The innovation of teaching music to persons with visual impairments

Abstract

Recent research has shown that most music students in Thailand with visual impairments lack access to musical knowledge, resulting in certain limitations in their music performance. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a mixed-media instructional course developed by the researcher for persons with visual impairments that used Braille music notation and the GoodFeel software as the primary media. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from three sample groups recruited through purposive sampling method: (1) seven musicians with visual impairments who had studied music in higher education; (2) three music specialists in music composition; and (3) two music teachers who had experience teaching students with visual impairments. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the course developed by the researcher. Three post-tests showed that participants with visual impairments who completed the 12-week course developed for this study gradually improved. Post-interviews with music teachers indicated that Group 1 participants who used supportive learning tools were able to initiate processes of musical analysis and synthesis independently. Furthermore, the compositions made by the participants in Group 1 were commended by the specialists.