There is braille notation, but I don’t tend to use it. I came to braille music very late. The thing that I don’t like is that it’s so linear, and you’re taking in everything piecemeal. A sighted person can look at a whole score and they can see where it’s going. When you’re looking at braille music, it’s note by note by note. It just gives me the willies. It’s like putting thread through a needle. It’s painstaking. I do most everything by ear.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>So Miss Rubin would not seem to be a valuable source of encouragement on the topic of note-reading in braille. One excellent singer who completely understands how braille music works and how to integrate it into her own work is Jessica Bachicha. I am not sure if she is a subscriber on this MENVI listserv but I am sure that she is a member. You should be able to find her listed in the MENVI directory. In addition, there are numerous subscribers here who know a great deal about the subject as many of us are blind musicians who have used braille music for a long time. That is, you have come to the right place to ask. </span><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:black'>J</span><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>An observation on Rubin’s quote: yes, “A sighted person can look at a whole score and they can see where it’s going” and a sighted person can also look down the road while driving a car and see things like traffic signals and roadblocks. The sense of sight allows people who have it to perceive objects without having to touch them. The human eye can zoom in and zoom out. The medium of print music notation matches the visual capabilities of sighted people fairly well. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>But so what? If we cannot see, we must find another way. Certainly learning by ear is a coping strategy which I have used myself when braille scores were not available. But learning by ear can remove us from the source of the information because we end up mimicking the interpretation of whoever read that score and realized it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Louis Braille designed his ingenious music system to match how blind people perceive information by touch. In a sense, we are always zoomed in to the braille character that fits beneath the tip of a finger. The medium of braille notation is well suited to how blind people acquire information tactually. Linear presentation delivers information in a logical progression. The order of braille music signs supports memorization. Blind vocalists can actually read while singing but instrumentalists must memorize the score before performing it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Just as sighted musicians must synthesize score information into an internal picture of the score, so too must we blind musicians. We all must internalize the music before we can competently perform or analyze it. In other words, our brains must understand the music. Print and braille music notation are just different methods to deliver the information to our brains. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Bill McCann<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Dancing Dots Braille Music Technology, L.P.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><a href="http://www.DancingDots.com">www.DancingDots.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Tel: 610-783-6692<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><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 [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces@menvi.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mary A. Walker<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, January 16, 2013 8:51 AM<br><b>To:</b> This is for discussing music and braille literacy<br><b>Subject:</b> [Menvi-discuss] Note reading<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Hello Everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>I am an elementary general and choral music teacher interested in learning how to read braille music. I have two questions. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>1. Do you have any course recommendations for braille music and/or teaching music to the visually impaired? My colleague recommended the Hadley School for the Blind online course. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>2. In what context do students typically learn to read braille music? From a private music teacher? A TVI? Or a public school music teacher? I recently read Laurie Rubin's book, hoping to gain insight into how to best support note reading in the classroom setting. It was a great book but she did not go into specifics related to note reading. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Any recommendations are greatly appreciated! <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'>Mary A. Walker</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'>School #3 Music Teacher</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'>Oceanside School District</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id=divRpF709701><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='color:black'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'> Menvi-discuss [menvi-discuss-bounces@menvi.org] On Behalf Of Timothy Clark Music [timothyclarkmusic@me.com]<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 15, 2013 3:10 AM<br><b>To:</b> This is for discussing music and braille literacy<br><b>Subject:</b> [Menvi-discuss] Fwd: [Members] I have four magic questions for you...</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><span style='color:black'>Timothy </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> Your friend in the music industry </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <a href="http://www.timothyclarkmusic.tumblr.com" target="_blank">http://www.timothyclarkmusic.tumblr.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> 7244011224<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Begin forwarded message:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>From: </span></b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>**Chris Rockett** <<a href="mailto:contact@promoteyourmusic.net">contact@promoteyourmusic.net</a>></span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>Subject: [Members] I have four magic questions for you...</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>Date: </span></b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>January 13, 2013 12:21:20 AM EST</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>To: </span></b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>Timothy Clark Music <<a href="mailto:timothyclarkmusic@me.com">timothyclarkmusic@me.com</a>></span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Hey Guys,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Just wanted to share a few questions I've started asking myself<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>every morning to stay on track...think they will help you too.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='color:black'>Here goes...</span></strong><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>1) What five things must I do today to move my music career<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>forward?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>2) Who do I need to speak to today who can help me <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>on the journey?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>3) Who have I already reached out to and need to follow up with?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>4) What are the main things I must complete today,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>no matter what? (Do this stuff first)<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='color:black'>That's it!</span></strong><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Try and hold off looking in your email inbox until you have got the<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>most important things done, because your email will usually be full of a<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>bunch of stuff that other people want you to do and you suddenly <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>have no time left for yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>I'd love to hear some of your answers.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>- Chris<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>--------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Founder of <a href="http://www.musicmarketingclassroom.com/classroom-explained/?awt_l=DsXjo&awt_m=3sOwL0PKnkscdOy" target="_blank" title="">Music Marketing Classroom</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:black'><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal>Flat 6 109 Warhouse Rd, London, SW8 9EP, UNITED KINGDOM<br><a href="http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?jMyMzOxMjLSsTOxsDExsrLRmtIzMjEyMLIyc" target="_blank">Unsubscribe</a> | <a href="http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?jMyMzOxMjLSsTOxsDExsrLRmtIzMjEyMLIyc" target="_blank">Change Subscriber Options</a><br><br><img border=0 width=1 height=1 id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://openrate.aweber.com/y/o/?l=DsXjo&m=3sOwL0PKnkscdOy"><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></div></body></html>