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How Music Tech Is Making Performing and Composing Easier for MusiciansWho Are Blind or Visually Impaired

March 20, 2023

Latest Episode of Podcast “On Tech and Vision with Dr. Cal Roberts” Explores Transformative Technologies in Music

NEW YORK (March 15, 2023) – Musicians who are blind or visually impaired have made profound impacts on our musical landscape. However, to get their work to us, they often need to develop complex workarounds, like relying on sighted musicians to demonstrate scores, memorizing long pieces, or only performing when they can have a Braille score in front of them. Now, new technologies in music composition and production are bringing musicians and composers who are blind or visually impaired to centerstage to share their sound and song.

A Celebration of Sound and Song: Music Tech Shines the Spotlight on Musicians with Vision Loss, is the latest episode of the podcast, On Tech and Vision with Dr. Cal Roberts.

We hear from Bill McCann, who is blind and the founder and president of Dancing Dots Braille Music Notation, a suite of software that helps people who are blind to read, write and record their music. Chris Cooke, a pianist and harpist who is visually impaired, talks about how Dancing Dots software has helped her arrange hymns for her church and to sell on her website. James Risdon, a musician who lost his vision as a child, shares how he has used a new music technology similar to Dancing Dots to make his album Echoes of Arcadia. We also hear about other transformative technologies such as Musical Instrument Digital Interface and Music XML.

Now in its third season, “On Tech and Vision with Dr. Cal Roberts” explores the big ideas that are making life better for people with vision loss. Dr. Calvin W. Roberts, president & CEO of Lighthouse Guild and podcast host, interviews innovators and experts who are breaking barriers with transformative technologies. The podcast has over 11,000 downloads since it launched in 2020.

“On Tech & Vision with Dr. Cal Roberts,” is available online at Lighthouseguild.org and for downloading on Apple Music, Spotify, Google Podcasts iHeartRadio Podcasts and Tunein.com. Twitter: @LighthouseGld #OnTechVision.

About Lighthouse Guild Lighthouse Guild provides exceptional services that inspire people who are visually impaired to attain their goals. We provide coordinated care for eye health, vision rehabilitation and behavioral health as well as related services.

Press Contact: Bryan Dotson, Manners Dotson Group 917-796-8632, bdotson@mannersdotson.com

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Lighthouse Guild is dedicated to providing exceptional services that inspire people who are visually impaired to attain their goals.