BMF Stage Assistance Certificate Program – Supporting Blind Musicians

BMF Stage Assistance Certificate Program – Supporting Blind Musicians
Launched by the Bella Music Foundation in 2025, this program has been invited by UNESCO and is officially being presented in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
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This online training and certification course is designed to equip volunteers with the knowledge and practical skills needed to safely and respectfully assist blind and visually impaired musicians in performance environments. The program goes beyond general disability awareness, offering hands-on guidance tailored to real performance settings.

Certification & Recognition
Participants who successfully complete the course will receive the “Certificate in Stage Assistance for Music Events for the Blind”, officially recognizing their ability to provide professional, safe, and inclusive support to blind and visually impaired performers.

Volunteer Network
Certified individuals will be enrolled in the “Stage Assistant Volunteer Network”, a registry connecting trained assistants with blind musicians and event organizers seeking qualified support. This ensures that blind performers receive trusted and knowledgeable assistance both onstage and behind the scenes.

Benefits for Participants

• Gain practical skills in music accessibility and inclusion
• Become part of a certified international volunteer network
• Opportunities to assist at concerts, festivals, and competitions
• Make a real impact in supporting artistic independence for blind musicians

The program is open to everyone and was developed in collaboration with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division and Jenny Bond.

For more information, please contact us at:
[email protected]

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BMF Stage Assistance Certificate Program

Overview
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The BMF Stage Assistance Certificate Program is open to everyone who wants to learn how to effectively support blind and low-vision musicians in rehearsal and performance settings. The entire program takes approximately 1 hour to complete and is fully online and self-paced.

What You’ll Do

• Training Module: Learn practical communication, etiquette, stage orientation techniques, and collaboration tips to promote independence and artistic excellence.
• Post-Assessment (scored): Complete the scored post-assessment to demonstrate your learning.

Certification

• After you score at least 70 out of 100 points on the post-assessment, you will receive your Certificate of Completion by email. 

Registration & Fee

• Step 1: Submit the Google Registration Form and pay the $50 non-refundable fee.
• Step 2: Go to Certificate Portal link here or www.bellamf.org, Hover over the “Certificate” menu, click “Certificate Portal”, and register using the same email address you used for the Google Form registration. You will receive an approval email titled “Your registration on www.bellamf.org has been approved!” within 24 hours.
•  After approval, Go to Certificate Portal link here or www.bellamf.org again, hover over the “Certificate” menu, click “Certificate Portal”, and log in to begin the program. 

​Questions
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].