[Menvi-discuss] New member with a few questions

Tue Dec 19 12:15:49 EST 2023

Hi Shannon,

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.

Please read this entire message and then come back to follow links of
interest.

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:

www.DancingDots.com/prodesc/currdet.htm
<http://www.DancingDots.com/prodesc/currdet.htm> 

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.

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.

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.

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.

You and all interested are invited to contact me directly off-list using my
info at DancingDots.com <mailto:info at DancingDots.com>  address. 

4-minute video summary of the interactive talking braille score feature of
our software:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vrxtKSVZfg 

Ten-minute overview of accessible music Notation software from Dancing Dots
including demonstration of scanning music with SharpEye Music Reader music

OCR software. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lluZB89PD4

Fabiana and Paula Chavez, Dancing Dots customers who use Lime Aloud talking
score feature to learn to perform advanced pieces, play Brahms Waltz:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsWu55E5sP4

Three-minute tutorial, changing instrumental sounds in the Lime notation
editor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njMhQcWUVtw
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njMhQcWUVtw&t=54s> &t=54s

Visit our YouTube page for access to numerous other presentations:

www.youtube.com/DancingDotsAccess <http://www.youtube.com/DancingDotsAccess>

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.

Link for package installer:
<https://dancingdots.com/gf/4.3d/GOODFEEL4.3.0.1PKG.EXE>
https://dancingdots.com/gf/4.3d/GOODFEEL4.3.0.1PKG.EXE

Hello from Pennsylvania,

Bill

From: Menvi-discuss <menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org> On Behalf Of Stephanie
Pieck via Menvi-discuss
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 11:50 AM
To: 'This is for discussing music and braille literacy'
<menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
Cc: Stephanie Pieck <themusicsuite at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] New member with a few questions

Hi Shannon,

Please write to me off-list at

themusicsuite at verizon.net <mailto:themusicsuite at verizon.net> 

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.

Thanks.

Stephanie Pieck

From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf Of
Shannon Williams via Menvi-discuss
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 7:48 AM
To: Menvi-discuss at menvi.org <mailto:Menvi-discuss at menvi.org> 
Cc: Shannon Williams
Subject: [Menvi-discuss] New member with a few questions

Hi,

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.

Thanks for any help you can give. I really appreciate any suggestions you
can offer.

Shannon

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