[Menvi-discuss] My first Braille music student--helpful hints, please?

[Julie McGinnity]

Hi Kimberly,

I've taught Braille music to a couple students now, and it can seem
daunting at first, but it's really a lot of fun. I absolutely agree
with Bill. My rule is no contractions or references to literary
Braille at all. You can use solfege or even the note names at first,
depending on the student.

Nothing beats the Braille music Primmer. It's old, but it covers the
basics better than any book I've found, especially because it also
includes some exercises and examples.

I agree that knowing what instrument your student plays or if he sings
will help you tailor your lessons to him. I have a student now who
sings and is learning a little piano, so we do a lot of sight reading
exercises, and I've worked on the finger signs and how the hands are
laid out in piano music.

I also tended to write up my own exercises for students. It takes some
time because I like to have my own copy. So I write up exercises and
then copy them. This will be much easier if you have a set up with
Lime and GoodFeel and can just emboss two copies. But hand Brailling
works as well. It doesn't take long to Braille up easy assignments. I
created my own cheat sheets too, and I would put them in a binder for
the student along with any exercises I wanted them to work on. I think
this really helps them stay organized.

Hope any of this helps.

Julie

On 2/18/23, Bill McCann via Menvi-discuss <menvi-discuss at menvi.org> wrote:
> Hi Kimberly,
>
> Congratulations on taking on this teaching assignment.  I am going to bet
> that you will find it easier than anticipated.
>
> Richard Taesch and I (as well as many other teachers of braille music)
> recommend that the student should learn the solfeggio names of the notes at
> first.  For example, referring to the note which we English speakers call C
> as do (pronounced dough) enables the student to avoid confusion between
> literary braille and music braille.  When I teach a new braille music
> student, I insist that he or she never refer to a braille music sign by its
> literary name.  For example, they must never call dots 1-4-5-6 "this."  They
> must call it DO (like dough) quarter-note.
> Richard Taesch and I wrote a book called "Who's Afraid of Braille Music?"
> which teaches the basics of the braille music code while explaining how
> music braille differs from print music and dispels misconceptions about the
> code such as the misguided notion that the braille system is extremely
> difficult to learn.  A good starter book appropriate for beginner braille
> music readers, their teachers and parents.
>
> Richard has also written an extensive, multi-volume series called "An
> Introduction to Music for the Blind Student" which comes in both print and
> braille hardcopy.
>
> Here are links to pages giving more information about Richard's courses and
> the "Who's Afraid" book:
> www.DancingDots.com/prodesc/currdet.htm<http://www.DancingDots.com/prodesc/currdet.htm>
> and
> www.DancingDots.com/prodesc/whosafraid.htm<http://www.DancingDots.com/prodesc/whosafraid.htm>
>
>
> Bill McCann, President, Dancing Dots
> Visit our YouTube page:
> www.youtube.com/DancingDotsAccess<http://www.youtube.com/DancingDotsAccess>
>
>
> From: Menvi-discuss <menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org> On Behalf Of Kimberly
> Morrow via Menvi-discuss
> Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023 8:35 PM
> To: menvi-discuss at menvi.org
> Cc: drkimctvi at gmail.com
> Subject: [Menvi-discuss] My first Braille music student--helpful hints,
> please?
>
> Greetings, MENVI listers!
>
> I'm reaching out for any advice that all of you more knowledgeable Braille
> music readers and transcribers may be in a position to provide. . .
>
> I've been a Braille music reader for many years, but never dreamed I would
> be in a position to actually teach it. After all, my primary area of
> expertise is German, Spanish, and education. I do not hold any type of
> degree in music, certainly my knowledge of anything more than rudimentary
> music theory is quite limited at this point. That said, sadly, there are no
> Braille music instructors in my area that are available to provide weekly
> instruction to this very bright 11-year-old. So I'm stepping up to the
> plate. This child is totally blind, very intelligent, and eager to learn. I
> want to do all I can to make Braille music a good experience for him. I've
> ordered Happy Fingers, Books 1 and 2, and just ordered the 2006 version of
> Dictionary of Braille Music Signs via Braille on demand. I figure I should
> have a newer edition than the one I acquired at age fourteen. . But I don't
> know the first thing about actual Braille music instruction. Please help me
> give the very best. . .All advice is very much appreciated.
>
> Braille music literacy is on the decline. It's a concern I intend to
> address, one young life at a time.
>
>
> GO, CHIEFS!!!
>
> Kimberly Morrow in metro KC
>
>


-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
MM Vocal Performance, 2015; American University Washington College of
Law, JD Candidate 2023