Bringing Braille Music Back from the Brink

Lisette Wesseling (RNZFB)

Wendy Richards (BLENNZ)

Benefits of Music Literacy

• Acquisition of a skill

• Musical Independence

• Career Opportunities

Why a decline?

• Advent of Mainstreaming

• Availability of trained Teachers

• Alternative Technologies

• Braille music = too hard

Programmes Implemented in NZ

• Teacher Training

• Individual Instruction

• Music School

• Immersion Courses

• Parent Education

• Wider range of relevant repertoire available in Braille

Promotion of Braille to Adults

• Audio Teasers on TIS• Translation / production processes

Have they worked?

What have we learned?

• You can make a difference!

• Effective Collaboration can bring wide ranging benefits!

• Imaginative teaching programmes encourage more students to learn Braille music

• Technology can speed up Braille music production significantly.