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Teaching braille music notation to blind learners using the recorder as an instrument

Thesis (PhD) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The researcher encountered the following problems while teaching braille IWSic notation
to blind learners at the Pioneer School in Worcester:
• Young learners learning to read braille IWSic notation with the piano as mediwn appeared
to struggle technically. For example, blind children experienced difficulty finding the
correct keys over seven octaves; they had generally weak posture; they had to learn to
play one part with one hand while the other hand would read; they had to memorise the
music for each clef individually and then combine them cognitively; they had to memorise
the soprano, alto, tenor and bass parts of a piece; they often experienced discouragement
because of the very slow progress they made compared with their sighted peers.
• Although learners seemed to find the recorder technically more manageable, currently
available braille recorder tutors proved to be inadequate. This inadequacy was a result of
the tutors having been designed for the sighted child.
The researcher thus set out to design a more appropriate approach than is currently
available for teaching braille music notation to the blind, with the recorder as medium.
The research method was qualitative and included a literature survey which covered the
following unique needs of the blind learner:
• psychological
• emotional and social
• concept development
• motor skills (orientation, laterality, posture, coordination)
• tactile perception
• creativity and self expression
The qualitative research also included video observation of a series ofiodividual
and group lessons. The lesson material emerged from a programme designed by the researcher and was based on the literatme study. An observation panel.
together with the researcher, evaluated the lessons on predetenDned coded
assessment criteria 'The lessons and progrannne were adapted according to
feedback from the lessons.
The qualitative research includes interviews with five blind learners and six
teachers of braille music notation. The interviews were designed to gather
information on how blind learners can more appropriately be taught the braille
music code.
The unique needs of blind learners, in particular those concerning orientation
and perceptual awareness, are considered in this alternative approach for
teaching braille music notation to blind learners. 'The alternative programme is
skills based and can be used convElliently in conlunetion with the Outcomes-
Based Education (OBE) modeL / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorser het die volgende probleme ondervind tydens baar onderrig van braille
musieknotasie aan blinde leerders by Pionierskool in Worcester:
• Dit wil voorkom asofjong leerders wat braille musieknotasie moet aanleer met die klavier
as medium, tegniese probleme ondervind. Blinde kinders het dit byvoorbeeld moeilik
gevind om die korrekte toetse oor sewe oktawe te vind; oor die algemeen was hulle
houding swak; hulle moes leer om een stemparty met een hand te lees terwyl die ander
hand gespeel het; hulle moes die musiek vir elke sleutelteken apart memoriseer en die
stemme kognitiefbymekaar sit; hulle moes die sopraan, alt. tenoor en bas stempartye van
'n stuk memoriseer, hulle is baie keer moedeloos, weens hulle stadige vordering, in
vergelyking met hulle siende portuurgroep.
• A1hoewel dit gelyk het asof leerders die bioldIuit tegnies meer hanteerbaar gevind het,
blyk huidige beskikbare braille bloldluit handleidings nie geskik te wees nie. Hierdie
ontoereikendheid is as gevolg van die feit dat die handleidings vir die siende kind ontwerp
IS.
Derhalwe het die navorser gepoog om 'n meer toeganklike benadering te ontwikkel as wat
tans beskikbaar is vir die onderrig van braille misieknotasie aan die blinde, met die
bioldIuit as medium.
Die ondersoekmetode was kwalitatief van aard en het onder andere 'n literatuuroorsig
ingesluit wat die volgende unieke behoeftes van die blinde leerder ingesluit het:
• siellnmdig
• emosioneel en sosiaal
• konsep ontwikkeling
• motoriese vaardighede (oriëntasie, lateraliteit, houding, koOrdinasie)
• gevoelswaarneming

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50461
Date04 1900
CreatorsWootton, Joan Elizabeth
ContributorsSmit, M., Carl, A.E., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Music .
PublisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format305 leaves : ill., music
RightsUniversity of Stellenbosch

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