The challenge of reading music notation for pianists with low vision: An exploratory qualitative study using a head-mounted display

Abstract

ABSTRACT Reading musical notation while interpreting it on a musical instrument poses problems for musicians with a visual impairment (VI). This study sought to describe the visual aids, adaptations and compensatory strategies used by five amateur pianists with low vision when reading music, to identify the problems they face when using these aids, and to verify whether a head-mounted display (HMD) such as eSight Eyewear can be used to overcome some of them. In this exploratory study, the participants read and interpreted two excerpts of musical notation using eSight Eyewear. The data, collected through interviews, were coded using a qualitative method and a phenomenological approach. The results suggest that musicians with a VI use various visual aids, adaptations and compensatory strategies. However, these approaches are not without significant problems, particularly when they involve magnification. On the other hand, eSight Eyewear allows users to adjust magnification, have their hands free and use adapted musical notation. Many magnification-related problems are overcome with this HMD, which can be used to simultaneously read and interpret standard musical notation. However, reading sheet music with such a device remains a complex task, given the need to control head movements accordingly.