Last modified March August 29, 2004
(Distributed in hardcopy as "Resources for Visually Impaired Musicians)
This page table of contents, 4 sections:
Section 1: Organizations with Music-Related Services
Section 2: Internet Mailing Lists (ListServ)
Section 3: Major Sources of Braille Music
Section 4: Music Transcription Services
American Council of the Blind
1155 15th Street, N.W., Suite 1004
Washington, DC 20005
(800) 424-8666 between 3:00 and 5:30 p.m.
(202) 467-5081
http://www.acb.org
Self-help and consumer organization with state and local chapters. Has as special
interest groups Friends in Art and
Braille Revival League; good resource for all types of information. Its online
radio station
www.acbradio.org
plays music by blind musicians as well as having programs relating to music
technology.
American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10011
(800) 232-5463
(212) 502-7600
E-mail afbinfo@afb.org
http://www.afb.org
Mentor braille program, National Technology Center and Careers Information Bank,
good resource for all types of information relating to blindness.
Association for the Education of the Blind and Visually Impaired
206 N. Washington Street, Suite 320
Alexandria, VA 22314
(877) 492-2708
(703) 823-9690
E-mail aer@aerbvi.org
http://www.aerbvi.org
International membership includes teachers, administrators and workers in the
blindness field; good source for locating a
teacher and exchanging ideas with educators.
Blindskills
P.O. Box 5181
Salem, OR 97304-0181
(800) 860-4224
E-mail blindskl@teleport.com
http://www.blindskills.com
Publishes Dialogue Magazine, which contains articles for people of all ages
including students and those experiencing vision loss later in life. Interviews
of people in careers often feature musicians. Each issue has an excellent listing
of resources and services. Blindskills compiles information packages and can
be called for information on just about any subject related to services and
vision loss. Its web site lists many resources and has links to more.
Braillem Internet mailing list. This is a discussion group covering all aspects of braille music, including sources of music and teaching materials, new developments, and the code itself. Beginners may ask questions of more experienced users, and transcribers can discuss how to handle difficult passages. The list owner is Brent Hugh. To subscribe, send a message to braillem-subscribe@topica.com. The message and subject line may be left blank. You will receive an automated response, asking you to confirm. The easiest way to to this is simply to reply to this message. Once subscribed, you may post messages to braillem@topica.com.
Dancing Dots Braille Music Technology
William R. Mccann, President
1754 Quarry Lane
P.O. Box 927
Valley Forge, PA 19482
(610) 783-6692
Fax (610) 783-6732
E-mail info@dancingdots.com
http://www.dancingdots.com
Producer and distributor of technology products and braille music learning materials
including the GOODFEEL(R) Braille Music Translator, Cakewalk Pro Audio, and
Cake Talking. GOODFEEL converts computer files in Lime or MIDI formats into
braille music and may be used by teachers and helpers not knowledgeable in braille
music. Cake Talking is a package of scripts to make Cakewalk Pro Audio accessible
and contains tutorials for self study. Dancing Dots is the publisher of braille
music lesson books by Richard Taesch. The company will transcribe music assignments
with fast turnaround time.
Friends in Art
c/o Michael Mandel, President
400 West 43rd Street, Apt 20L
New York, NY 10036
(212) 868-0345
An affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, this is an organization of
blind and sighted persons in visual art, tactile art, music, writing, drama,
photography
and other art forms. Concerns include advocacy, arts education, and museum access.
FIA sponsors an annual showcase at the American Council of the Blind national
convention. Provides scholarships for students in the arts.
Hadley School for the Blind
700 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093
(800) 323-4238
(312) 446-8111
E-mail info@hadley-school.org
http://www.hadley-school.org
Correspondence courses in braille music and a variety of topics, including college
preparation.
LRS (Library Reproduction Service)
14214 S. Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90061
1-800-255-5002
E-mail: lrsprint@aol.com
http://www.lrs-largeprint.com/home.html
For more than 30 years LRS (Library Reproduction Service) has been providing
LARGE PRINT reproductions to special needs
students in first grades through post secondary, as well as GED, adult basic
and continuing education programs. Selections include music.
Lighthouse Music School
111 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
(212) 821-9660
http://www.lighthouse.org
Music school for blind people of all ages in the New York City area. A faculty
of professional musicians has extensive teaching experience.
Midi-mag Internet Mailing List.
This is a forum started by Friends in Art for discussing computer-related issues,
but often discussions involve braille music and careers in the arts. To subscribe,
write a message with the words, "subscribe midi-mag" followed by your
first and last name. Leave the subject line blank and send it to listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu.
Once subscribed, you may post messages to the list at midi-mag@maelstrom.stjohns.edu.
Music and Arts Center for Humanity
510 Barnum Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06608
(203) 366-3300
E-mail must be sent through web site
http://www.musicandartscenter.org
Community school of the arts for children and adults with special needs, including
at-risk youth and people with a variety of
disabilities. Serves the city of Bridgeport and lower Fairfield County, Connecticut
and collaborates with other community
agencies. Programs include after-school and Saturday activities, a music school,
and several camps including an Alvin Ailey dance camp. Its National Resource
Center for blind
Musicians answers questions and provides
referrals for students and teachers around the country regarding nbraille music,
technology and ways o help blind people
participate in music activities.
Braille music and technology can be arranged for blind people in Connecticut,
and staff are available to conduct workshops throughout New England and beyond.
Music VI: Tape and CD instruction for Piano, Guitar, Bass, and Banjo
704 Habersham Road
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 249-0628
http://www.musicvi.com
Sells guitar and piano courses on tape
Music Education Network for the Visually Impaired (MENVI)
Attn: Richard Taesch, Director Braille Music Studies
Southern California Conservatory of Music
8711 Sunland Boulevard
Sun Valley, CA 91352
(818) 767-6554
E-mail taeschr@ix.netcom.com
http://www.superior-software.com/menvi
A coalition of parents, students, and teachers who share information, advice,
and resources. Membership is free, and a
newsletter is provided quarterly in print, braille, on disk or E-mail. Coordinator
Richard Taesch has developed a teaching method for braille music which he and
his colleagues offer in person in California and in a curriculum and method
books distributed by Dancing Dots and Opus Technologies. A committee of specialists
in the field provide guidance in using these books as well as answering questions
on various aspects of music education.
Music Section
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20542
(800) 424-8567
(202) 707-5100
E-mail nlsm@loc.gov
http://www.loc.gov/nls
Web address for Union catalog:
Library
of Congress Voyager Online Catalog
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped provides
braille and recorded books on loan through a national network of cooperating
libraries. The music section is the country's Largest source of braille, Large
print and recorded scores and instructional materials. Library patrons wishing
to order music must register with the Music Section at the Library of congress
itself and order directly from there. A small number of its music holding have
been placed on its Web-Braille system, and may be downloaded by patrons who
have braille-aware devices and have registered to use this system. Those interested
in signing up for Web-Braille should contact their cooperating network library.
National Braille Association
3 Townline Circle
Rochester, NY 14623-2513
(716) 427-8260
E-mail nbaoffice@compuserv.com
http://www.nationalbraille.org/
Organization with National membership of braille transcribers. Has small collection
of braille music which can be purchased, and can transcribe a limited amount
of music on request. Provides workshops on braille music at their national conferences.
National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314
http://www.nfb.org
Self-help and consumer organization with local chapters and affiliates. Its
National center for the blind houses the
International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind, and Job Opportunities
for the Blind, and can provide resource
information; affiliates include National Association to Promote the Use of Braille,
a parents organization, and a music division.
A network of braille music users throughout the country is being organized to
serve as mentors for students and their families.
No-C-Notes Music
Attn: Christina Nordstrom
4210 Quebec Ave.
Duluth, MN 55804
(218) 525-9839
E-mail: Information@no-c-notes.com
http://no-c-notes.com
Has developed a system for dictating notation on audio tape, useful to those
with vision or learning disabilities who do not
use braille. Audio sample is on Web site.
Opus Technologies
Att: Samuel O. Flores
13333 Thunderhead Street
San Diego, CA 92129
(619) 538-9401
E-mail opus@opustec.com
http://www.opustec.com
Publishes and distributes books and aids for learning braille music from several
sources. Publisher of How to Read Braille Music by Krolick; distributor of the
New International Manual of Braille Music Notation in print and braille formats;
Interactive CD-ROM versions of both books. OpusDots Lite, a program for teachers
to scan in and produce simple one-line band parts for students. Distributor
of Toccata, a braille music translator from Australia. Produces braille versions
of popular music lead sheets from Hal Leonard Publishers.
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
20 Roszel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
E-mail reference@rfbd.org
http://www.rfbd.org/
Largest collection of textbooks on tape, elementary, high school, college, and
post graduate and professional. Has a wide variety of books about music, including
some several music appreciation and theory textbooks. A small music dictionary
is available on disk. Books may be located in the Library of Congress's Union
Catalog.
Braille Music Division
Attn: Richard Taesch
Southern California Conservatory of Music
8711 Sunland Boulevard
Sun Valley, CA 91352
Conservatory main Sun Valley Headquarters: (818) 767-6554
E-mail taeschr@ix.netcom.com
http://www.sccm.us.
The Braille Music Division of this conservatory uses a curriculum of braille
music and technology to provide music education to children and adults. The
Music
Education Network for the Visually Impaired (listed above) is an unaffiliated
membership group using this address.
Stephens Development Company
3542 Fair Oaks Lane
Longboat Key, FL 34228
(888) 714-4419
(941) 383-4398
E-mail stevepub@home.com
Distributor of large-print music published by Hal Leonard, including classical,
popular, religious and traditional.
Tack-Tiles Braille Systems
P.O. Box 485
Plaistow, NH 03865
(800) 822-8505
(603) 382-1904
http://www.tack-tiles.com
Blocks with braille symbols that can be placed on a board for various activities.
The braille music set contains all the
braille music symbols. Also distributed by Dancing Dots Braille Music Technology.
Braillem Internet mailing list. This is a discussion group covering all aspects of braille music, including sources of music and teaching materials, new developments, and the code itself. Beginners may ask questions of more experienced users, and transcribers can discuss how to handle difficult passages. The list owner is Brent Hugh. To subscribe, send a message to braillem-subscribe@topica.com. The message and subject line may be left blank. You will receive an automated response, asking you to confirm. The easiest way to to this is simply to reply to this message. Once subscribed, you may post messages to braillem@topica.com.
ddots-l. This list is mainly for users of products from Dancing Dots, but it
is open to anyone interested in braille music, technology, and other issues
of special concern to blind musicians or sighted teachers. To subscribe, send
a message to listserv@listserv.nas.net . Leave the subject blank, and in the
body of the message write, "subscribe ddots-l (your name). You may also
subscribe to this list from the Dancing Dots web site. Once subscribed, you
may post messages to:
ddots-l@listserv.nas.net.
Midi-mag Internet Mailing List. This is a forum started by Friends in Art for discussing computer-related issues, but often discussions involve braille music and careers in the arts. To subscribe, write a message with the words, "subscribe midi-mag" followed by your first and last name. Leave the subject line blank and send it to listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu. Once subscribed, you may post messages to the list at midi-mag@maelstrom.stjohns.edu.
North America
American Printing House for the Blind
P.O. Box 6085
Louisville, KY 40206-0085
(800) 223-1839
(502) 895-2405
E-mail info@aph.org
http://www.aph.org
Louis catalog: http//:www.aph.org/louis.htm
Although no longer transcribing music books for its collection, the APH catalog
has many scores for purchase. The APH houses a Union Catalog called Louis, listing
books transcribed by agencies around the country, and this should be consulted
in any search for music.
Library for the Blind
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto Ontario Canada
M4g 3E8
(416) 480-7520
Attn: Christina Lockerby
E-mail lockerby@lib.cnib.org
http://www.cnib.org
Extensive music library.
Music Section
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20542
(800) 424-8567
(202) 707-5100
E-mail nlsm@loc.gov
http://www.loc.gov/nls/
Web address for Union catalog:
Library
of Congress Voyager Online Catalog
Largest source of braille, large print and recorded scores and instructional
materials; does not contain school books for band
or band parts. A small amount of braille music is available for download on
its Web-Braille system.
National Braille Association
3 Townline Circle
Rochester, NY 14623-2513
(716) 427-8260
E-mail nbaoffice@compuserv.com
http://www.nationalbraille.org/
Small collection of braille music for purchase, and can transcribe a limited
amount on request.
Europe
National Library for the Blind
Far Cromwell Road
Bredbury
Stockport SK6 2SG
ENGLAND
Tel +44 0161 494-0217
Fax +44 0161 406-6728
E-mail enquiries@Nlbuk.org
www.nlbuk.org
Large music collection of its own and can make arrangements for readers to borrow
music published by the Royal National Institute for the Blind. U.S. readers
can borrow books from the National Library for the Blind through the Library
of Congress, but it is much easier to become a member of the NLB directly, which
is free. Music from the Royal National Institute for the Blind may be borrowed
through the NLB. NLBalso has a list of music libraries in Europe.
Royal National Institute for the Blind
P.O. Box 173
Peterborough PE2 6WS
ENGLAND
Tel +44 1733 370-77
Fax +44 371-555
http://www.rnib.org
Publishes and maintains a library of braille music, mainly for purchase. Readers
may borrow books through the National Library for the Blind.
S.V.B.
(Students Library for the Blind)
Studie- en Vakbibliotheek voor Visueel- en
Anderszins Gehandicapten
Molenpad 2,
1016 GM Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel. +31-(0)20-626-6465
fax: +31 20620 620-8459
Attn: Vera Wessels
E-mail vwessels@svb.nl
http://www.svb.nl/
One of the World's largest collections of music; maintains a database of music
and music books in several European countries.
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The agencies listed below are able to transcribe braille music for individuals
at cost. Many of these are listed in the booklet
Individual Braille Transcription Services, compiled annually and available free
of charge from:
National Braille Press
88 St.Stephen Street
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 266-6160
http//www.nbp.org
Another useful directory is "sources of Custom-produced Books: Braille,
audio, and Larg print.' Formerly known as "Volunteers Who Produce Books,"
it is available in large-print and braille from the Reference Section, National
Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Washington, DC 20542;
(800) 424-8567. You may find it on the NLS
Web site at: http://www.loc.gov/reference/nls/directories/index.html.
Prices: agencies charge for their work can vary significantly between agencies.
It is advisable to call an agency first to discuss an assignment before sending
material.
Associated Services for the Blind
Attn: Dolores Ferrara-Godzieba
919 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 627-0600
E-mail dfgodz@asb.org
Braille Inc.
184 Seapit Road
East Falmouth, MA 02536-6439
(508) 540-0800
E-mail braillinc@capecod.net
Braille Institute
Attn: Carol Jiminez
741 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90029-3594
(213) 663-1111
http://www.brailleinstitute.org
BrailleWright
Attn: Sari Wright
P.O. Box 77546
Toronto, Ontario Canada
M3H 6AG
Phone (716) 633-3104
E-mail brailleslw@look.ca
Specializes in transcribing music with quick turnaround time.
Dancing Dots Braille Music Technology
1754 Quarry Lane
P.O. Box 927
Valley Forge, PA 19482
(610) 783-6692
Fax (610) 783-6732
E-mail info@dancingdots.com
http://www.dancingdots.com
Will transcribe music from print, MIDI, or Lime Notation files using its Goodfeel
Braille Music Translator. Material is
proofread for accuracy. Fast turnaround time.
Metrolina Association for the Blind
Att: Mary Klattehoff
704 Louise Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28205
(704) 372-3870
E-mail braille@charlotte.infi.net
Priority is given to residents of North Carolina.
National Braille Association
3 Townline Circle
Rochester, NY 14623-2513
(716) 427-8260
E-mail nbaoffice@compuserve.com
http://www.nationalbraille.org/
Tri-County Braille Volunteers
17889 Bonscelle
Southfield, MI 48075
(248) 559-7112
This group devotes most of its resources to textbooks. The time they can give
to music is very limited.
Volunteer Braille and Large Print Services
3730 Toledo Avenue, North
Robinsdale, MN 55422
(612) 521-0372
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