Kevin Satizabel – Braillecast

Topics covered in this session:

Debunking some myths
Notes and note values – quavers, crotchets, minims, semibreves and dotted notes
Sharp, flat and natural signs
Time signatures and their placement – 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, common time, 6/8, 9/8
Key signatures and their placement – D major (2 sharps), A major (3 sharps), B major (5 sharps) and F sharp major (6 sharps)

Resources of interest:

RNIB Music Advisory Service
Braille Music for Beginners for the Piano by Joan Partridge: available from RNIB, product code 25282902 (braille) or 25282903 (print)
A Course in Braille Music by Maeve Smith
Focus on Braille Music by Lisette Wesseling, published by Musicians in Focus Ltd and available from Techno-Vision Systems Ltd
Who’s Afraid of Braille Music? by Richard Taesch and William R. McCann, available from Dancing Dots
Braille Music in a Digital Age, by Roger Firman and Clare Gailans, published by the International Council on English Braille at its Seventh General Assembly (2020):
Hadley School for the Blind braille music course (no longer available)
ICEB Braille Music page
New International Manual of Braille Music Notation
BrailleOrch (in English)
Braille Music Editor

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Join the next event on Monday 10 May 2021 at 8:00 PM in the UK and Ireland

Join the Braillists Foundation on Clubhouse

00:00 / 1:04:33

On 4 January, people across the world celebrated World Braille Day. This day, which marks the birthday of Louis Braille, is an important one for blind people and those connected to the blind community, so the Braillists Foundation couldn’t let it pass without recognising it and the significance of braille.

The Foundation hosted a panel discussion, inviting three braille users to speak about their lives with braille. More importantly, perhaps, they also shared their thoughts on how braille may adapt to the changing needs of the blind community in future.

The session also included a short audio presentation sharing the voices and perspectives of braille users from around the world, from the UK all the way to New Zealand.

We would like to extend our thanks to the Braillists Foundation for allowing us to publish this recording, and to the three excellent panellists for giving up their time to be part of the session:

Saima Akhtar, recent graduate in English and Creative Writing from Birmingham City University
Gary O’Donoghue, Washington Correspondent at the British Broadcasting Corporation
Dr Fred Reid, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Warwick

00:00 / 57:42

Braille Music: Let’s Tackle the Basics! (Extra 22)

A Celebration of World Braille Day (Episode 22)