Teaching a blind child

[ahmedito]

I am on vacation right now. Recently, an institute for the blind lost their music teacher and I ve been asked to substitute for 2 weeks while their new teacher arrives. Any tips on teaching blind children? Mainly I conduct a choir and teach individual piano classes to 4 children. These kids have amazing ears, and I met a more advanced student who has an extremely natural positioning at the keyboard. Has anyone has experience in this matter? One of my former classmates was blind and I watched many of his classes. Id like to hear from you.

[one_wing3d_ang3l]

good luck

[bernhard]

Have a look here:

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=teac;action=display;num=1052371195

[ahmedito]

Bernhard, thanks for the link, but that wasnt helpful at all. The school already has access to Braille books, good thing the children know how to read the notes from their theory class, because I have the normal sheet music with me and have to rely on them to translate the braille. Its impossible to sight-read braille, you know, since you need your hands to read. Its a strange experience. I wonder if anyone here has had experience teaching blind children that could give me some insight. I start tommorrow.

[bernhard]

Bernhard, thanks for the link, but that wasnt helpful at all.

Sorry...

I have no first hand experience of this sort of situation.

But of many disabilities, blindness seems to be one that least interfere with music (plenty of superlative blind musicians).

I can only suggest that you start googling!

Best wishes and good luck tomorrow,
Bernhard.

[ahmedito]

Actually, when you get past the initial mechanics, blindness actually helps with me music making. Ive never heard a more sensitive vesrion of the g minor minuet from the Magdalene notebook than the one I heard frida from a 7 year old.