RNIB is delighted to announce the 2025-26 season of the Gardner’s Trust Braille Music Literacy Awards. Administered by the RNIB, these awards are dedicated to assessing the reading, understanding, and performance of Braille music. They provide music Braillists with a valuable opportunity to receive expert feedback on their specialist skills and to demonstrate their musical independence.
The awards are open to Braillists of all ages, as previous age restrictions have been removed. Candidates are also permitted to retake levels they have previously attempted.
There are five levels of assessment available. All participants will receive a detailed report and a certificate of entry. Outstanding entrants at each level who meet the required standard will be awarded a prize, ranging from £10 for Level 1 to £50 for Level 5.
Test dates and application deadline
Tests will take place between the 2nd of February and 30th of April 2026. You can enter an application at any point up to the 16th of March 2026.
Feedback and certificates will be issued in June 2026, at which time we will also announce the prize winners. Candidates may choose to take the exams either in person at a location of their choice (subject to examiner availability) or online.
New for 2026
We’ve made some small changes to the higher-level tests to make them fairer for candidates, such as extending the practice time for some tests. You can read more about the specific changes in the downloadable Infopack on the RNIB’s website. Look for the document called “GTLA Updated Guidelines 2025-26”.
We have also included a new guide “What to expect from an online GTLA test” to help prepare candidates who are sitting the test via Teams or Zoom.
Further information
Specimen tests, along with general regulations and requirements in both Braille and print, can be obtained from the RNIB.
For more information, please visit: Gardner’s Trust Braille Music Literacy Awards | RNIB.
To request the information pack and application form, please contact us at: [email protected]