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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU>Hi All,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU>After making quite a few inquiries I have a bit of an update on availability of ABRSM exam music in Braille. It isn’t good news currently:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Unfortunately they have not had the 2023/24 syllabus transcribed. However blind students can apply for an extension to use the 2021/22 syllabus in 2024. They hope to have something in place again for 2025 either as a download from their website as in previous years or ordering of specific pieces for any instrument to be produced, however whether this will apply to teachers or only students, and whether there will be a cost is yet to be seen. There thinking is that this will assist all instruments not just piano and flute and were concerned that they were spending a lot on resources previously that may not have been being used, only a few pieces here or there as they didn’t see many blind candidates coming through using those pieces.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>So, it sounds like they have completely missed the fact that blind teachers rely on these and in many cases have chosen ABRSM over other exams because of this availability. They also don’t seem to understand how little Braille music is out there generally as they have said that they are fine with candidates using any edition. But as many will have experienced this can leave a teacher and student working from two different editions that don’t match on crucial things like bar numbering and repeats as well as many other little details of ornamentation, articulation, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>So if this is affecting you currently or you can see issues with the proposed plan it would be worth writing to the access coordinator now. The more feedback they get the more they will understand the needs of both blind teachers and candidates and hopefully put something back in place that suits both.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>For specific accommodations for an exam candidate you can e-mail: <a href="mailto:specificneeds@abrsm.ac.uk">specificneeds@abrsm.ac.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>For more general feedback, requests and discussion of related topics you can e-mail: </span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><a href="mailto:accesscoordinator@abrsm.ac.uk">accesscoordinator@abrsm.ac.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-AU>Jeanie<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>