[Menvi-discuss] Music analysis in real time

Mon Sep 5 22:00:11 EDT 2022

Hi,

These are terrific suggestions, and I'll add a few of my own pointers from taking higher-level ABRSM theory exams from braille test papers. Those exams usually contained at least one set of questions based on analysis of an orchestral score beginning at Grade 5.

One workaround for writing chord symbols or other things without actually being able to braille on the score might be to use a computer with voice output and create a spreadsheet using Excel or some other spreadsheet software. That way, you could create a page for each measure, with one column for each beat or division of a beat. If you have trouble with transposing instruments (which I always did not being a brass or wind player), you could use the spreadsheet to write everything out in concert pitch, then use that to work out chords etc.

Usually, orchestral scores in braille are written bar over bar, with an abbreviation at the start of each new braille line telling which instrument part you are reading.

ABRSM allows braille-reading candidates extra time for their theory exams, and you may wish to ask for this accommodation. You may also wish to ask for an amenuensis to write your answers in print; this is another accommodation ABRSM provides for its theory exams.

I would also suggest you find as many orchestral scores as you can to practice on ahead of your exam. Orchestration books can be a good source of these, and there are also transcriptions of symphonies and other works you can access. I'm sorry I don't know the exact websites where to locate possible resources, but perhaps others on this list can provide links to steer anyone interested in the right direction.

If you're looking over braille orchestral scores, or even just scores for multiple instruments (string quartets, for instance), you might also try following along in the braille while listening to an online recording. One of the great things about YouTube is that you can slow down the playback using the "Settings" feature. This will allow you to choose one instrumental part and follow it as you listen.

For quick-and-dirty analysis purposes, first focus on instruments that generally carry the melody and the bass line (i.e., double basses and/or tubas in orchestra for the bass line, violins, high woodwinds and brass for melody). Focusing on the string parts and non-transposing woodwinds like flute and oboe can also give you a rough idea of what you're dealing with.

Finally, be sure you know the names of instruments in at least English, Italian, German, and French.

I hope some of this might be useful.

Stephanie Pieck

-----Original Message-----
From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf Of Jeanie Willis via Menvi-discuss
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2022 7:53 PM
To: 'This is for discussing music and braille literacy'
Cc: Jeanie Willis
Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] Music analysis in real time

Hi Nafset,

I would be interested to hear other peoples thoughts on this in the group as it doesn't sound correct to me that you are being given a score with all individual parts. I think you need to check exactly what your sighted peers are being given.  Are they being given a score or are they being given individual instrument parts.  If they are being given a score with parts written above each other for the various instruments then that is what you should get also, done in bar over bar as it is an unfair disadvantage for you to be given individual parts if that isn't what your sighted peers are working from.

If they are all getting individual parts then that is tough, but I guess you need to find some way of marking what bar you are up to on each score, a pin of some sort that you move along maybe if it is hard copy braille and you would need them loose not bound so you can spread them out and reference each.  If you are working on a digital display then for single parts maybe they could give you them as separate files.  I don't know if there is a way of keeping each open and flicking between them with the focus staying at the correct point in each file,  I haven't used this kind of thing yet.  I would say in general though for a music exam you need hard copy.

Whatever you use you need some way to take notes bar by bar writing out the chords.

-----Original Message-----
From: Menvi-discuss On Behalf Of Nafset Chenib via Menvi-discuss
Sent: Tuesday, 6 September 2022 11:37 AM
To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy <menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
Cc: Nafset Chenib <nafsetik at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] Music analysis in real time

Thank you so much dear Jeanie,

Many things are hard to understand. But, first of all, there’s no such a thing as vertical alignment in the Braille score. All the parts will be written separately. Of course, it would be easier to deal with the piano piece, but that’s not guaranteed. Did you try the tips you suggested? Did it work out, say, for orchestral pieces? 

Thank you.

Best regards,
Nafset

> On Sep 5, 2022, at 7:27 PM, Jeanie Willis via Menvi-discuss <menvi-discuss at menvi.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Nafset,
> 
> Since I haven't posted before first let me introduce myself.  My name is Jeanie and I am a totally blind music teacher from New Zealand.  I have only recently learnt Braille music, but as a partially sighted person for the rest of my life did a Bachelor of Music mainly in theory and harmony and analysis back in the 90s and then a teaching diploma to teach secondary school.  So I might be able to help you.
> 
> But as I said I am fairly new to Braille music, so please if I say anything that sounds incorrect can someone correct me as I am also still wanting to learn!
> 
> I am not quite sure from your question whether you are having to analyse a piano score or a larger score for full or part orchestra.  Either way I would hope you are being given extra reading time as part of your exam, and if not that is the first thing I would ask for.
> 
> It sounds like you are facing two problems.  How to create a system to do the theory and make notes as you go when if I was doing this on print I would be writing things all over the score as I worked them out.  Secondly, it sounds like some of your need might be in the theory area as most students are being expected in an exam like this to work things out by theory rules rather than try to actually hear the score in their head.  Print reading students would face the same problem as you with not being able to hear the music to work these things out.
> 
> So for the first problem  If you are tackling a full orchestral or score with lots of parts check the transcribers notes for whether all chords read up.  I have been told for theory based exams they often do this rather than the treble chords reading down and bass notes up.  If you have a score with lots of instruments written bar over bar, and some transpose and some are treble reading down and some bass up you will need to know what each instrument line is to work out the chords.  I think you need a Perkins in the exam so you can Braille down the side of a page the list of instruments in the same line format as your score, then remove the paper, cut it into a strip that you can attach to the score with a bit of blue tack, moving it along the score bar by bar so you always have reference just to the left of every bar as to what instrument you are reading for.  Then whether on a large score like this or a piano or vocal score, the only way to work out harmonic progressions, modulations etc is to start working beat by beat vertically from the bottom up to name all the notes and see what the chord is, ignoring anything that looks like a passing note.  This is where you need to come up with a system to take notes as if I was doing this in print I would have written the chord symbols or roman numerals below the score and then looked for patterns that suggest a modulation.  So maybe consider either in Braille with your perkins or on a separate blank word document on whatever laptop or tablet you are using for the exam I would create a table that I could note down the chord progression bar by bar and beat by beat.  So make sure there is provision within the exam for how you can do working out rough bits on the equivalent of a scrap piece of paper.  I don’t' know if there is any value in using any sort of tactile markers on the score itself to come back to a certain point more quickly that you have identified and whether therefore having more than 1 copy of the score may be of use incase you muck up one bit and can't read it easily and keep one clean.  Another pointer would always be to seek out the instrument with the melody first and read through some of that to orientate yourself around the score and note any reoccurring accidentals that might indicate that key change.  
> 
> Have you also thought of requesting two scores.  One transcribed notes only and one with all other details.  This could be crucial in speeding up reading where you just need the notes and then move to the complete score when you need further details.  I would find it much quicker to do an analysis of chords for example without articulation, dynamics, fingering, bowing instructions etc getting in the way.
> 
> If you don't know how to spot a modulation within the chords then that is more of a specific theory question and I could give you a few pointers if you want to e-mail me off list or you could also ask for more help from your tutors in that area or check out the AB Guide to Music Theory by Eric taylor which I saw on the RNIB library website in braille yesterday.
> 
> Hope that helps
> Jeanie
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Menvi-discuss On Behalf Of Nafset Chenib via Menvi-discuss
> Sent: Tuesday, 6 September 2022 5:06 AM
> To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy <menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
> Cc: Nafset Chenib <nafsetik at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Menvi-discuss] Music analysis in real time
> 
> Hi dear all,
> 
> I hope you had a restful summer.
> 
> I have a question regarding music analysis in real time. One of the parts of my second qualifying exam  assumes an analysis of two pieces in real time (I believe we have to complete it within three hours). The only thing we can use is just the score. I never faced such a situation, even though I was engaging with the music analysis quite a lot. However, beside the Braille score, I used to have an assistant who could play and repeat the excerpts from a piece as needed or who could clarify some points; For instance, non-standard modulations—the latter is crucial for me as I don't have a perfect pitch. Furthermore, it has never been a time bound project. Of course, the ideal situation was when I new the piece from memory so that I could play it on piano by myself or, in case with the vocal music, at least to sing the vocal line. But my qualifier exam is obviously different. What should I do if I am asked, say, to analyze the harmonic progressions in measures 34-42 of a certain piece. I feel like Braille score is not very helpful in this situation, unless I ask to provide me with some time to learn it so that I can play it on piano (though we are not supposed to use it). Our university has Disability Services Office, and they are willing to help, but they never faced such a situation as I am the first musicology student there. They don’t know how to go about this exam and asked me whether I have any ideas, but I am not sure what to offer.
> 
> I know that there are music theorists on this least. Could you please share your experience. I study musicology, but I think in this situation there’s no much difference for musicologists and theorists. I would greatly appreciate any insights you might provide me with.
> 
> Thank you so very much.
> 
> Happy labour day.
> 
> Best regards,
> Nafset
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