Posted by Lauren Grossberg on Wed, Aug 11, 2010
For some of the students at Berklee College of Music, writing a composition means more than just putting together notes and music. For the students who are visually impaired or blind, a new program has been tested.
In an effort to make the music program more accessible to these students who cannot see a single note, a new curriculum has been developed. With a state-of-the-art lab, a summer program is being conducted as a pilot program for the class that will be offered in the fall.
Although blind students have always been a part of the college, this program will give them even more opportunities musically. Since last year when the school brought in consultants for a seminar on music study for blind students, staff of the school started planning.
The program meets for four hours a day, Tuesday through Friday. The lab portion focuses on notation, music composition and reading Braille music. They are taught how to read the music and also sing the notes and compose pieces for instruments by listening to a screen reader which narrates text that appears on a screen.
Because of the rise in technology, the visually impaired students get to make use of the technological advances, but also get the chance to rely on reading Braille music, one of the few options for blind musicians. Although they can listen and follow along with the sounds, reading the Braille notes is the only way to read the music.
With the success of this program, many schools are starting to take on similar projects, giving more students more opportunities to succeed.
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Posted by Lauren Grossberg on Fri, Jul 23, 2010
There are many routine tasks and activities that people can sometimes take for granted. We do certain little tasks everyday that it becomes almost automatic and we don’t have to think about it. This summer, the Montana Association for the Blind will be helping people who are blind or have low vision learn some of these tasks.
From woodworking to using and operating a computer, they will help these people learn skills that will help them easily perform activities that seemed impossible before. This program, held at Caroll College in Helena, will teach and re-teach these skills over the course of the summer.
Not only will they learn new skills, but they will also learn about the tools that can be used, such as magnifying text, for people with low vision. These tools are made to offer a way for these people to learn and use these skills to make their lives more independent.
Skills that are useful around the house, like sewing, are being taught by instructors. Students also have the opportunity to learn Braille. The teachers and staff know that learning these skills is not an easy thing to do, but with their support, they can help make these students live better and more independent lives.
The Montana Association for the Blind has been offering this particular summer program to people for over 60 years. They continue to help those in need and prepare them with the skills they want and need to live their lives to the fullest.
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