[MusicTlk] Singers

Mon Jul 1 01:33:40 UTC 2019

It’s very possible that the director has misconceptions about blindness.  He might think … “how can this person read the music” … “how will they function?”.  Not saying everyone will think this way, but I’ve heard people voice unfounded similar concerns.

One time I was discussing how blind people do math.  The person I was talking to said … “I just don’t see how blind people can do upper level math when they can’t see”.  I can understand the comment.  They’re thinking about dealing with graphs, and writing equations.  Still, talk about ignorance and being uninformed!!  It’s called alternative methods.  It’s called Nemeth math.  I’d like to see them make that statement to Dr. Nemeth!!

I’ve also had bosses that have thought similar type things.  One time I was in a training class (at the time I was using a white cane because my vision was really down) and everyone thought I was amazing because I could participate in class.  I wasn’t totally blind, but that was their perception because of the cane.  And like most blind people do, again you find alternate methods.  And let’s not think that just because we’re low vision, or blind, we don’t have a brain and aren’t capable of doing things.

If the choir director is being an a@#$, I’d directly go up to him and say … “I’d like to be in the choir” .. and put him on the spot.  If he gives you some mealy-mouth excuse, maybe perceptions are at the root.  You would think, though, that if he ever heard you sing, and you were good, he’d want to take advantage of your talent and at least try to accommodate what you need to make it happen.

Sorry about the rant.  I’ve just seen a lot of this in my lifetime, as I’m sure all of us have.  I wonder what is worse.  Being low vision or blind, or dealing with misconceptions and attitudes?

Incidentally, I hope the originator of this message can get in the choir.  Good luck.

Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10

________________________________
From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of Sandra Streeter via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2019 8:04:45 PM
To: 'Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians'
Cc: Sandra Streeter
Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Singers

>From a different Sandra:

There's hope--it doesn't always happen that way. Not sure why it does when
it does. Fortunately, I've never received that kind of treatment; usually,
if I didn't sing, it was because the church had plenty of praise singers and
didn't need another, or the church didn't have a choir at all except during
Easter or Christmas, and I was always well-received in being part of that.
When I joined the Mystic River Chorale in 1988 or so, the current dir. Was
my high school choir dir., and he knew of my capabilities; when we later
became an audition group, I passed--though it took years to succeed at
getting into the Chamber Singers, a select group from the larger group, and
that was because others had better pipes and the competition was stiff, not
because of blindness. I have heard of other blind people being passed over
because of misperceptions related to blindness, though, and that is
exceedingly sad, and kind of ironical, when you consider that one of the
persistent myths is that we all must have pipes like Ray Charles!

Sandra

Something is wrong, I know it, if I don't keep my attention on eternity. May
I be the tiniest nail in the house of the universe, tiny but useful.
(Mary Oliver)

-----Original Message-----
From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Debra Baxley via
MusicTlk
Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2019 7:17 PM
To: Anne Martin via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Debra Baxley <debrabaxley330 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Singers

My children's and Youth Choir Director always let me sing in his choirs
as a totally blind person.

Debra

On 6/30/2019 6:02 PM, Anne Martin via MusicTlk wrote:
> Sandra,
>
> I don't play the guitar, but I have another question for you.
>
> Why do choir directors not let blind singers sing?  Or if they do, they
have you sing on the least attended Sunday, and/or when they, and/or the
preacher is out of town.
>
> I'm not the only one that has had that happen.
> Is it possibly the difference in the Look?
> Your thoughts,
> Anne
> ----  -Original Message-----
> From: MusicTlk <musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sandra Gayer via
MusicTlk
> Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2019 5:45 PM
> To: Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Sandra Gayer <sandragayer7 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] Guitars
>
> Hello Tony,
> A key part of playing any musical instrument, without sight, as you put
it, is muscle memory. If you play certain combinations of notes and chords
often enough, your hands will learn the distances they have to travel. I'm
sure sighted guitarists aren't staring at their hands for fret positions as
they need their sight to read the music. It's the same for other string
players like violinists. Sighted violinists aren't staring at their hands
either and they have no frets to guide their finger positions.
>
> I am a blind Soprano Singer but I used to play the guitar.
>
> Very best wishes,
> Sandra.
>
> On 6/30/19, Tony Malykh via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hello musicians,
>> I am now re-learning to play guitar and I was wondering if there are
>> any techniques/tips on how play it without sight? I have about 10
>> years of experience, although I haven't been playing much all that
>> time, but now I'm trying to relearn how to play it without sight.
>> For example, my biggest problem is to position my hand correctly at a
>> certain fret, especially when that fret is far from either ends. I was
>> thinking of putting some sticky bump dots on the back of guitar  neck,
>> so that I'd be able to feel them with my thumb. Has anyone tried
>> anything like that, and does it work? Or are there any other tricks?
>> Another question is about new guitars - I am looking to buy a new
>> guitar for myself and I am wondering if there is anything I should
>> know before buying it? I am not looking for general advice - I have a
>> few guitar experts among my friends, who know a lot about guitars, I
>> am rather interested if there is anything a blind guitarist should
>> know before buying a guitar. Like for example maybe some models are
>> easier to play for blind people than others.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Tony
>>
>>
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>
> --
> Sandra Gayer DipABRSM, LRSM.
>
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