Predictive Factors in Optacon Music-Reading

Abstract

Systematic instruction in reading music with the Optacon was given to seven blind Optacon users with musical training. Reading speeds were computed as the number of notational figures accurately identified per minute. Comparisons of reading speeds according to score and figure variables showed that: (1) speed increases as the number of voices in a music staff increases, and whenever the voices move simultaneously rather than independently, (2) speed does not vary according to the number of staves in the score; however in two-stave scores, reading one at a time (horizontally) is faster that reading both at once (vertically), and (3) speed decreases as figure complexity increases, and as figure difficulty increases; however the degree of association found in both cases can be statistically questioned. Positive but insignificant correlations were found between reading speed and chronological age, and Optacon word-reading speed. No relationship was found between reading speed and the number of hours training received in Optacon music reading.