Overview of Braille Music Piano Courses from Dancing Dots

The principles taught in An Introduction to Music for the Blind Student, Part I by Richard Taesch, will have served to prepare the student in the general language of music reading and sight singing as a basis for all instrumental applications.

An Introduction to the Piano for the Blind Student, Graded Studies Books 1 and 2, guide the teacher/tutor and student in gradual mastery of the typical problems encountered in teaching and learning of braille piano music. Repertoire Book 1 will provide additional graded literature for performance at the appropriate levels. Text is kept to a minimum in order to provide clear, progressive, and uncluttered flexibility for the experienced piano teacher who has no braille knowledge, while maintaining logical pedagogical concepts.

Print music is presented with dual-vision simulated braille, and includes highlighted music signs as presented in the graded methodology. " Repertoire and Examination Pieces" (Horrocks/Taesch), soon to be released, will provide typical materials unencumbered by editorial clutter - clearly notated in the braille music code - and intended to aid the blind student to compete in examination opportunities offered by internationally recognized venues such as Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), Associated Board (UK), and Certificate of Merit (Music Teachers' Assn. Of California).

Richard Taesch's materials have been in testing and development stages for many years prior to the launching of the Braille Music Division at Southern California Conservatory of Music in 1992. Mr. Taesch is certified by the Library of Congress in literary and music braille transcription, and serves as Music Specialist for California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually Handicapped (CTEVH). He has been a full-time music educator since 1961.

An Introduction to the Piano for the Blind Student

A Course in Braille Music Reading, Book 1

By Richard Taesch
Published by Dancing Dots

A piano companion course and supplement for An Introduction To Music For The Blind Student, Part I

This series is designed specifically for the piano student who has been exposed to the Part I course, or who has fundamental knowledge of the braille music code in general.

The exercises and graded repertoire have been carefully written and compiled so as to help the student progressively overcome typical problems in reading "bar-over-bar" braille music formats." Duets and performance repertoire are presented to make the process fun, musical, and educational.

An Introduction to the Piano for the Blind Student is termed by its author, Richard Taesch, as "A Progressive Curriculum In Bar-Over-Bar Braille Music Reading."
Once the basics of braille music reading have begun, those who pursue the piano as a primary instrument must develop the skill of playing two parts at one time. Braille music presents music for two hands in "bar-over-bar" piano music format.

A Course in Braille Music Reading, Book 2

By Richard Taesch
Published by Dancing Dots
A piano companion course and supplement for An Introduction To Piano For The Blind Student, Book 1, Graded Studies
Prerequisites: functional knowledge of the braille music code presented in AN INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC FOR THE BLIND STUDENT, PART I, and in AN INTRODUCTION TO PIANO FOR THE BLIND STUDENT, Book 1 by Richard Taesch.
An Introduction to the Piano for the Blind Student is termed by its author, Richard Taesch, as "A Progressive Curriculum In Bar-Over-Bar Braille Music Reading."

Customer Testimonials

“By setting high yet realistic expectations, Taesch has demonstrated that with proper instruction, blind musicians can and do perform at levels equal, if not sometimes exceeding, those of their sighted counterparts.”
Stephanie Pieck
Certified Braille Music Instructor, Guilderland Center, New York

“The intricacies of teaching music braille reading require materials that are consistent for quick and easy learning but varied for high interest and contain enough repetition for real learning. Richard Taesch has done all of that and more in his well graded lessons and study supplement for beginning braille music reading. Those of us who teach it are indebted to him.”
Carol Tavis, Music Educator, Los Angeles, California

Online Purchasing

30-Day Evaluation Period for All Books by Richard Taesch

If you are not certain that these books are right for you, try them for a couple of weeks. You may return them within 30 days and Dancing Dots will refund your full purchase price excluding shipping charges. You must contact us to receive a Return Authorization (RA) Number. We will not accept any returns without an RA Number. Books must be in resalable condition to qualify for refund. We suggest you insure all return shipments for full replacement value.

An Introduction to Piano for the Blind Student, Book 1
The full set includes 2 print and 2 braille volumes (Repertoire and Graded Studies).
Please select a set:

An Introduction to Piano for the Blind Student, Book 2
The full set includes 1 print and 1braille volumes (Graded Studies).
Please select a set:

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