Seeing Possibilities
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Seeing Possibilities |
Links last verified November 5th, 2008.
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All blind people are supposed to be wildly musical, according to popular belief. Whether there's any truth in that idea isn't my concern here. The problem most of us face is, as usual, getting access to the various tools and technologies that can help us listen to music or help us make a noise. On this page, I hope to alert you to some of the ways anyone interested in music and visually impaired can get closer to their goals.
As in every other field, there are great advances going on, ad there are disappointing barriers still to be overcome. I hope at least to enable you to make the most of the triumphs.
This is a UK based site, though that doesn't exclude material from elsewhere.
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3D Audio Interface for the Blind - this paper explains an attempt to create a Virtual Audio Reality (VAR) interface to convey more information than can be done with single-line Braille music. PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format.
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Accessible Software for the Blind Musician - this article on Fred's Head Companion provides overviews of several major software packages.
Fred's Head Companion RSS Feed
Academy of Music for the Blind in Los Angeles.
Adaptive Gear - imaginative solutions for disabled musicians.
An Introduction to Music for the Blind Student: A Course in Braille Music Reading from Dancing Dots.
BBBC NEWS | Technology | Blind inventor makes web accessible - the concept of SpeakOn, audio receiving software for visually impaired people. You can download the current package from a-technic
Blind Radio - links to thousands of world-wide radio stations in accessible format.
Blind student 'hears in colour' - an attempt to convert graphics to sound helps a blind student to read weather maps.
Braille Music Page - introductory page covering the basics of how Braille music works, books, e-mail list, online course,
braillem mailing list - for discussion of Braille music. To join, end an e-mail to listmajordomo@majordomo.net, putting this in the body of the message: subscribe braillem
CCakewalk Sonar - sound and music creation and editing software.You may like to get information and support on one of the Yahoo! mailing lists.
Coalition of Disabled Musicians Home Page
Curse Buster Sound Blog - Blog for the serious minded musician.
DDancing Dots Music and Accessibility Products and Services - their software includes Cake Talking for Sonar and Sibelius Speaking for Sebelius. These products enable the musician to compose, arrange and print music.
Disability in Popular Song - personal experiences.
EE-Scape - music composition and performance software developed by the Drake Music Project for those who cannot use other means to create music. Works with keyboard, MIDICreator, Soundbeam and MIDI files.
Evoca - Easily create, organize, share and search voice recordings.
FGuitar And Drum Trainer - teaches you music by letting you edit mp3 and wav files as they play (never mind what instruments are actually playing). There are JAWS Scripts for this program.
H IIan Dury - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - story of the man who brought you "Sex and Drugs and Rock'n'Roll" and "Spasticus".
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JSonar Project JAWS scripts for
Cakewalk Sonar. The site includes FAQ page, downloads for the scripts, tutorial, links and a blog.
RSS Feed
Kentucky Office for the Blind: Assistive Technology Project Files - here you can download documents describing some innovative assistive technology projects, including a way of reading text-based LCDs and a way of accessing a drum machine.
LLast.fm - pick the type of music you enjoy and c reate your own radio station. You can install client software on your PC, but please be aware it's hard to see and even harder to use with a screen reader. You may have more luck using the services on the web site.
Lime Aloud from Dancing Dots - "A Whole New Way for the Blind to Read and Write Music". Enables you to create print music scores. It brings together Lime, a notation program, and access technology. SharpEye Music OCR is included, and the package works with the JAWS screen reader. Can handle MusicXML files. Works with PCs and MIDI-enabled musical keyboards.
Louis Database of Accessible Materials: American Printing House - meterials include Braille music, including scores, reference books and recorded tuition.
MMIDI-Mag Mailing list - for blind musicians to discuss adaptive access to computer-based music making technologies. To join send a message containing MIDI-MAG - To subscribe, send the message SUBSCRIBE MIDI-MAG (Your First & Last Name) to listserv@netcom.com.
MIDI-Creator turns movement into music by means of electronic sensors.
MIDIGrid a program that allows for the flexible composition and performance of music.
Music books and braille transcription - RNIB page that points to many accessible music resources.
Music Education Network For The Visually Impaired - An International Coalition of Parents, Educators, and Students.
Music for the Blind by Bill Brown - over 600 songs taught in an All-Audio format for over a dozen instruments. On tape, CD or via downloads. Learn and play 'by ear' - no notation or Braille required.
Music literacy and technology leading to varied career options for individuals with visual impairment - a presentation from the 2006 CSUN Conference.
Music Talk mailing list for professional and would-be musicians. Part of USA National Federation of the Blind.
Music Technology and Blind Engineers: A Report on the Accessibility of Digital Audio Production Systems (published June 2002, Opening Stages)
Musicians in Focus can carry out music technology assessments and offer support for visually impaired musicans, their teachers and others needing information in this field. They publish educational books and act as an information exchange. As the web site has been forbidding entry recently (December, 2007), here are som eother contact details.
Address: 1 Poets Corner
London N5 2SL
Tel: 020 7354 2050
Fax: 020 7359 7535
E-mail: jackie@musiciansinfocus.org
Web site? sorry, not sure at the moment.
National Disability Arts Forum - United Kingdom - to support arts organisations that have become more accessible and to encourage disabled people to participate more in the arts, the National Disability Arts Forum has established ARTS ACCESS UK, an online searchable access guide to arts venues throughout the country.
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) has a stock of Braille music items, including scores and instruction books for instruments
National Resource Center for Blind Musicians - based in Connecticut, but wherever you are, you may find useful information and contacts here.
OOpus Technologies - Music Braille Product Guide
Orpheus - United Kingdom
An inclusive performing arts centre; we aim to provide opportunities for personal development through the performing arts and other learning experiences for young disabled adults with a physical impairment; so that they can make informed choices about the future and gain the skills to live more independently in the community.
Resources for Helping Blind Music Students - caution: this article may be authoritative, but it does date back to 1998.
Richard Attenborough Centre for Disability and the Arts - part of the University of Leicester, UK, the centre's focus is people with disabilities and other members of the public who have previously found access to arts education difficult. As I live in the area, I have searched in vain for any music making and notice a very heavy bias to visual arts. This could all change with the next programme, of course.
RNIB National Library Service includes Braille music. (was National Library for the Blind, UK).
RNIB Music Home Page - leads to information on Braille and large print notation, music technology, music education, music employemnt, events and courses.
Rockbox - an open source replacement for the firmware in a growing range of MP3 players. It may be simpler to operate your player once Rockbox is installed. It is claimed that Rockbox makes your player more customisable and it may even sound better! You may find the Rockbox Community Forum useful.
Royal National College for the Blind, Hereford, UK, offers a 2-year BTEC Certificate in Music Technology.
Ssonification.de - sonification and auditory display
Soundbeam "The Invisible Expanding Keyboard In Space". It uses electronic sensors to turn body movements into sound and images. Company based in Bristol, UK.
Soundlinks - UK company that supplies, and trains people in, speech and music technology. Packages include IBM Home Page Reader, the Sonar Sequencer and Soundforge audio editor. Based in Chesham, Bucks.
Stop making sense [Vines singer diagnosed with Aspergers]
Support Us · Justice Music Project
Sweet Relief - USA charity. " Sweet Relief provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. "
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Technology and Resources for the Blind Musician - Article 2:Knowing the Score
Third article - New Software a Cakewalk for Blind Musicians.
The Dilbert Blog: Good News Day
The Drake Music Project - aims to enable disabled people to discover their musical abilities. Workshops and training in most regions of England. They have also stimulated the development of assistive technologies for music.
The Drake Music Project Scotland
The Sound of Learning: Albano Berberi - The Sound of Learning: Albano Berberi. Thanks to a member of del.icio.us for posting this to me.
The vOICe Learning Edition - Synthetic Vision Software for the Blind
Tiresias Music Page - details some resources available to blind musicians, but is not being kept up-to-date.
Toccata - Braille music transcription software by Pentronics, Australia. Can work from a scan or notation that you edit.
Tools for the Blind Music Professional, Student and Hobbyist: A Review of Technologies that Work! - an exploration of some of the solutions offered by Dancing Dots and others. Paper from Center On Disabilities Technology And Persons With Disabilities Conference 2001.
U VValdosta Music and Publishing: Audio Music Tuition - available on tape, CD and MP3. Play the instrument you want by ear. Free mini-lesson on the web site.
Very Special Arts (VSA) - An international nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the creative power in people with disabilities.
WWeasel: Access to Music Notation for Blind People, an audio-tactile approach.
Who's Afraid of Braille Music - handbook for teachers, parents and students.
Wikipedia article on blind musicians - explains the phenomenon of the blind musician, with examples from around the world.
Wired 13.11: My Bionic Quest for Boléro
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