David Pinto is one of Rachel's teachers at SCCM. He is the computer music guy, and we think he is awesome! What these kids are learning isn't just making music with the computer - they are learning state of the art music sequencing and recording techniques! (And remember, Rachel is 5 and one of the other students is 6!) This is music industry standard technology they are working with. I was talking to a friend of mine the other day who is doing some recording with his working band, and they are using the same music software that Rachel is using! This is completely practical stuff. As a side benefit, they are learning computer skills which are completely transferrable. Right now, David is working on getting some grants to help support the program, so if you know of anyone who would like to sponsor a child in this program, let David know. (No, I'm not shilling just for Rachel - she already has a sponsor, thank goodness!!)
The program is indeed very much individualized since each student comes in with a different background and at a different level of ability. Students range in age from 5 (Rachel is the youngest, at the moment) to college graduate. I found the school because I was searching for a teacher for Rachel. She was already playing Bach fugues before she was 4 years old, and I didn't want to hand over that kind of talent to just anybody. Grant is the guy, as far as I am concerned. I don't think I would trust her with anyone else. But other kids are starting from scratch. Your child does not have to be a little Mozart in order to benefit from musical training. The teachers understand that there is value to the musical training these kids receive which goes far beyond the music itself. It has to do with self-discipline, poise, and all kinds of cognitive issues. One student there had been told for years that he could not learn to read braille because he did not have enough feeling in the tips of his fingers. However, he is able to play the piano by ear - he probably knows every single song from every Broadway show ever written! Richard Taesch, head of the Braille Music division, started working with him and found that he was able to use a different part of his fingers to read, and is now at 20 years of age finally learning to read braille! These are not run of the mill guys running this place. They are extraordinary people who are completely dedicated to teaching.
As far as the cost, I am of the understanding that this also is determined individually. There are scholarships available, but apparently not enough to cover every student in every program. Some of the students who come for the listening class and/or piano lessons are funded through Regional Center, if I am not mistaken. I am not sure where other parents are finding the funding to pay for the lessons, or if it is coming completely out of pocket for them. I know that some of them just pay for it themselves. The school is currently researching other means which might be available for parents to help defray the cost.
The school itself deals with all kinds of musical training (a few weeks ago the recital hall was being used by a string quartet for rehearsal), however, in regards to the Braille Music division I believe it is largely a matter of who they have available to teach the kids. Sometimes these guys in the Braille division donate a portion of their time, and not everyone is willing to do that. Grant is the piano guy. Richard Taesch who co-chairs the division with Grant concentrates mainly on teaching Braille Music code. He is also an accomplished guitarist. I know of one girl in the Braille division who has recently started taking guitar lessons from Richard (she is also a very good pianist, by the way - extremely musically gifted). David Pinto is the most recent addition to the faculty. He is a concert pianist and he teaches electronic music - working with computer midi and sequencing programs. I know that one of the newer students is mainly a vocalist, and I believe he is learning Braille music code from Richard right now, but I may be mistaken. The Listening Class (which I think Robyn or I have mentioned before) concentrates on concepts in music theory (also covered in the private lessons, obviously), and building awareness of repertoire. One thing I do know, Grant is also a professor at another college, and he tells me he is always trying to talk other music teachers he knows into joining him at the Conservatory, but he says they are intimidated at the thought of working with the blind and other-abled people. But I think more are coming around all the time (David Pinto tells me he was intimidated at first, but he has since jumped in with both feet.) Seems to me that once a music student has a grasp of the Braille Music code, that is half the battle!
As far as Rachel's playing, she dabbles in all kinds of stuff these days. Grant is not working with her on specific pieces at the moment because he wants to concentrate on mechanics, and especially on teaching her to read the Braille Music code. Her ear is so strong that she picks up all kinds of stuff anyway - I hear her playing DeBussy's Sunken Cathedral lately. Also I have heard her playing chunks of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto.
Note: Another member of the BVI-Parents mailing list contributed a link regarding the importance of music education which has some great resource links for music.
Visit the TVIMUSIC site for more information about computers and music for people who are blind and about SCCM.