Hi Rhonda, Maria, and all others using hymnals: Just thought I'd throw my two cents worth in as to how I use a hymnal compatibly with the bn. In often cantor (which means I am singing by myself), so I really must keep my place at all times, or we'd have one embarrassed Laura on our hands.
Like all of you, I only write the chorus in once and write the word "refrain" where the chorus comes back in. This is because our hymns are not standard "verse, chorus, verse, chorus", etc. They often have different layouts. What I do is this: My hymns are stored in a keyword-type document. When I write the verses, I separate every sentence with a binding space instead of a regular space. A binding space will cause the bn to read the multiple lines as one long line (this method will really only work if you're relying solely on your Braille display, which I'm guessing you all are because, frankly, listening to speech and then singing just seems superhuman to me *grin*). Anyway, I then hit a carriage return, indent, and write the chorus in a similar fashion. Repeat this process for the remaining verses. This means that, after I have sung verse 1, the chorus, and verse 2, I need only to very swiftly press space with dot 1 to return to the chorus. When I know I'm getting to the end of the chorus (which I always memorize), I just hit the space with dot 4 twice quickly to get to verse 3. Our hymns generally do not go past the fourth verse, and I find this process incredibly suitable and easy to implement, and thought I would pass it along. To enter a binding space, hit enter with b (control with space), after your mark of punctuation instead of hitting the plain spacebar. Alternatively, you can just use semicolons or commas and write out one long line of text, but that seems a bit less seemly. Lets use the second verse, chorus, and third verse of the Prayer of St. Frances, a relatively familiar hymn. This is our version, so I'm sure it will differ slightly, but the message should still apply. Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is despair in life, let me bring hope; where there is darkness, only light; and where there's sadness, ever joy. Oh master grant that I may never seek so much to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, and to be loved as to love with all my soul. Make me a channel of your peace. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, in giving of ourselves that we receive, and in dying that we're born to eternal life. (Refrain.) This hymn is an especially good example because its instruction already uses semicolons and commas to our advantage. Placing a binding space after "peace" in the second verse causes the bn to view this line of text as one single, long line. Repeating this procedure after "console" in the chorus causes the same effect. Therefore, when I read the word "refrain" in verse three, one tap of the keys brings me back to the refrain. I hope this has been of some use to someone. Laura >------ original message ------ >from: rhonda clark <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Re: [Braillenote] The Cursor >Hi, Maria: > Those ideas are great! It's hard to do some of it when you're singing, but I > would guess one could learn to do it fast enough. Thanks!
