Things You'll Need:
- Braille books and music
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Step 1
Music in printed notation and in brailleMemorize the basic configurations for notes and musical directions. The first step in learning to read braille music is memorizing the basics. The Royal National Institute of Blind People, based in Britain, and the American Music Education Network for The Visually Impaired both recommend two texts for learning musical braille basics: An Introduction to Music for the Blind Student, or A Course in Braille Music Reading, Parts I and II, both by Richard Teasch. To memorize, place your fingers on the braille as you read or are told what the meaning of the configuration is. Practice differentiating between two, then three, then four configurations and so on, adding new material daily.
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Step 2
A piece in braille and printed notesTake a course. The Braille through Remote Learning program offers a course in basic braille and music in braille, and the American Federation for the Blind maintains a list of courses and teachers of braille across the country.
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Step 3
A pianist learns music through braille in a classroom coursePractice regularly and add advanced materials gradually. Once you have learned the basics, practice reading music in braille everyday to keep your fingers and mind sharp. When you are comfortable reading basic music in braille, begin working on memorizing new configurations and meanings.
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Step 4
Work with a tutor. The best way to learn braille music is to work with a tutor who can help you learn to identify new shapes and the sounds or meanings that go with them. Between tutoring sessions, practice regularly what you have learned until you are comfortable with it.
