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Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
Maybe that’s not the most exciting news you’ll hear today, but we’re excited! The Music Appreciation Catalog is making its debut and ready for all patrons interested in learning about music. Previously, we had music instruction and music appreciation joined together in one large print catalog, and while they were happy sharing the space, it was …
Posted in: Catalogs, Music History and Appreciation, NLS Music Section
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
It’s always interesting to check the date for famous birthdays or events and see where reflections will lead. Today, January 26, is the birthday of Stèphane Grappelli, French jazz violinist. That’s right, violinists can be jazz musicians, and once you hear a sample, you’ll start appreciating, and I hope, admiring the style. In fact, stringed …
Posted in: Guitar instruction, Jazz, Music History and Appreciation, NLS Music Section, Performing music
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
You know it’s coming, sooner or later this year must end. It has certainly been an interesting series of events, to say the least, and I will leave it there. Whatever your plans are for New Year’s Eve, the NLS Music Section wants everyone to be safe and take some time for reflection. And if …
Posted in: Audio, Braille Music, Instrumental Music, Jazz, NLS Music Section, Piano, Popular Music, Rock n' Roll
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
While reviewing our file archive, I came upon a letter sent to us in 1989 and experienced a sharp reminder of how our services have advanced in filling requests. At times, I have flashbacks to the pre-internet era and usually shudder. Speedy communication is one of the positives of the medium, it seems to me. …
Posted in: Braille Music, Music History and Appreciation, NLS Music Section, Popular Music, Vocal music
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
Forty-three years ago patron Dianne Phelps earned her Music Education degree at Eastern New Mexico University. She faced difficult challenges with her partial vision at the time and struggled with some of the faculty, reluctant to award her a degree. Thankfully, she prevailed. Afterwards, she had a keyboard and was frustrated as she was not …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Braille, Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Braille Music, Music Composition, Music Education, Music Instruction, NLS Music Section, Performing music, Piano Music, Popular Music
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
We are approaching a holiday that signifies many things to people on the calendar: Labor Day. For children and teachers, it’s back to school. For the sports fan, anticipation for Friday night high school football (and half-time shows; a shout-out to the band kids) and Sunday afternoon professional leagues. But I would like to remind …
Posted in: Braille and Audio Reading Download BARD, Braille Music, Folk Music, Labor, Music History and Appreciation, NLS Music Section
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
My attention recently was called to a very historic event; on June 2, 1896, Guglielmo Marconi applied to patent the radio. When we think of Marconi as the inventor of the radio, it is easily overshadowed by contemporary inventors of computers, 3-D printing, and copy machines. Don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled to have …
Posted in: Audio, Catalogs, Folk Music, Instrumental Music, Interviews, Jazz, Music History and Appreciation, NLS Music Section, Rock n' Roll
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
One would think the act of writing music would be enough of a task for most people, but with some composers, creativity is not enough. They enjoy a challenge, and some have an interest in letters and numbers and what they can do to arrange them into cryptograms. It’s a way to bury a message, …
Posted in: Arnold Schoenberg, Braille Music, Cryptograms, Music Composition, NLS Music Section, Uncategorized
Posted by: Mary Dell Jenkins
With the help of one of our dedicated transcribers and patron Audrey Joy , we have received a steady supply of Motown hits every week ready to go in the embossing queue. When I read through these titles, the melodies come to my ears immediately, and I don’t think I EVER heard anyone say they …
Posted in: Blind Musicians, Braille, Braille Music, Motown, NLS Music Section, Popular Music, Rhythm & Blues (R&B), Soul Music