The schemes
- Music Foundations β a transitional scheme that separates pitch from rhythm. Level 1 teaches the seven pitch shapes as quarter notes (the eighth-note shape plus dot 6); Level 2 adds the rhythm dots (dot 6 quarter, dot 3 half, dots 3 and 6 whole); then short melodies and octave marks.
- Braille Music Code β the international code (BANA Music Braille Code 2015, New International Manual of Braille Music Notation): notes and rests, octave marks, articulation, slurs and ties, key signatures, fingering, intervals and chords, in-accords. Every item has been read back by the BrlDuet music reader, so what the child types is what a score would say.
Sound before touch, but with a name
Identifying an isolated pitch by ear alone needs absolute pitch, which most children and adults do not have. So by default Listen & Type, Simon Says and Falling Notes play the note and say its name: the task is to recall the braille for "D quarter", which is what the scheme teaches. Choose "Play the note only" in Settings for learners who can identify pitches. Dynamics (forte, piano) and key signatures make no sound, so those items are left out of the ear-training activities; the card shows how many items qualify
Activities
- Flashcards β the name is shown and spoken; the learner brailles it and hears it played. After two misses the answer is shown and spoken with its dot numbers.
- Listen & Type β the note is played (and named). R repeats it.
- Transcription β the phrase is named; each cell is judged as it is typed.
- Missing Dot β one dot is missing from a cell in the item; the learner presses it. This works for both single-cell and multi-cell items.
- Simon Says β a played sequence, one longer each round.
- Falling Notes β braille the note and press Space before it reaches the line. The speed adapts to your performance!
Print notation
With "Show print notation" on, the note being played is engraved on a stave (Verovio) at the top of the activity. It is meant for a teacher watching the screen; because it appears when the note plays, it reveals the answer in Listen & Type to a sighted learner
How typed cells are spoken
Each cell is echoed with its braille-music meaning: "C quarter", "half rest", "fourth octave", "sharp", "slur", "finger two", "third" (interval). β β is "tie", β £β "in-accord". Anything else is read by dot numbers
Voice and screen readers
In Screen reader mode the app is silent and sends the same text to your screen reader; notes are still played. When an activity starts, focus moves into it so that S D F J K L reach the app
Curriculum Builder (Editing a level)
Settings β Edit this level. Each row has the name, the braille and an optional spoken form. Drag the β° handles to reorder items. You can save edits to the current level, or click Save as New Level to create custom spelling lists that permanently appear in your dropdown menu.
Settings that persist
Score, scheme, level, voice mode, echo, voice, look, and the timer are saved and remembered on this device.
