Continued from last week
While Bettye Krolick’s How to Read Braille Music: An Introduction is suitable for students who already know the basics of music and only need to learn how to decipher braille music symbols, Richard Taesch’s An Introduction to Music for the Blind Student is suitable for students who are just starting their music lessons. Taesch’s course is a combination of lessons in rudimentary music theory and braille music reading.
Phase one starts with the music readiness activities that prepare students for formal music lessons. These lessons focus on the aural component of music through singing and ear training (listening skills) before reading is introduced. The chapters that follow combine braille music reading, theory, ear training, singing and melodic dictation. This series is intended not only to teach the students to read braille music but to help them audiate, or hear the music they are reading in their head. The lessons include assignments in writing, singing, and playing on the keyboard using the accompanying exercise books. This series moves at a much quicker pace than average piano method books or other instrumental method books. I suspect that good effort will be required to master the concepts introduced in these books. However, the emphasis on listening and singing skills will help build a solid musical foundation for students regardless of their chosen musical field of study.
Lastly, if you are looking for a quick introduction to gauge what’s involved in learning braille music, the Music Section has Who’s Afraid of Braille Music, a 20 page book written by Richard Taesch and William McCann for parents and students exploring braille music.
Now that you are familiar with these books, please contact us to check them out. For a sighted teacher or parent teaching a blind student, please ask for both the print and braille versions.
- How to Read Braille Music: An Introduction by Bettye Krolick (LPM00638; BRM29811)
- An Introduction to Music for the Blind Student by Richard Taesch:
- Part I (LPM00662, v.1 -3; BRM34079, v. 1-4)*
- Part II (LPM00664, v.1 & 2, BRM34080 v. 1-4)
- Dictionary of Braille Music Signs, Revised Edition (BRM36087)
- Dictionary of Braille Music Signs, First Edition (LPM00428)
- Who’s Afraid of Braille Music: A Short Introduction and Resource Handbook for Parents and Students (LPM00660; BRM32949)
If you are a student thinking of studying music in college, we have great resources in addition to these books to help you become a fluent braille music reader. Please get in touch with us this summer.
*The Music Section has the first edition of the course. The Second Revised Edition is not yet available through NLS.
Comments (2)
I have taken piano lessons when I was in my early teens. I did not learn braille music at this time and only learned the basics of piano playing (I was a second-year student within 6 months). My question is this. I would like to learn how to read braille music. I have never read music but have exposure to the piano keyboard. How can I get started? I would really like to learn. Does the material presented in this article do a good job of explaining how to start from the very beginning? I do know how to read regular braille, grade two. Thank you for your help.
Richard Taesch’s An Introduction to Music for the Blind Student combines basic music theory and braille music reading. After you finish Part 1 of this series, you will be ready for Taesch’s Introduction to the Piano for the Blind Student which teaches you how to read bar-over-bar format, a common braille format for keyboard instruments. We also have the repertoire book 1 which provides extra practice in reading braille piano music.
If you have further questions, please contact us.