Building Your Music Toolkit

An elementary-age student playing the keyboard and wearing headphones. A teacher can be seen in the background.

July 30, 2021

Want to support your student’s budding interest in music? We’ve got you covered. Get moving and grooving with this list of music products, resources, lessons, and activities from APH.

Music Products

Feel the Beat – The ability to “play music by ear” is an asset, but it is only one part of playing music. As part of braille literacy, braille readers should be introduced to braille music at the same time that their sighted peers begin reading music in print (usually around third or fourth grade). Author Christine Short was the 2011 co-recipient of the “Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize,” awarded by National Braille Press, for her Music Braille Curriculum, which has become “Feel the Beat.” Learn more about this product by watching our Feel the Beat of Braille Music webinar.

cover of Feel the Beat: Lesson Plans for Teaching the Braille Code with the Soprano Recorder. graphic of a recorder sitting overtop braille code and music chart with a variety of notes

Music Braille Wheel– The Music Braille Wheel is the perfect resource for any student, instructor, or parent, who is not familiar with the music braille code. Quickly identify music braille notes and their print counterpart by spinning the Music Braille Wheel.
Music Braille Flash Cards – These flash cards allow easy review of the music braille code. Cards feature large print and braille, allowing all learners to take part. This can be a great addition to learning and pairs nicely with the Feel the Beat curriculum. Take them anywhere, and review on the go.
Music Braille Code – The most recent edition from the Braille Authority of North America, this book is intended to extend consistent guidance regarding music format. Where appropriate, rules and procedures have been adjusted to comply with the adoption of UEB: The Rules of Unified English Braille and of Braille Formats: Principles of Print-to-Braille Transcription.
Joy Player – Enjoy jamming to your favorite music or listening to your favorite audiobook on the easy-to-load, switch-activated Joy Player. This product accommodates those who are developing fine motor skills, have limited mobility, or a cognitive disability, in addition to a visual impairment.

Joy Player displayed at an angle laying flat on a surface

PixBlaster and PageBlaster – APH’s two powerful braille embossers can emboss braille ready files (BRFs) that contain music braille.
Use Quick-Draw Paper, TactileDoodle, and Picture Maker Wheatley Tactile Diagramming Kit to quickly illustrate and convey the shapes of musical notes or other related concepts. For example, use the line strips and shapes from Picture Maker to construct a 5-line staff.

Music Resources

The APH Tactile Graphic Image Library contains downloadable tactile graphics. One category of images is devoted to music and includes images of musical instruments. Check out our Access Academy webinar, Explore and Use the Tactile Graphic Image Library, to learn more about this resource.
The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled offers braille and large print musical scores, recorded instructional materials, and recorded materials about music and musicians. These materials can be shipped to you, and some digital audio and ebraille materials are available for download. Go to the NLS website for more information, and discover how you can access these materials.
The APH Louis Database also contains music books for people who are blind or low vision.
Another organization, known as the Amber Trust, provides musical opportunities for children who are blind or low vision and children who have other disabilities through Music Awards and Music Services.
Dancing Dots helps people who are blind or low vision read, write, and record music by providing technology, educational resources, and training.
Sing along to these braille literacy songs or use them as inspiration to come up with your own!