AccessibilityTestingUpdated Sep 25, 2026
Score Reader
Printed and digital sheet music is almost entirely visual, so blind and low-vision musicians often cannot read a score independently.
Why this matters
Musicians should be able to explore notes, rhythms, and structure on their own terms, without waiting for someone to transcribe or describe a score.
- Current idea
- Score Reader is an accessible sheet-music reader for iPhone. It imports MusicXML and compressed MXL files, plus simple PDF scores, and lets a person move through the music with VoiceOver and play it back. Reading dense PDF scores and capturing sheet music with the camera are still being improved.
- Accessibility notes
- Built for VoiceOver navigation through a score, with audio playback of what is being read. Dense PDF layouts and camera capture are not yet reliable.
- Current testing focus
- VoiceOver navigation, MusicXML/MXL import, simple PDF scores, and playback are being tested. Dense PDF reading and camera capture still need work.
Development updates
Progress in public
First iPhone beta build submitted to Apple and waiting for beta review. Dense PDF reading and camera capture are still in progress.
Feedback
Have thoughts on this project?
Email openindependence@gmail.com to share a related barrier or suggestion. Attribution is optional.
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