3D-printed music scores help the blind feel every note

One project began when Aquite saw a video profiling Yeaji Kim, who was completing her PhD in the School of Music. Kim, who is blind, plays piano using Braille scores. However, the scores are highly complex and yet can still lack some information traditionally included on sheet music. To address this challenge, Kim invented a system that essentially raises the type on top of the staff and notes on regular sheet music, giving the musical notation a tactile quality that a visually impaired musician could read by touch and a sighted person could also read visually. That invention, which opens up new possibilities in music education and accessibility, caught Aquite’s attention.

Aquite, who researches 3D printing technology and processes in the PEC, realized he could use 3D printing to help Kim create 3D musical scores. He brought the idea to Osswald, and they approached Kim to collaborate.

“Kim was interested in the idea and definitely excited about collaborating,” Aquite says. “This isn’t just building a prototype for her or the School of Music. It’s a true collaboration in that we’re working closely with Kim to understand her design needs and to find solutions together.”

A 3D-printed music score created by the Polymer Engineering Center. Credit: Scott Gordon

A team of Osswald’s undergraduate and graduate students has been working on the project, researching ways to improve the dimensional accuracy and surface quality of a 3D-printed music score. Since earning her PhD, Kim has returned home to South Korea, but her collaboration with the PEC continues. The team mails her the latest 3D-printed versions, and Kim gives feedback that informs the next iteration. Bron: Phys.org