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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Hi Shannon,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>As our friend, David Goldstein wrote, there are many people subscribed here who can connect you to teaching and technical resources. This community is a great one to contact for getting started with braille music and technology not to mention discussions about related topics like how to participate in school music competitions, etc. My recommendation would be to learn as much as you can about your options so you can make your own informed decision about how to proceed to meet your goals.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Please read this entire message and then come back to follow links of interest.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dancing Dots can offer a time-tested series of braille music courses by our friend and MENVI founder, Richard Taesch. Learn all about Richard’s courses for braille music and the related series for piano at:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="http://www.DancingDots.com/prodesc/currdet.htm">www.DancingDots.com/prodesc/currdet.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>You can order from Dancing Dots or, if you qualify for services from the Music Section of the National Library Service, you may borrow these courses for up to six months.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Since 1997, Dancing Dots has been publishing the GOODFEEL suite of accessible music notation software. You and all MENVI subscribers are welcome to try GOODFEEL for a couple of weeks at no cost. See link below to download.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Yes, our software is paid software. One valuable advantage to spending money on software is that you will receive personalized technical support and orientation and training session from experienced blind and/or sighted musicians from Dancing Dots. All new customers receive priority phone support for the first 90 days. We also maintain an active listserv of users from around the world who can sometimes answer your questions before one of us here at Dancing Dots can do so. Of course, we ourselves monitor that list and respond regularly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Our team at Dancing Dots pioneered what we call the talking braille score. Here are links to short videos demonstrating that feature. Then I will include the link for downloading an evaluation copy of the GOODFEEL suite.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>You and all interested are invited to contact me directly off-list using my <a href="mailto:info@DancingDots.com">info@DancingDots.com</a> address. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>4-minute video summary of the interactive talking braille score feature of our software:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vrxtKSVZfg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vrxtKSVZfg</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ten-minute overview of accessible music Notation software from Dancing Dots including demonstration of scanning music with SharpEye Music Reader music<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>OCR software. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lluZB89PD4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lluZB89PD4</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Fabiana and Paula Chavez, Dancing Dots customers who use Lime Aloud talking score feature to learn to perform advanced pieces, play Brahms Waltz:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsWu55E5sP4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsWu55E5sP4</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Three-minute tutorial, changing instrumental sounds in the Lime notation editor:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njMhQcWUVtw&t=54s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njMhQcWUVtw&t=54s</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Visit our YouTube page for access to numerous other presentations:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="http://www.youtube.com/DancingDotsAccess">www.youtube.com/DancingDotsAccess</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Use 9200 as your temporary serial number for evaluating GOODFEEL. To download, go to the following link. After installing, request temporary authorization by running the Dancing Dots Authorization Manager. Contact me with any questions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Candara",sans-serif'>Link for package installer: </span><a href="https://dancingdots.com/gf/4.3d/GOODFEEL4.3.0.1PKG.EXE"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>https://dancingdots.com/gf/4.3d/GOODFEEL4.3.0.1PKG.EXE</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Hello from Pennsylvania,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Bill<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> Menvi-discuss <menvi-discuss-bounces@menvi.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Stephanie Pieck via Menvi-discuss<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 19, 2023 11:50 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'This is for discussing music and braille literacy' <menvi-discuss@menvi.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Stephanie Pieck <themusicsuite@verizon.net><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Menvi-discuss] New member with a few questions<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Hi Shannon,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Please write to me off-list at<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:themusicsuite@verizon.net">themusicsuite@verizon.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I have been teaching braille music for over 25 years, and during the pandemic I finally got my act together and created a curriculum for quickly learning the basics of braille music notation. My goal in creating it was to give students one book that contained a lot of melodies to read since this is by far the best way to learn to read whether it’s music or the regular literary stuff. I created the files on a Braille Sense U2, so they may be of use to you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Stephanie Pieck<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='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;mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> Menvi-discuss [<a href="mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces@menvi.org">mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces@menvi.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Shannon Williams via Menvi-discuss<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 19, 2023 7:48 AM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:Menvi-discuss@menvi.org">Menvi-discuss@menvi.org</a><br><b>Cc:</b> Shannon Williams<br><b>Subject:</b> [Menvi-discuss] New member with a few questions<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA>Hi,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA>I’m fairly new to this list and am really enjoying the messages and topics so far. When I was young I was able to read large print music and use a CCTV to magnify what I needed to play. Recently I have started playing again (I play the flute) and due to more vision loss have had to use audio recordings to learn my parts. My parts are recorded on a piano by someone and she gives all details of the music including notes, time and key signatures, and all other important tempo markings and anything else I’ll need and then I memorize the pice of music. I also used to have someone put it into MuseScore for me but she is no longer able to help me. I am looking at learning music braille but it is hard to find training so I’d like to just teach myself. I think learning music braille will be helpful for me. If anyone can point me in the direction of resources for that I’d appreciate it. I have access to an old Braille Sense U2. I also wanted to know if there’s a difference between MuseScore and the Good Feel software from Dancing Dots? I know MuseScore is free and that Dancing Dots software also has a braille translator and scanning software and a higher price tag. I’ve been offered funding for anything I need that would help me to have an easier time learning the music. So I’d like to poll the list to see what works well for everyone-MuseScore or Dancing Dots? BrailleSense notetaker or something multi-line? Would an embosser be a good investment to make hard copies? If there are any flute players on the list I’d love to get in touch with you. I live in Ontario Canada so using any resources from NLS is not possible. I’m looking at software because the woman who currently records my music is extremely busy and I’d like to be able to learn my pieces with more independence instead of waiting for the recordings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA>Thanks for any help you can give. I really appreciate any suggestions you can offer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA>Shannon<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>