Audio-opis muzike je metoda čitanja notnog zapisa, lak je i jeftin način transkripcije muzičke notacije uz korištenje softvera za snimanje. Nema više gomila papira, skupe opreme, softvera potrebnih za brajevo pismo i uvećani tekst. Umjesto notnog zapisa na papiru, zapis se snima na kasetu, CD, u MP3 formatu što je ekonomičan i jeftin način čitanja muzičkih nota. Ovaj način jednostavan je za komunikaciju sa muzičarima koji zajedno rade na časovima ili probama. Također se može koristiti za čitanje kajdanki i kompozicija bez obzira koriste li se za glas, gitaru, klavir ili udaraljke. Muzičarima i nastavnicima omogućuje jednostavnu metodu čitanja notnih zapisa. Korištenje ove metode, same ili u kombinaciji sa drugim metodama za osobe oštećenog vida obezbjeđuje jednostavan jezik muzičkih nota.
Audio-opis muzike nije novost, i na neki način stvorili su ga mnogi nastavnici koji imaju slijepe učenike. Svoj sistem čitanja "No-C-Notes" razvila sam prije 20 godina obezbjeđujući tonove, tajming i skraćene nazive akorda u odgovarajućem formatu kako bi ih mogli slušati dok svirate gitaru ili klavir. Od tada pružam usluge transkripcije muzike za notne zapise i instrumente. Na isti način kao što se čita roman sa riječima, rečenicama i paragrafima, "No-C-Notes" čita i speluje notne zapise za vas. Nema potrebe da učite o visini tonova, notnim linijama, zastavicama i drugim vizuelnim znakovima, kad vam ova metoda govori nazive tonova i notnih linija a da ne morate znati gdje je njihovo mjesto na papiru. Audio opis muzike ne bi se trebao miješati sa instrukcijama za sviranje instrumenata.
Otpjevat ćete ili odsvirati tonove ili tajming prema uputama koje stoje u "No-C-Notes". Naprimjer, četvrtina A4 je ton iznad srednjeg C i može se odnositi na svaki instrument ili glas koji ima takav niz tonova.
Dobijem zahtjev od muzičara ili nastavnika muzike u kojem se nalazi notni zapis i kompozicija koju osoba sa oštećenim vidom ne može koristiti. Ako mi muzika na standardnom pismu nije pri ruci, tražim skeniranu kopiju ili kopiju u elektronskoj formi kao i da se plati za kupovinu.
Uz pomoć softvera za muzičku notaciju, konvertiram je u MP3 ili Wav file. Koristim "Finali", ali postoje i drugi dobri programi kao što su "CakeWalk" i "Sonar". Finali skenira notni zapis, koji finaliziram na osnovu traženog tempa što je ponekad sporije da bi se mogle čuti note pojedinačno.
Dat ću vam primjer kompozicije Planxty George Robison, poznatog keltskog svirača harfe iz sedamnaestog stoljeća Turlough-a O'carolan. Štampana kompozicija skenirana je u mom softveru za muzičku notaciju. Prilagodila sam tempo, prebacila muziku iz D u C, napravila playback kao dvoručno sviranje harfe, označila fraze i sačuvala sve kao MP3 fajl. Označila sam fajl po poglavljima kao što se označavaju poglavlja u knjizi kako bi neko više puta mogao svirati jedan dio i naučiti svirati po sluhu. Na taj način lakše je naučiti muzičko djelo. Nema interpretacije umjetnika, drugi instrumenti ili pjevanje nisu uključeni. Uz opisanu kompoziciju dobijete i pisani oblik kako biste mogli pratiti, i MP3 kompoziciju koju je proizveo software u redovnom tempu. Harfa je dvoručni instrument. Pošto se ovo djelo svira sa dvije ruke, mogu ga podijeliti na tonove za desnu i lijevu ruku kako bi se bolje čule note za svaku ruku.
Trenutno radim opis na engleskom jeziku, ali mogu brzo naučiti čitati i na drugim jezicima jer se za opis pjesme koristi maksimalno 50 riječi, ton i tajming. Popularno korištenje audio opisane muzike ili kompozicije poznato je kao vještačka knjiga. Štampani zapis ima samo linije melodije i akorde. Ako se svira flauta, bit će potrebna samo melodija. Ako se svira gitara ili klavir, koriste se melodija i akordi. Osoba koja svira gitaru ili klavir može napraviti aranžman. Sve vrste muzike se mogu opisati kao što je klasična muzika. Glas i knjiga sa instrukcijama po lekcijama također se mogu opisati.
To je dobar resurs za škole u kojima nastavnici muzike imaju učenike sa oštećenim vidom. Muzičko djelo može se brzo i jeftino prilagoditi iz notnog zapisa uz pomoć softvera i sačuvati kao MP3 fajl za skidanje sa interneta ili na CD kako bi se mogao koristiti na bilo kojoj vrsti MP3 playera. Muzika se zatim može verbalno opisati govorenjem koju notu učenik treba svirati. Na taj način mogle bi se prilagoditi cijele knjige za učenika, što bi poboljšalo komunikaciju između učenika i nastavnika.
Ne postoji argument o važnosti pismenosti. Kada je na raspolaganju brajeva notacija za notni zapis, ta metoda može biti poželjna za nastavnika. Ali, većina osoba sa oštećenim vidom nemaju pristup brajevom pismu i ne koriste ga u učionici, a njihovi nastavnici nemaju dovoljno znanja o brajevom pismu. Čak se i brajeva muzička notacija može audio opisati, ne samo objašnjavanjem nota koje treba svirati već oznake i položaj na brajevom papiru.
Proizvodim muziku u MP3 formatu iz štampanog notnog zapisa sa ili bez audio-opisa muzike na zahtjev. Plaća se po minuti. Naprimjer, Auld Lenge Syne traje osam minuta, moja cijena za ovu jednostavnu kompoziciju je 3 dolara i 50 centi po minuti 28 američkih dolara ukupno. Muzika u MP3 formatu po vašem izboru instrumenta i tempa je 2,5 dolara po minuti. Složenija muzička djela kao što su klasika i jez mogu biti duža. Ako želite, prije početka rada možete dobiti okvirnu cijenu. Završeno djelo postavlja se na internet u MP3 formatu ili se snima na CD i šalje.
Od kada sam prešla sa kaseta u MP3 format, nemam kataloga. Američka Kongresna Biblioteka poslala mi je prvu narudžbu za snimanje audio opisane muzike na njihove nove digitalne playere. Teško je dobiti dozvolu izdavača za audio opis i prodaju autorske muzike. Većinu posla obavljam po pojedinačnoj narudžbi što se ne može preprodavati.
Audio-opisne muzičke knjige trenutno su dostupn na engleskom jeziku. Može se zahtijevati obuka nastavnika ili grupni seminar. Obuka se može provoditi putem interneta ili lično. Možete pročitati o sviračima harfe koji danas imaju dobar program u Brajevom institutu u Santa Barbari zahvaljujući mom seminaru. Za dalje informacije ili narudžbe možete posjetiti moju web stranicu ili me kontaktirati. Ako ne govorite engleski, imam prevoditelje koji mi mogu pomoći u komunikaciji sa vama. Specificirajte pjesmu ili knjigu i ako imate štampani notni zapis, koji instrument, ili ako želite da se tempo prilagodi vašim potrebama.
Audio music description method of reading sheet music is an easy and cost effective way of transcribing music notation by using music notation and recording software. This method is for the singer, songwriter, teacher or musician who wants their sheet music spoken, not written and can assist those with visual impairment and reading disabilities to have their music score and lead sheet music listened to without the use of Braille or big note methods. No more bulky paper or expensive computer equipment and software that Braille and big note methods require. Instead of music notation on paper, readings are recorded on tape, CD, MP3 players are recording computer software providing an economical and simple way of reading and storing read music. Music notation identified this way will bring an uncomplicated communication to musicians working together in lessons or rehearsal. This method can also be used for reading all types of music score and lead sheet music. Whether used for voice, keyboards, guitar, strings or woodwinds, it gives musicians and teachers a common audio method of reading their sheet music to one another. Use this method alone or supplement with other music methods for the visually impaired. It provides a common language of notes and timing.
Audio music description is not new and has been created in some way by many music teachers who have visually impaired students. I developed my No-C-Notes reading method twenty years ago for a blind musician by giving tones, timing and chords shorthand names in a format following the music phrases and recorded my readings onto audio cassette for him to listen to while playing his guitar or piano. I have been providing transcribing service since then for various music scores and instruments. In the same way an audio book reads a novel with words, sentences and paragraphs, No-C-Notes reads and spells out the sheet music for you. There is no need to learn about clefs, staffs, ledger lines, note heads and flags and other visual sheet music notation as this method names the actual tone and timing without having to know its placement on paper. Audio music description should not be confused with musical instruction of an instrument, such as which string or fret or finger hole to associate the tone with.
You will sing or play the tone and its timing according to the shorthand term No-C-Notes gives it. For example, quarter-A4 is the tone of A just above middle C held for a quarter beat count on any instrument or with voice that has that tone range. Read also with the tone and time are chords, any fingerings, expression marks, repeats and lyrics depending what is on the printed music score and transcribed into an audio reading of such.
I will receive a transcription request from a musician or music teacher who has a printed music score or sheet music that someone with visual impairment cannot use. If I do not have the printed music on hand, I request their copy either shipped to me or scanned into an electronic format and emailed to me or they pay for my purchase of one.
From this copy I will convert it into an MP3 or .WAV file with my music notation software. I use Finale, but there may be others such as Cake Walk or Sonar that work as well. Finale will scan in the printed music score file and I finalize it with the tempo requested, sometimes it is as it should be played and sometimes slower to hear the individual notes. I also have the music play in the instrument sound as requested. Then I export it as an audio file and save is as an MP3 which can be played on any player, computer or saved to a CD. I will give you an example with Planxty George Brabizon, a Celtic tune by the famous seventeenth century blind harper Turlough O’Carolan. The printed score was scanned into my music notation software, I adjusted the tempo, transposed the music from the key of D to the key of C, made the instrument playback be two handed harp instrument, marked phrases and saved it as an audio MP3 file. I marked this file into sections, marking it like chapters in a book, making it easier for someone to play a section several times to learn by ear. This is easier to learn a music piece from instead of buying an artist CD as only the notes are played as should be. There is no artist interpretation, other instruments playing or singing involved, With this article, there is the printed score for you to view and the MP3 of the song produced by the software in regular tempo, both hands, harp as instrument. Since this is a two handed instrument piece, I could also divide the right hand and left hand music parts so to hear the notes better for each hand.
Currently I transcribe a song in English, but I could learn quickly to read in other languages as there are hardly fifty words used to describe the song, tone and its beat and timing. A popular use of audio described music is of lead sheet music or also known as fake book music. The printed score has only the melody line and chords. If a flute played from this, then only the melody would be needed. If a piano or guitar played from this, then the melody and the chords are used. The piano or guitar player would create their own arrangement from the chords of the harmony. I have provided the world wide folk song, Auld Lange Syne, as an example. All types of music can be described such as piano classical, transposing instruments, voice and instruction books with their lessons.
The music is produced by scanning the printed sheet music into the music software, adjustment of tempo and instrument is made and then the audio .wav or mp3 file is exported. I then provide the song in its entirety before separating it into music phrases to be learned. Each phrase is heard musically, then I read the tone names and the beats of what is in the phrase. No clef or staff notation reading is used, only what the tone and its timing is. Then the musician can hear the music and understand what the notes are to be played on their instrument or be sung.
This is an excellent resource for schools where a music teacher has a visually impaired student. The music piece can be quickly and inexpensively produced from the music score with the software and saved as a MP3 file for download or on CD to be used on any MP3 type of player. The music can then also be verbally described by telling what the notes are for the student to play. This can also be saved with the music, recorded with a basic microphone and saved as MP3. Entire lesson books can be produced for a student this way, providing an easy and inexpensive way of communication between student and teacher.
There is no argument about the importance of literacy. When Braille Notation is available for music score and the teacher is experienced in working with the student in this method it could be preferred. But most visually impaired do not have access to Braille score or its use in the classroom and their teachers do not have Braille knowledge or training. Even Braille music notation can be audio described by explaining not only the notes to be played, but their markings and position on the Braille paper.
Development of my No-C-Notes method has been to keep it simple, easy to produce and inexpensive; therefore I have kept to the exact description of the music and not the printed or Braille noted words.
I provide MP3 music from printed music score with or without the audio music description reading by request. The charge is by finished minute. An example is Auld Lange Syne is eight minutes long, and if my charge for this simpler lead sheet piece is $3.50 a minute, the total would be $28.00 U.S. Just an MP3 of the music in your choice of instrument and tempo is $2.50 a finished minute. The more complex the music, such as classical Sonatas or jazz piano, can be lengthy. An estimated cost can be given before any work is ordered if desired. Prices will change with notice. Finished works are either emailed as an MP3 download or saved to CD and shipped.
Since my transition from audio cassette tape recorded to MP3, I no longer have a catalog available. The Library of Congress in the United States has placed their first order with me for music described to be loaned on their new digital players. It is difficult to secure publisher permission to audio describe and sell copyrighted music. I do have some public domain music available, but most transcribing I do is per individual order which cannot be resold.
Audio description of music lesson books are currently in English, including the instructions and music. Teacher training can be requested or a group seminar of several. This can be done via the Internet or in person. You may read about the harpists who now have a successful program at the Santa Barbara Braille Institute after requesting one of my in person seminars. Read more at their website: http://joyofharps.com/jo/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1
For further information and orders, you may visit my website or contact me. If you do not speak English, I do have translators who can assist me with your correspondence. Specify the song or book and if you have the printed score, what instrument and if you wish the tempo or key signature customized to your needs.
I wish you much success and enjoyment in your music pursuits and would be pleased to assist you in them.