Do you want to learn to play an instrument? NLS has your back. All you need to do is find an instrument. We have instructions on how to learn to play many instruments as well as music scores for all levels of proficiency. We have music-oriented magazines and the NLS Music Section has a blog! We have almost anything a music enthusiast could want.
This is intended for those patrons wanting to learn an instrument. So, if you’ve been playing for years, check out the NLS Music Section (detailed below) for more information.
Finding Instructional Music Materials on BARD
BARD website
| 1. BARD Main Page – Find Music Books and Scores |
| 2. Select “Music Collection.” |
| a. Instrument Instruction Materials |
| i. Scroll down to “Browse by subject.” |
| ii. In the dropdown menu to the right, scroll down and select “Instructional”, then select the “Go” button to the right. |
| iii. Results will come up for the instructional materials for all instruments. This will be a mix of instrument instruction as well as songs for beginners. |
| b. Instructions for playing music by ear |
| i. Type in the keyword search for “Flute by ear” and tap “Go.” |
| ii. Results will come up for the “Flute by ear materials.” This will be a mix of instrument instruction as well as songs for flute to be learned “by ear.” Just substitute one of the instruments listed below to find the specific one you want. |
BARD Express
| 1. Go to “Browse by Subject.” |
| a. Instrument Instruction Materials |
| i. In the dropdown menu of subjects below, scroll down and select “Instructional.” |
| ii. Results will come up for the instructional materials for all instruments. This will be a mix of instrument instruction as well as songs for beginners. |
| iii. Type Ctrl+F and a screen will pop up. Enter the instrument you want and hit enter. This will pull up all the musical instructional materials for that instrument. |
| b. Instructions for playing music by ear |
| i. Select “Browse by subject.” |
| ii. In the dropdown menu of subjects below, scroll down and select “instructional.” |
| iii. Results will come up for the instructional materials for all instruments. This will be a mix of instrument instruction as well as songs for beginners. |
| iv. Type Ctrl+F and a screen will pop up. Type “By ear” into the filter field and select the “Ok” button. |
| c. Song Instructions for playing a specific instrument by ear |
| i. Select “Browse by Series.” |
| ii. In the filter field type “Flute.” The series title “Flute by ear” should appear below in the results field. Select it. |
| iii. Results will include individual songs in the flute by ear series. |
BARD app for iOS and Android
| 1. Go to “Get Books” tab. |
| 2. Select “Search Music.” |
| a. Browse Instrument Instruction Materials |
| i. Type in the keyword search “For the visually impaired” and tap “Go.” |
| ii. Results will come up for all the “Introduction to” materials for various different instruments by Bill Brown. |
| b. Instructions for a specific instrument |
| i. Type in a title search for “Intro to the flute” or “Flute for the visually impaired” and select the “Go” button. |
| ii. Results will come up with the instructions for the flute. Just substitute one of the instruments listed below to find the specific one you want. |
| c. Instructions for playing music by ear |
| i. Type in the keyword search for “By ear” and tap “Go.” |
| ii. Results will come up for all the “By ear materials.” This will be a mix of instrument instruction as well as songs for either piano or guitar to be learned “by ear.” |
| d. Instructions for playing a specific instrument by ear |
| i. Type in “Guitar by ear” or substitute “Guitar” for one of the instruments listed below. |
| ii. Results will come up for all the by ear materials for that specific instrument. |
Music Course Materials (Audio Format)
Bill Brown: Mr. Brown made a series of introductory courses for the guitar and piano that were recorded with the visually impaired in mind. Currently there are “Intro to…” courses for over a dozen instruments as well as hundreds of “by ear” song lessons for several of these instruments.
Instruments: Five-string banjo, chromatic button chord accordion, drums, flute, guitar (bass, flamenco, and lead), harmonica, mandolin, penny whistle, piano, piano by ear, saxophone (alto, tenor, and soprano), ukulele (baritone and soprano), and violin.
…By Ear Series: Many instruments have a “by ear” series that includes basic instruction as well as instruction for specific songs. Do a series search for the name of your instrument and add “by ear.” For example: Flute by Ear.
Instruments: Banjo, bass guitar, flute, guitar (includes ukulele), harmonica, piano, and saxophone (alto, tenor, and soprano).
Music Course Materials (Braille Format)
Belwin Orchestra Builder: This wonderful resource is for those who wish to teach someone else to play an instrument.
Instruments: Baritone, bassoon, cello, clarinet (alto and bass), drums, drums and bells, flute, horn, mellophone, oboe, piccolo, saxophone (alto, baritone, and tenor), string bass, trombone, trumpet (includes cornet), tuba, viola, and violin.
Another resource for braille music course materials is the Hadley School for the Blind.
Hadley Institute developed courses intended for adults who wish to learn braille music for themselves, to support braille music learners, and possibly pursue further training in teaching braille music or transcribing print music into braille. The courses are available in downloadable braille in BRF or in large print (LPM) in PDF. The braille and audio course materials are also available to download from the Music Collection on BARD in BRM or DBM.
NLS Music Section
Now you have the basics down or you’re already a virtuoso and you need music. That’s where the NLS Music Section comes into play.
The Music Section of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), Library of Congress, has the largest music collection of its kind in the world, with more than 25,000 titles including braille and large print scores and recorded instructional materials about music and musicians.
Any person eligible for NLS services is also eligible for NLS music services. While patrons receive most NLS services through the network of cooperating libraries, NLS music materials circulate directly to patrons from the NLS headquarters in Washington, DC.
How to Request Music Service
Patrons already registered with a cooperating network library should contact the NLS Music Section directly either via phone (800-424-8567 ext. 2) or via email (nlsm@loc.gov).
Finding Music Magazines and MORE on BARD
Music Magazines
Six music magazines are available by direct-mail subscription to registered users. Subscriptions may be obtained through the local cooperating library or the NLS Music Section. Several are also available via download from BARD. The magazines are:
Braille Music Magazine: a monthly British publication containing articles and criticism from British classical music magazines. Hard-copy embossed issues are mailed to all subscribers.
Contemporary Soundtrack: A Review of Pop, Jazz, Rock, and Country: a bimonthly NLS-compiled sampler of articles from national magazines. It is available to subscribers on cartridge and on BARD.
Musical Mainstream: an NLS-compiled sampler from national magazines. It contains current articles on classical music and music education. The quarterly publication is available in braille, ebraille, and audio. Audio is available to subscribers on cartridge and on BARD.
Popular Music Lead Sheets: an NLS-compiled collection of melodies, lyrics, and chords to popular songs ranging from oldies to recent hits. Published quarterly in braille, it is available on BARD.
Quarterly Music Magazine: a single issue of a complete music magazine chosen from among commercial popular and classical offerings. This audio publication is available to subscribers on cartridge and on BARD.
Sound and Vision: a monthly publication containing articles and reviews of music recordings and information about technological equipment. It is available to subscribers on cartridge and on BARD.
NLS Music Notes: The NLS Music Section blog, NLS Music Notes highlights the NLS music collection, presents newly added titles, profiles musicians who are blind or visually impaired, and features braille music transcribers and their work, along with a variety of related music topics and activities. New posts appear every Thursday.