Training event at ARTE Music Academy, Nicosia - Facilitating music learning for a blind music student with the use of MuVie tools
Facilitating music learning for a blind music student with the use of MuVie tools
Multiplier-Training event at ARTE Music Academy, Nicosia- Cyprus:
Multiplier-Training event at ARTE Music Academy, Nicosia- Cyprus:
10 March 2026
Nicosia
A training event took place at ARTE Music Academy to raise awareness about the MuVie project and to train a small group of music teachers and a blind music student in the use of MuVIe tools. The ARTE Music Academy offers a four-year program of study, which leads to the acquisition of a Bachelor's Degree in Music. Supporting every student attending the program to reach their maximum potential is of highest importance to the academy. So aligned to the MuVIe project's aspiration to enhance the autonomy, self-confidence, and equal participation of students with disabilities in music education, this training aimed to present and provide the currently available digital tools to support equal access to musical material for both blind and sighted music students and facilitate the teaching process.
Nicosia
A training event took place at ARTE Music Academy to raise awareness about the MuVie project and to train a small group of music teachers and a blind music student in the use of MuVIe tools. The ARTE Music Academy offers a four-year program of study, which leads to the acquisition of a Bachelor's Degree in Music. Supporting every student attending the program to reach their maximum potential is of highest importance to the academy. So aligned to the MuVIe project's aspiration to enhance the autonomy, self-confidence, and equal participation of students with disabilities in music education, this training aimed to present and provide the currently available digital tools to support equal access to musical material for both blind and sighted music students and facilitate the teaching process.
The training was led by Chariklia Strouthou, musician and expert in Braille music, and Christiana Koutsoupidou, music therapist, who represent the St. Barnabas school in the MuVIe consortium. The first part of the training included:
- a discussion among the blind student, the music teachers and the presenters on the practical difficulties being encountered during the attendance of the student in various courses of the program;
- a brief historical overview of the Braille music notation;
- a presentation of the MuVIe project and its objectives.
In the second part of the program, participants were introduced to the currently available tools and materials, establishing a shared understanding of the importance of accessible music technologies and setting clear expectations for the practical components of the training. This hands-on experience included guided practice on lab-tops for:
- the Braille Music Editor 2025 (BM2025)- keyboard navigation, file creation, simple music writing
- the MuVie library - searching, opening, listening to selected files
- the Braille Music Reader 2025 (BMR2025)- open files, read basic Braille music lines, explore shortcut keys for various functions
By the end of this program, the blind music student developed an initial independence with accessible digital MuVIe tools. Furthermore, the music teachers strengthened their understanding and ability to incorporate these tools into their teaching for this student and subsequently provide for an inclusive music education class. Finally, the inclusion of ongoing support mechanisms and the available resources from the MuVie website, of the instructional videos for BMR2025 and the Library in the Greek language, were promising to ensure continuity beyond this training session.
