[Menvi-discuss] Help with learning pieces in Braille

Mon Oct 21 12:13:29 EDT 2024

If you have a copy of, say, the BANA braille music code 2015 manual that is
readable on your braille display's standalone notepad, you can use the find
feature to locate specific symbols in the manual. Volume 1 of the BANA book
has a comprehensive table of all the symbols encountered, so that could
serve as a pretty handy reference guide. The older Dictionary of Braille
Music Signs, which you can download from the NLS website, even without an
account, is also a useful reference for looking up specific symbols. I
think the New International Manual of Braille Music has a similar reference
table.

On Mon, Oct 21, 2024 at 5:14 AM Patrick Janson via Menvi-discuss <
menvi-discuss at menvi.org> wrote:

> Hi Dwald, Jeanie and All,
>
> I can't give any advice on how to search for unique dot patterns, but I
> can at least identify unusual symbols. Table 2 of the Music Braille Code
> 2015 is the section for "Notes and Note Value," print page 3. Toward the
> bottom of that page, there is a sub-section called "Prefixes for specially
> shaped notes."
>
> The very first symbol listed is dots 26, 1 for "Solid note head only".
> This means, to the sighted musician, the note head is filled in but has no
> stem. It appears to just be "floating" on the music staff (the pitch is D5
> in the example). It is a modern technique of music notation as it has no
> rhythmic value.
>
> Jeanie mentioned dots 26, 12 which is the "X-shaped note head" and in this
> section of the Music Braille Code there are also dot combinations for
> "diamond-shaped note head" and a few other oddities.
>
> Patrick Janson
> President of the National Braille Association
> Owner of Braille Music and More
> www.braillemusicandmore.com
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Menvi-discuss <menvi-discuss-bounces+patrick=
> braillemusicandmore.com at menvi.org> on behalf of Jeanie Willis via
> Menvi-discuss <menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
> *Sent:* Monday, October 21, 2024 4:57 AM
> *To:* 'This is for discussing music and braille literacy' <
> menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
> *Cc:* jeaniewillis at gmail.com <jeaniewillis at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [Menvi-discuss] Help with learning pieces in Braille
>
>
> Hi Dwald,
>
>
>
> As Ella mentioned dot 5 in front of anything means it is an editorial
> edition.  This can be used for transcriber added rests where for various
> reasons the print version doesn’t fully add up to a bar and makes no sense
> in Braille without the addition of these rests.  I have noticed that if
> rests are hidden in MuseScore then they will usually come out in SMB as an
> editorial rest.
>
>
>
> I thought I’d seen 26,1 before notes before but was thinking of 26,12
> which is the symbol for a cross head note.  I suspect it will be something
> similar with an unusual shaped note head.
>
>
>
> Three thoughts on how to simplify this:
>
> Make sure your MuseScore file does not have a whole lot of hidden rests or
> unusual symbols or noteheads that you don’t need for any good reason.
>
> In the SMB preferences you can select various transcription options.
> There is a huge check list of items that you can choose to ignore symbols
> for, so maybe if you don’t want this level of detail and just want the
> basic notes you could uncheck quite a few of these.
>
> You could also use the MuseScore file in conjunction with the Braille file
> to go to that spot and hear what it is that is being read out about that
> note etc to work it out.
>
>
>
> I would be interested to know though if there is an easy to search list of
> all braille symbols.  I haven’t tried searching in the manual.  Could
> anyone give simple steps for how to search for a particular dot pattern to
> find out what it is such as this 26,1?
>
>
>
> Jeanie
>
>
>
> *From:* Menvi-discuss <menvi-discuss-bounces+jeaniewillis=
> gmail.com at menvi.org> *On Behalf Of *Dewald van Deventer via Menvi-discuss
> *Sent:* Monday, 21 October 2024 8:01 pm
> *To:* Menvi-discuss at menvi.org
> *Cc:* Dewald van Deventer <dewaldvandeventer at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* [Menvi-discuss] Help with learning pieces in Braille
>
>
>
> Hi guys.
>
> Question here:
>
> I've been trying to get scores in an accessible reading format so I could
> read it on my Braille display.
>
> I'm using Musescore.com to download xml files.
>
> I import it into Sao Mai Braille transcription program which transcribes
> it into Braille music, then saving it as a brf file.
>
> WHEN I open it on my Braille display, "using a Mantis 40-cell display" in
> the Braille editor, I see the notes, etc.
>
> But in between all the notes, are these funny extra signs, some of which
> are pedal markings etc. but just full of stuff.
>
> would someone be willing to look at a score for me or give me some advice
> please?
>
> At this moment in-time, I am getting sick and tired of Braille music
> all-together.
>
> It used be a breeze when studying it while at school and university.
>
>
>
> For example it prints out markings like: dots 2 6 and then dot 1 before a
> bunch of notes.
>
> And then dot 5, followed by a m or x or v.
>
>
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
>
>
> Dewald.
>
>
>
> Dewald van Deventer
>
> Happy Pianos Tuning and Servicing
>
> RPT "Registered Piano Technician of the Piano Technicians' Guild"
>
>
>
> Make an online booking here:
>
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>
>
>
> Cell:
>
> 0824614865
>
> E-mail:
>
> dewaldpianotuner at gmail.com
>
> Visit my website:
>
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>
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>
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>
>
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>
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