Access to score reading and score writing packages for blind and partially sighted musicians
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January 2017
Contents
Introduction
Music XML – a short explanation
Access to music notation packages for screen reader users
Lime Notation Editor
MuseScore Music Notation Software
Sibelius Music Notation Software
Scorewriting for braille users
Braille Music Editor
Access to music notation packages for screen magnification users
Access to print notation via computers and electronic music stands
SightRead Ltd
Lime Lighter
Production of Modified Stave Notation
Access to other notation systems
Talking tab
Talking scores
Introduction
This document contains links to software and projects of specific interest to blind and partially sighted musicians wishing to read or create music scores in printed music notation.
A music notation editor is a piece of software which allows musicians to create and edit music scores in print notation. Features common to the packages listed in this document include an audio player which can play each note, bar, or part, giving audio feedback to screen reader users.
Information covering accessibility of digital audio work stations, audio editing and sequencing tools and transcription of printed music into Braille music are available on separate factsheetsfrom
Whilst the sections below have been checked by the suppliers mentioned and we make every effort to ensure the contents are up-to-date, we recommend you visit the relevant websites and contact the suppliers for specific information about latest releases, compatibility and accessibility with your preferred access technology. Please contact us by email to if you think we have missed something.
Music XML – a short explanation
MusicXML is “the standard open format for exchanging digital sheet music”. “Just as MP3 files have become synonymous with sharing recorded music, MusicXML files have become the standard for sharing interactive sheet music. With MusicXML you can create music in one program and share your results – back and forth – with people using other programs. Today more than 200 applications include MusicXML support.”
Taken from
Accessed on 29 September 2016.
As well as offering a means of sharing electronic music files created in different music notation packages, MusicXML is a particularly significant tool for the conversion of stave notation into alternative accessible formats such as Braille music and Talking Scores. It is referenced frequently throughout this document.
Access to music notation packages for screen reader users
Lime Notation Editor
Lime Music Editor is a free music notation package Whichcan be made accessible to JAWS with the use of Lime Aloud, a set of scripts produced by Dancing Dots.With the LimeAloud scripts, it is possible to create and read scores via a midi keyboard or the computer keyboard and recieve verbal information about the notes you enter and information in the score you are reading. If you have a braille display, the music on screen can be displayed in braille music.For partially sighted users, see the entry on Lime Lighter below.
Compatibility
LimeAloudis only compatible with the JAWS screen reader.
Use of a refreshable Braille display is strongly recommended to access the Braille scores.
Resources
LimeAloud includes a getting started guide for JAWS users and the full Lime manual. The Dancing Dots website includes a comprehensive FAQ section, tutorials and templates. An email list for users is also available.
Purchasing and evaluation
LimeAloudis distributed by Techno-Vision ServicesLtd in the UK.
MuseScore Music Notation Software
MuseScore is open source music notation software that runs on Windows, MacOS, and Linux, and is available in over forty different languages. MuseScore is developed by a vibrant and growing open source community.MuseScore developers have worked on access to their music notation software with the NVDA screen reader. This solution offers a free solution to screen reader users.
Compatibility
MuseScore’s work on accessibility has focussed on the NVDA screen reader. Results with other screen readers may vary.
Resources
You can read more about MuseScore accessibility on the MuseScore website. Two tutorials for using MuseScore with NVDA, detailing what is and is not currently possible, are published on the MuseScore website and more will follow over the coming months. If you would like to be involved as a tester in this work, please email .
MuseScore’s accessibility work has been sponsored by the Elizabeth Eagle-Bott Memorial Fund.
Sibelius Music Notation Software
Sibelius is a commercial music notation package developed by Avid. Version 6 of Sibelius can be made accessible via JAWS using Sibelius Access, a set of JAWS scripts developed by Dan Rugman of Music Access and available from the Raised Bar website. The scripts are available as beta software.
Version 7 of Sibelius includes enhanced keyboard access, optimised for use with the NVDA screen reader.
Compatibility
The Sibelius Access scripts are only compatible with the JAWS screen reader. Version 6 is not the latest version of Sibelius.
Resources
Sibelius Access includes an extensive tutorial. An email list for users is available.
A guide to Sibelius accessibility for the visually impaired user is available with documentation for using Sibelius version 7.51 with the NVDA screen reader.
Additional information for users of the NVDA screen reader is available from the Sibelius Accessibility page.
Purchase and Evaluation
The Sibelius Access scripts for JAWS are available for free from the Raised Bar website.
Scorewriting for braille users
Braille Music Editor
Braille Music Editor (BME) allows Braille music readers to use a computer keyboard to create scores in Braille music and export these as MusicXML. Scores written in Braille music can thus be imported into many music notation packages and read by sighted musicians. Conversely, scores can be imported from MusicXML allowing files produced in music notation packages to be accessed in Braille music by blind musicians.
Compatibility
BME is only officially compatible with the JAWS screen reader. However, a plugin for use with NVDA is available from the website of Gianluca Casalino (In Italian).
Access to a Braille display is strongly recommended for editing Braille music score.
Resources
BME includes brief help documentation. There are videos and tutorials (not all in English) available via the Music4VIP website which cover different features of BME.
There is currently no email list for users.
Purchasing and evaluation
A one-month free evaluation is possible before registration.
BME is distributed by VeiaProgetti in Verona.
Access to music notation packages for screen magnification users
Many notation packages include a zoom feature allowing the score to be magnified on screen. The size, colour and font of lables on menus vary considerably from package to package. In order to magnify menus, dialog boxes and labels,screen magnification software will be required. Many packages also include a written verbal description of the highlighted element on the score.
Access to print notation via computers and electronic music stands
SightRead Ltd
SightReadLtd distributes large digital sheet music stands allowing partially sighted musicians to read enlarged and modified stave notation on the latest fast touch-screen displays. The stands incorporate the unique PowerMusic AF (Accessible format) from Cambron Software and SightReadLtd giving users total control over the foreground and background colours of the notation and the ability to write notes and highlight passages directly onto the screen with a stylus. Hands free page turning is available using discrete Bluetooth foot pedals.
PowerMusic AF has been specially developed since 2014, when SightRead Ltd undertook research among their blind and partially sighted users to improve the graphical user interface of the software. This work was sponsored by the Elizabeth Eagle-Bott Memorial Fund which also helped to finance SightRead Ltd and Cambron's joint development costs.
Compatibility
PowerMusic AF is fully compatible with Windows 7, 8 & 10.
Purchase information
- Telephone: 0161 343 8558
- EMail:
Resources
You can read more about SightRead’s work with blind and partially sighted musicians on the SightRead website.
LimeLighter
Lime Lighter from Dancing Dots is a music reading solution for partially sighted musicians. It includes an enhanced version of the Lime music notation package on a touch screen PC with a wireless pedal. Two models are available with 18.4 inch (Leggiero) and 23 inch (Presto) screens, as well as an option to buy the software and wireless pedals to use on your choice of PC (Liberty model).
Conventional music notation may be magnified up to 10 times standard size. You can control independently the appearance of score elements such as the thickness of staff lines and apply options to invert colour for easier reading. Lime Lighter has a mark-up feature to make your own handwritten notations on the score. Music can be scrolled manually or automatically using the hands-free wireless pedal. There is no need to visually track from right margin back to the left. The optional practice feature allows you to hear music playback as you read or play along.
Compatibility
Lime runs under Windows 10 and earlier.Optional use of third-party text magnification software such as ZoomText is recommended for some users in order to read text of dialogs and menus in Lime.
Resources
You can download a free, timed evaluation version of the software from Dancing Dots with the option to schedule an appointment with the manufacturer for a brief orientation session.
Lime Lighter includes a comprehensive Quick Start document. There is an email discussion group for users of the software. The Dancing Dots website includes links to video presentations of Lime Lighter.
Purchase information
For further information, please visit the Dancing Dots Website
orTechno-Vision SystemsLtd in the UK
Production of Modified Stave Notation
Sibelius and Musescore include support for the production of Modified Stave Notation. For further details, please visit the Modified Stave Notation page on the RNIB website and the tutorial on producing Modified Stave Notation in MuseScore.
Access to other notation systems
Talking tab
Talking Tab will be the world's first platform for converting electronic tab files into a screen reader friendly format. Anyone interested is invited to register their email address to hear news of when the tool goes live.
Talking scores
A trial tool for the production of Talking Scoreshas been developed to allow users to upload a MusicXML file and convert it into a Talking Score. The Talking Score comprises text which can be accessed by a screen reader as well as midi files. The midi files are split into sections, and, in the case of keyboard music, right and left hands to aid learning by ear. A trial piece is available to show how the system works.
Please contact for further information, or to get involved with testing.
Last updated January 2017