Sigma Alpha Iota

Summer 2019 6 PAN PIPES SAI PHILANTHROPIES, INC. To get started, please contact: Arlene Jospe Veron Bold Notes Project Director ajveron1@gmail.com The Bold Notes Project As a former chairman of Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc. from 1993-2006, the Bold Notes Project was one of the many programs under my leadership. It was always intriguing to me how the project evolved, the need it fulfills for the visually impaired, and the fact that it was affiliated with the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. It was a natural progression for me, when retiring from the National Executive Board of Sigma Alpha Iota, to head this exciting service project as its director starting in 2009. First a little background about how the project evolved: in the early 1960's the Library of Congress, Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, established a Music Section as a national repository and lending library for the blind and visually impaired. Far from the central headquarters of the Library of Congress, the Music Section is located in a concrete building in the Northwest section of Washington, DC. e Library was trying to increase their music collection. Since our fraternity is music- oriented and our members can understand the placement of music on a staff, adding all musical markings and being very cognizant of all details, it seemed like a perfect match for the Library of Congress. e project of transcribing large note music was introduced and started in 1965 at the SAI National Convention in Minneapolis, MN. SAIs across the nation enthusiastically began stamping note heads onto large 12 by 18 inch manuscript paper in landscape orientation. Only a few measures fit onto a page and the end result was quite a large volume (or oen volumes) that had to be stored in the music stacks at the Library of Congress. By the 1990's the music section was rapidly running out of shelf space and many additional titles were still needed. Many individuals tried to enlarge the music mechanically via copy machines, but found it produced a poorly spaced score that was illegible for most visually impaired readers. Fortunately, computer technology evolved and supplanted the archaic way of transcribing music. In 2006, SAI launched a new version of the Bold Notes Project using computer writing programs, such as Finale, Sibelius, and Notation, to produce high quality large print editions of scores and method books in a fraction of the time and with more accuracy. ese music files are saved as .pdf files and sent to the Library of Congress, which minimized the storage problems. e digital files can be safely stored to protect the collection from attrition or catastrophic loss. ese transcriptions are now printed on demand and sent to all individuals who qualify for the Library of Congress program across the country and to United States citizens abroad, free of charge. Ranging from young beginners to senior citizens, piano, vocal and instrumental scores are available at many levels of attainment and abilities. As a music fraternity, the purpose of SAI is to continually further the development of music in America and throughout the world at large. Our mission is to encourage, nurture, and support the art of music in any way we can and our National Objectives strives to promote SAI Philanthropies, Inc. projects. e Bold Notes Project fulfills all of these by providing music to those who do not have these vital resources available through regular outlets. In 2013, the SAI Bold Notes Project was recognized by the Professional Fraternity Association as the Outstanding Professional Program Award of the year. I went to St. Louis, MO to accept this prestigious award at their National Convention on behalf of SAI. How can you (or your chapter) join this project? First of all, download the Bold Notes large print music guidelines from the SAI National website. For a list of music needed by the Library of Congress, contact me the director at ajveron1@gmail.com. You can purchase a copy of the music, find it online, or borrow it from a local library or individual who has the music. It must be a standardized print edition from a credible publisher. Copyright clearances are obtained by the Library of Congress. I parcel out the various assignments and keep a master list of all pieces worked on to avoid any duplication or repetition. ese projects are expected to be completed within a six month time frame. While most collegiate chapters have access to music notation soware packages on their campuses, alumnae members most oen have to procure and learn the soware packages. Explore the demo packages before deciding on which program is best for you. Also, consider applying for a Chapter Seed Money Grant to help with expenses. I will send you a template, to ensure the proper format, as required by the Library of Congress regulations. Once a piece is completed, it must be proof-read to ensure accuracy for notes, rhythm, dynamics, accents, etc. It must be perfect before being placed in circulation. A copy of the original piece, your trancribed piece, and a .pdf file of your piece must be sent to me for a final check. I then forward it to the Library of Congress. Many collegiate chapters and individuals have already participated in this project since its inception in 2009. Kudos to transcribers at Beta, Zeta Upsilon, Beta Alpha, Pi, eta Eta, Sigma Lambda, Zeta Epsilon, Iota Chi, Sigma Omega, eta Omega, Lambda Upsilon, Lambda Mu, Gamma Upsilon, Kappa Gamma, and Eta Sigma Collegiate Chapters. Individuals who worked on Bold Notes include Janice Lancaster, Julie Edwards, Michelle Schultz, Marcia Hughes, Megan Beugger, Ketti Muschler, Alicia Vanderschaaf, and myself. BOLD NOTES continues on page 7

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