Re: Music accessibility questions

Some years back, I was involved with the Benetech DIAGRAM Project, and we created the Accessible Image Sample Book: http://diagramcenter.org/standards-and-practices/accessible-image-sample-book.html


We looked at how to include a variety of content in digital format in an accessible manner. We included a section on music, in which we generally recommended MusicXML to support music accessibility. MusicXML  is supported in music-aware braille translation software and can be coupled with braille displays and speech-access systems. MusicXML is also widely supported by music notation software that can create enlarged notation to be viewed on the screen or printed. This allows further manipulation of the music notation, audible playback in real time using synthetic music, or export to standard audio formats.

To go direct to the Music section, the web excerpt is at http://diagramcenter.wpengine.com/samplebook/08-Music.xhtml


However, I would suggest you take the time to check out the resources mentioned on the sample book landing page (the first link I shared), where you will find a link to a webinar we did as well as a link to the GitHub repository where all the source files can be found.

--Steve Noble
steve.noble@louisville.edu
502-969-3088

________________________________
From: SUZANNE.DOYLE@forces.gc.ca <SUZANNE.DOYLE@forces.gc.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2023 6:44 PM
To: public-music-notation@w3.org <public-music-notation@w3.org>
Subject: Music accessibility questions


Good afternoon,



I am a web developer working with the Music Branch at the Canadian Armed Forces to produce their Music Branch manual online. (I’m not a musician.)



Volume 1 of the manual is almost complete and will be WCAG AA compliant for the web as HTML and I will provide an accessible PDF downloadable document. (I have no issues with regular content.)



The issue is Volume 2 of the manual, it contains mostly images of sheet music with musical notes for Marches, Calls and Protocols content.



Normally, I code an image with a descriptive alt tag or provide a long alternative text version under the image. I don’t think this would work in this case as three quarters of Volume 2 are images which means over a hundred pages of sheet music. The descriptive text for the musical notes would add at least 100 pages more. This wouldn’t make sense online or in a PDF document plus the time and money it would take to write and incorporate all that descriptive text. The problem would be that the military musicians would do without the online manual, and they travel so this is not a solution.



Can you please guide me on how to create sheet music and musical notes that are WCAG 2 compliant for HTML and for a PDF document? What tools and or software are available plus how do I test it? I’ve searched online and really can’t find anything that’s helpful or concrete.



Thank you in advance.



Yours truly,



Suzanne Doyle



Web Developer, Directorate History and Heritage (DHH)

National Defence | Government of Canada

Suzanne.Doyle@forces.gc.ca<mailto:Suzanne.Doyle@forces.gc.ca> / Tel: 613-290-2102



Développeur web, Histoire et patrimoine (DHP)

Défense nationale │ Gouvernement du Canada

Suzanne.Doyle@forces.gc.ca<mailto:Suzanne.Doyle@forces.gc.ca> / Tél : 613-290-2102