Disabled Access
There are so many ways in
which technology facilitates access to music for people with
disabilities that is difficult to know where to start!
Performance
is perceived as the most difficult area for disabled students to access
but the study showed that, with a willingness to look at it from a
slightly different perspective, a wide range of performance
opportunities can be made available - electro-acoustic instruments that
require less stamina, 'virtual' MIDI instruments that can be played by
the sweep of a hand or the blink of an eye, a computer program that
allows the user to build a, highly expressive, performance, entirely in
step-time.
Perhaps, one of
technology's most significant contributions is to permit the separation
of intrinsically musical performance skills from considerations of
physical strength and coordination because, without access to
assessment procedures, higher education in music will remain closed to
disabled pupils.
Although the technology
does facilitate performance, to some extent, most disabled people
cannot aspire to high levels of real- time performance. Composition is
a more easily sustained activity because it makes less physical
demands.
In the section on composition,
it was suggested that there are two main areas in which technology
should support composers a) notation and recording and b) exploration
and experiment. The software on offer is heavily geared towards the
first of these. Many people with less severe disabilities have an
excellent choice of notation and recording software but there is little
well-suited to switch-users. Happily, though, a couple of developers
have addressed the specific needs of disabled composers:
Vistamusic,
from the Enabling for Music Project, was initially conceived to provide
access to music for the hearing-impaired. Later versions are designed,
additionally, to facilitate composition and performance by people with
severe disabilities. The strength of Vistamusic lies in its customized
design. It is a tool for musical expression in composition and
performance, removing many physical barriers to the realization of the
user's pre-formed ideas.
E-Scape,
from Drake Music Projects, is access software that enables disabled
musicians to use switches and MIDI instruments to compose and perform
music.
Although there is little to support the exploratory side of composition, there are two excellent resources;
Midigrid,
from York University, was developed by professional composers,
specifically to address this need. (This software is thoroughly
examined in the study, Music Technology and Curriculum Access. It is a
most versatile program, suitable for use by all age groups, and it
almost impossible to describe it in a few words! It is now available
from The Full Pitcher Music Resources. See link below.)
GridPlay,
from The Full Pitcher Music Resources, is inclusive software for
creative music-making and learning. In one package, The Full Pitcher
makes available a range of virtual instruments which can be played with
a mouse or trackball, pre-recorded accompaniments and mix 'n' match
tracks, along with a comprehensive suggestions for creative activity by
individuals or groups and ways of integrating the software with
acoustic resources. Using this software with a mouse or trackball, many
people with special needs have been able to participate in performances
with friends who play acoustic instruments. In addition, the publisher
will customise the materials to the needs of particular special needs
users.
Soundbeam is a hardware resource offering excellent opportunities for open-ended exploration:
Soundbeam, 'the
invisible, expanding keyboard in space' offers many opportunities for
exploration and has been used, with great success by many disabled
musicians.
The development of aural
skills is also of considerable significance for the would-be composer
with a severe disability, whose opportunities to experiment with and
internalise sounds are severely curtailed. Happily, there is software
to address this need and the need for theory training.
Pedal Solution: Many
thanks to Winfield Clark for information about switch access to a piano
sustain pedal. Click here for details.
Some recommended reading:
Music Technology & Curriculum Access
Switch Users & the Music Teacher
both available from The Full Pitcher
Music Resources
www.fullpitcher.co.uk/books.htm
Learn more about
MIDIgrid for Windows and GridPlay at
www.midigrid.com
They can be purchased at:
www.fullpitcher.co.uk/software.htm
See these Web sites:
Living My Song
www.livingmysong.org.uk
A UK organisation providing
information and resources to support access to music, particularly for
people with physical disabilities and other special needs. There is a
strong emphasis on ICT.
Electronic Music is for Everyone
http://mybreathmymusic.com/en/instrumenten.php
Comprehensive information about the range of electronic instruments available to disabled players.
Drake Music Project
www.drakemusic.org
provides workshops,
research and development and training to make musical composition and
performance accessible to disabled children and adults who are unable
to use conventional instruments.
Soundbeam
www.soundbeam.co.uk
"exhilarating opportunities for
music composition and live group music- making, with the invisible,
expanding keyboard in space." Switch-access makes it accessible to
people with severe disabilities.
Expressive Software Projects
www.espmusic.co.uk
ESP specialises in Music
Software and Hardware for PC, Mac and Acorn. Their aim is to make music
more accessible using technology as a tool
MIDIcreator Home Page
www.midicreator-resources.co.uk
The new home for MIDIcreator,
"an instrument that allows music to be created in a host of different
ways". It is controlled by sensors or switches, so it is ideal for
making performance opportunities available to switch-users.
Unique Perspectives
www.click2go.ie
An innovative company, whose
products include Quintet, "...an exciting new musical instrument that
enables people with disabilities to play music using switches," and
Point-It, a USB compatible joystick which may be of interest to
disabled users of GridPlay and Midigrid.
If you would like help or advice about access to music,
Contact Audrey