[Menvi-discuss] ABRSM Braille exam music

[Jeanie Willis]

Hi Sandra & list,

I'm not sure we should find it acceptable for candidates to be limiting
their choices to only the pieces they can find available.  But what I'd
really urge everyone to contact ABRSM about that they seem to have no
understanding of is the idea that a blind music teacher in their
professional capacity can be in any way asking students to be limiting their
choices to the few pieces the teacher can get resources for in Braille.
This is just absurd.

ABRSM until now has always been the board that catered for the blind
community and I think if we want to see this turn around we need to give
some polite but strong feedback even if we don't regularly use these exams
as this effects the whole blind music community.

Jeanie

-----Original Message-----
From: Menvi-discuss On Behalf Of Sandra Gayer via Menvi-discuss
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 1:23 AM
To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy
<menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
Cc: Sandra Gayer <sandragayer7 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] ABRSM Braille exam music

Hello,This takes me back. When I studied music grades, I based my exam piece
choices on whether something was in Braille or not, rather than what would
be most suitable for me to play as an instrumentalist.

Very best wishes,
Sandra.

On 11/24/23, Stephanie Pieck via Menvi-discuss <menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
wrote:
> Thank you for this update Jeanie. It's disappointing to see the 
> decline in braille music support from ABRSM. You are also correct in 
> noting that many blind teachers rely on the board's braille output to 
> build up their teaching library. As far as I can tell, there is no 
> other examining board that offers similar support for braille readers, 
> and I have found it difficult to use the digital audio support 
> materials for Canada's Royal Conservatory of Music.
>
>
>
> Steph
>
>
>
> From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf 
> Of Jeanie Willis via Menvi-discuss
> Sent: Friday, November 24, 2023 12:47 PM
> To: 'This is for discussing music and braille literacy'
> Cc: Jeanie Willis
> Subject: [Menvi-discuss] ABRSM Braille exam music
>
>
>
> Hi All,
>
>
>
> After making quite a few inquiries I have a bit of an update on 
> availability of ABRSM exam music in Braille.  It isn't good news 
> currently:
>
>
>
> Unfortunately they have not had the 2023/24 syllabus transcribed.  
> However blind students can apply for an extension to use the 2021/22 
> syllabus in 2024.  They hope to have something in place again for 2025 
> either as a download from their website as in previous years or 
> ordering of specific pieces for any instrument to be produced, however 
> whether this will apply to teachers or only students, and whether 
> there will be a cost is yet to be seen.  There thinking is that this 
> will assist all instruments not just piano and flute and were 
> concerned that they were spending a lot on resources previously that 
> may not have been being used, only a few pieces here or there as they 
> didn't see many blind candidates coming through using those pieces.
>
>
>
> So, it sounds like they have completely missed the fact that blind 
> teachers rely on these and in many cases have chosen ABRSM over other 
> exams because of this availability.  They also don't seem to 
> understand how little Braille music is out there generally as they 
> have said that they are fine with candidates using any edition.  But 
> as many will have experienced this can leave a teacher and student 
> working from two different editions that don't match on crucial things 
> like bar numbering and repeats as well as many other little details of 
> ornamentation, articulation, etc.
>
>
>
>
>
> So if this is affecting you currently or you can see issues with the 
> proposed plan it would be worth writing to the access coordinator now.  
> The more feedback they get the more they will understand the needs of 
> both blind teachers and candidates and hopefully put something back in 
> place that suits both.
>
>
>
> For specific accommodations for an exam candidate you can e-mail:
> specificneeds at abrsm.ac.uk
>
> For more general feedback, requests and discussion of related topics 
> you can
> e-mail: accesscoordinator at abrsm.ac.uk
>
>
>
> Jeanie
>
>


--
Sandra Gayer DipABRSM, LRSM.

Soprano Singer
www.sandragayer.com

Broadcast Presenter
www.rnibconnectradio.org.uk/music-box.html

Actor
www.visablepeople.com

Voiceover Artist
www.archangelvoices.co.uk/content/sandra-gayer

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