[Menvi-discuss] Adaptations for Blind Music Theory Teachers

[Brandon Keith Biggs]

Hello Rachel,
Finally you’re on this list! 
I was pondering this ever since my teacher said you were talking on the music theory lists.

1. My teacher never goes around to check work, we just don’t do examples in class. But I see how it would be practical. I think this will be the most difficult, but I see two options: Either you can have everyone in the computer lab, using Sibelius with screen reader support, or have a student assistant on the days you would like the students to do work in class.

2. I’m trying to figure out how to do the opposite currently and would love to talk to you and see how you did form and analysis. I am pretty sure the XML would be OK. My school used a classroom online for all the theory tests and 90% of the questions were multiple choice. You could also ask them to describe what is happening in words. I’m pretty sure they will need to write descriptions of form if they are going to be writing papers on pieces.

3. There are three options I can think of:
First, you can have a large magnetic board with raised lines and magnetic pieces. This would be rather a lot of lugging around and may be a little confusing for you.
Next, you could use a smart board and mark notes on a staff. 
third, you could connect your computer up to your projector and use Sibelius to show the notes and describe them.
I would use the third option because it is much easier and I’m not sure why all theory instructors aren’t doing it now... My teacher spends about 20 minutes each class writing and erasing examples.

4. No vision is necessary. You would have to require your students to submit their assignments in Sibelius or XML files, so that may require you to hold extra labs for 1 unit or so, giving instruction on how to use Sibelius (If you would like practice, I’m sure there are several people here on this list who would like to learn, including me!)
If drawing notes becomes necessary, you can use sponge paper and pass it around after you are done, or again, use a student assistant.
    Hope this helps!
Thanks,

Brandon Keith Biggs


From: Rachel Grider 
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2013 8:07 AM
To: menvi-discuss at menvi.org 
Subject: [Menvi-discuss] Addaptations for Blind Music Theory Teachers

Hello, Everyone:

I am a new subscriber to this list, so I thought I would introduce myself. My name is Rachel Grider, and I am going to graduate from Peabody Conservatory
in a month with two MM degrees in voice and music theory pedagogy. I am currently writing my thesis on adaptations for the blind theory teacher, a subject
which does not seem to have been explored much. Once this is published, I am hoping that it will open up many doors for me and other blind musicians who
are wanting to make a career in theory.

There are a few topics about which I would very much like some feedback. I welcome any ideas or suggestions you might have.

First, I would like some ideas about how the blind teacher can check students' in-class work. For example, if the students are practicing counterpoint
exercises and the teacher should go around and check their work, what is the best way for the blind teacher to do this? Is it even possible to do it this
way?

Second, I would very much like ideas on teaching more advanced analysis to sighted students. I have been toying with ideas, but I have not yet actually
taught this part of theory, and I'm not sure if they would work. How can students show the blind teacher that they know how to analyze a score? They could,
of course, mark their answers on Sibelius, but can I require them to get Sibelius? Meeting with them one-on-one could be an option, but what if the class
is very large and there just isn't enough time? I also thought of making a spreadsheet in XL with pictures of each measure in a box, and there would be
spaces for the different aspects of analysis which they would fill in. Does this sound like a reasonable idea?

My third question has to do with teaching beginning students how to write music symbols and place them correctly on the staff. I could, of course, use felt
or magnetic cut-outs for this, but I was wondering if anyone else had suggestions?

Lastly, I would like to hear your philosophies about how much residual vision should be used in the classroom, both for the blind teacher and for the blind
student.I try not to use any, but I'm wondering if it might be practical for some teachers to use some vision to perform certain tasks, such as demonstrating
how to write notes and clefs.  Thoughts?

Thank you so much for your help!

Cheers,

Rachel Grider


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