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Making Music with Your Computer
(Revised December, 2000)
Screen reader and computer music technologies have now evolved to the point where they can provide accessible environments for producing professional-quality MIDI sequences and digital audio. The number of blind people involved in these activities is growing steadily.
If you want to connect with this knowledgeable but friendly user community, the best way is to explore the web sites and get involved with the mailing lists.
subscribe to the midi-mag list, or check out heartoday.com, a comprehensive resource for blind musicians interested in audio production and webcasting. It also contains many interesting real audio news and information feeds and offers several mailing lists to do with PC Audio and webcasting from a speech-friendly perspective.And don't worry! Despite the presence of some rather incredible power users, there are lots of participants who are just starting out; these are all very friendly and supportive lists.
And every year during the American Council Of The Blind convention, the Friends In Art SIG provides a suite where all the music folks can set up their computers and synthesizers to demo new products, teach each other tricks of the trade, jam and generally get to know each other; it's always a most worth while experience!
Jay Williams is one power user who has written articles aimed at helping new users to understand midi. Click here to read "What Is Midi", and start learing about this most interesting application of computer technology.
The most popular piece of sequencer/music composing software currently being used by blind people is Cakewalk from TwelveTone Systems Inc.
Though some folks are using Cakewalk with
Window Eyes, the most amazing speech-friendly interface has been developed by David Pinto at the Southern California Conservatory of Music.The conservatory provides training to visually impaired music students and musicians. this includes working with Synthesizers and computer-based music sequencing, audio recording and braille translation software. It is also possible to scan printed music scores and transcribe them into publishing-house-quality braille music, thanks to the GoodFeel Braille Music Translator from Dancing Dots.
The speech-friendly Cakewalk interface, called CakeTalking is really a comprehensive set of tutorials plus scripts for the JAWS screen reader. You can hear examples of student productions on the conservatory's web site. The conservatory also offers workshops where you can learn anything you need to know about midi, audio and braille music production.
Another good place where blind people can acquire music and related training is the Music and Arts Center for Humanity in BridgePort CT. Of special interest is the summer camp for blind music students which is run by David Goldstein.
Also, don't forget to check out ACB Radio, the American Council of the Blind webcasting system. They have three networks and a lot of very interesting programming. One of the networks is "Blind Musicians all the time", and is exposing a tremendous amount of new talent.
If all of this is a bit confusing, well, such is often the way with adaptive technology. The best thing is to join the lists and start investigating.
Mean while, here are a few more links that will help you start exploring:
Home Page Author Blind Entrepreneurs Text Resources Displays/Translators
Internet Making Music National Orgs Note Takers
Screen Readers Text Readers Computer User Groups Windows Training
© Copyright 1999 by Tom Dekker
Access Technology Consultant for the Blind and Reading Disabled
Toronto, Ontario Canada
Email: tdekker@consultant.com
