Sound Without Sight podcast

In this episode, we host a panel discussion, curated by Zenny Jabeera, exploring the different approaches that blind musicians might take to learning music and communicating musical ideas. We welcome three very special guests onto the panel: Kevin Satizabal, a composer and music journalist, currently working for the BBC;Andre Louis, a jazz composer and music technology accessibility consultant; and Clare Gailans, a braille music teacher and transcriber, and advocate for accessible formats for music notation.The panel compare and contrast their approaches, such as using braille music notation, learning by ear, and using notation software to explore digital scores. This episode was recorded live, as part of the Sound Without Sight Monthly Meet-up Session for June 2024, featuring questions submitted by our community.

In this episode, James Bowden demonstrates all the basics of braille music translation using the Sao Mai Braille app (SMB). James shows how you can use SMB to convert MusicXML format scores into BRF files, ready for embossing or reading on a braille display. You can access the accompanying handout and notes at Sound Without Sight.James navigates SMB using his computer keyboard and a screen reader, but sighted users can of course also navigate SMB using a mouse and without using a screen reader. This session was recorded live, as part of the Sound Without Sight Monthly Meet-up Session for November 2024, featuring questions submitted by our community.

In this episode, James Bowden, Braille Technical Officer at RNIB, demonstrates all the basics of the notation app MuseScore Studio using a screen reader. Please also see the accompanying handout and notes.If you’re listening to this as an audio-only podcast but would like to see James’ screen, a video of this session is also available on the Sound Without Sight YouTube channel. This session was recorded live, as part of the Sound Without Sight Monthly Meet-up Session for October 2024, featuring questions submitted by our community. James starts with a brief overview of his backgroundWe hope you enjoy

In this episode, we welcome Emma Tracey. Emma is a blind podcast producer, presenter, and journalist working at the BBC. She presents BBC’s weekly disability and mental health podcast, Access All, and she can often be heard on BBC World Service, Radio 4, and 5 Live. Emma shares insight into a range of topics including:Her pathway into journalism.Her current roles at the BBC. And the production process for the Access All podcast. This interview was recorded live, as part of the Sound Without Sight Monthly Meet-up Session for September 2024, featuring questions submitted by our community. 

In this episode, we welcome Joanne Roughton-Arnold. Joanne is a visually impaired soprano and CEO and Creative Director of formidAbility, the UK's only disability-led opera company (to our knowledge). Joanne covers topics including:• Her work as a leader in disability arts, including starting up formidAbility.• Her experiences of performing in opera with a visual impairment, including singing with the Paraorchestra.• Her experiences of applying for Arts Council England funding, and how she has helped to improve the experience for other disabled applicants.

In this episode, we host a panel discussion, exploring the educational and professional pathways open to musicians, and tips for navigating these with a visual impairment. We welcome three very special guests onto the panel: Bobby Goulder, who has built a career as a musician since graduating in 2015; Sarah Bayley, who is a recent Music graduate, and Sound Without Sight intern, and a LOOK UK mentor. and Fiona Waterspring, Student Support Services Advisor at Thomas Pocklington Trust.This interview was recorded live, as part of the Sound Without Sight Monthly Meet-up Session for July 2024, featuring questions submitted by our community. We close the session with a top tip from each of our guests. We hope you enjoy! Hosted by Jay Pocknell, Project Manager at Sound Without Sight and Megan Adams, Student Mentor Project Officer at LOOK UK.