Introduction

Music Braille is music notation for visual impaired people. There are three different systems to do this. The reason is, that music notation is essentially two-dimensional: the time axis and the parts. When we have to write this character for character, we can write part after part or write together what sounds together. Both is done in music braille.

Since music Braille is notated character after character, it is suited as an music notation interchange format (at least better than MIDI).

Frequently asked questions (and answers)are in Braille Music FAQ.

An email list is reachable via BrailleM: The Braille Music List.

Accessible Music Notation project, University of Toronto

TechWeb article: The Blind Get Lift From Java-Based Design

Online tutorials

Brief summary of the most common braille music signs

The Braille Music Code 1997 (North American Version) is now online.

See also a website that explains Braille Music Code in French.

There is a good online tutorial by BRL: Braille Through Remote Learning: Session 1: Music Braille: Basics I
Session 2: Music Braille: Basics II
(Registration Required) Additional sessions are in preparation.

Also from BRL:
Online Braille Music Repository

The Music Braille Table of Signs (Registration Required) is available online and part of the New International Manual of Braille Music Notation.

Miracle

The Miracle project compiled information on Music Braille, including the Report on Braille Music Production.

Software

The program GOODFEEL (Windows only) by dancingdots converts Lime to music Braille. A free demo can be downloaded from dancingdots.

the program Toccata (Windows only) helps Braille Music Transcribers.

the program Concert-O-Braille (Wintel) converts NIFF to music Braille. The manufacturers of Concert-o-Braille are no longer supporting their product and have apparently gone out of business.

A Representation and Conversion System for Musical Notation by Silas S Brown. See also Manuscript Writer home page.

General information

Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Transcription 1997

Computer access tools for Macintosh and Wintel is sold at Infogrip, Inc..
Java programs can be accessed by visual impaired as long as they build their GUI uppon Swing. Swing is the only GUI technology that was designed with an accessibility framework. If the programmer doesn't turn it off, Swing programs are somewhat accessible without any programming. Adding additional support for (visual) impaired is very easy for a programmer.

Kurt Nieft (office@digana.de) is looking forward to contact with blind and visual impaired users of music notation programs.

Access to Computerized Music Production by Blind andVision-Impaired Musicians by Jay Williams.

Erfassung von Braille-Musik-Matrizen in elektronisch lesbarer Form at the University of Dortmund library.

Accessible web pages

webXACT is a web-based tool that analyzes web pages for their accessibility to people with disabilities.

Louis Braille

It has been Louis Braille, inventor of the braille system, who also invented a music notation system, based on his 6 dots system.