Yusuf Dumlupınar

I am a visually impaired Assistant Professor of Musicology and Accessibility Researcher with over 25 years of academic and artistic experience. My work bridges musicology, inclusive education, human–computer interaction, and disability studies, with a focus on creating innovative teaching models and assistive technologies for blind and partially sighted musicians. Drawing on both lived experience and academic expertise, I aim to advance inclusive pedagogy and accessibility in music education. I am currently a TÜBİTAK 2219 International Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, where I investigate the use of Braille and audio technologies in music learning. I am also the proposed Principal Investigator of the ACCESS-MUSIC project (Marie Skłodowska-Curie PF, under review), which seeks to develop open-source, multisensory platforms for visually impaired musicians. My work has received international recognition through collaborations with institutions such as Cambridge, Glasgow, Helsinki, and Edinburgh, supported by peer-reviewed publications, invited lectures, and peer-review activities.

• TÜBİTAK 2219 International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2025–2026), University of Edinburgh

• YÖK Funded Research Grant (2018–2019) – Evaluation of Turkish Folk Music Performers in Malatya through Vocal Pedagogy

• Proposed Principal Investigator, ACCESS-MUSIC (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, under review; outcome expected 2026)

• Invited Seminar Speaker – University of Amsterdam (2025); UCL iMerc (2025)

• Reviewer Recognition – British Journal of Visual Impairment (2025)

• Media & Cultural Recognition – Featured on TRT Müzik Engelsiz Sahne(2019) and Edinburgh Bağlama Festival (2025)

Submitted / Under Review

ACCESS-MUSIC: MULTI-LINE BRAILLE AND AUDIO FEEDBACK SUPPORTED DIGITAL

SYSTEM FOR ACCESSIBLE MUSIC EDUCATION: DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION,

AND DISSEMINATIONPI: Yusuf Dumlupınar | Host: Univ. of Edinburgh | MSCA PF (2026-2028)

Develops modular, open-source platform for blind musicians to access polyphonic scores

using Braille and audio. Includes teacher training, policy toolkit, and classroom trials. Main

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. John Ravenscroft (University of Edinburgh), other Asociated Professors: Prof. Dr. Fumiya Iida (University of Cambridge) , Prof. Dr Stephen Brewster (University of Glasgow), Prof. Dr  Heidi Westerlund & Dr. Tuulliki Laes (Sibelius Academy/ University of the Arts Helsinki) - Outcome

Expected Feb 2026

• Awarded: Exploring the Functionalities of Braille and Audio Technologies in the Listening, Tactile

Exploration, and Interpretation Practices of Visually Impaired Musicians: An Observational Study

PI: Yusuf Dumlupınar | TÜBİTAK 2219 Fellowship

Host: Univ. of Edinburgh | Jan 2025 - Jun 2026

• Past Project

Evaluation of Turkish Folk Music Performers in Malatya through Vocal Pedagogy Researcher

| Funder: YÖK | May 2018 - Nov 2019

• Dumlupınar, Y. (2022). Visually Impaired Musicians in Turkey from the 20th Century to

the Present in Terms of Disability Identity Approaches: The Case of Selim Kerim Altınok. Int.

J. of Social, Humanities and Admin. Sciences, 8(59), 1849-1857.

• Dumlupınar, Y. (2022). An Investigation into the Adequacy of Audio Technologies

Regarding the Needs of Visually Impaired Individuals in Learning and Teaching Processes.

Int. ASR Journal, 7(44), 1687-1692.

• Dumlupınar, Y. (2022). A Study on the Interaction of Information Technologies with the

Life Energy of Visually Impaired Individuals. Int. Social Mentality & Research Thinkers

Journal, 8(66), 2389-2398.

• Dumlupınar, Y. (2021). A Solution Proposal for the Breathing and Articulation Problems

of Turkish Folk Song Performers: Tongue Twisters. İdil Journal, 10(84), 12071215.

• Recognized Visually Impaired Turkish Musicians and Their Role in Social Awareness

- UMTEB 2023 - Abstract

• An Evaluation of the Role of Information Technologies in Special Education Practices

Implemented in Turkey from the Perspective of a Visually Impaired Academic - BİLTEVT

2023 - Abstract

• Articulation Problems in Turkish Folk Song Performers and Solution-Oriented Approaches -

MUDA 2 Congress, 2019 - Full Paper

• The Identity Problem of Folk Song Performance in Terms of Voice Training Approaches. -

Voice Istanbul, 2019 - Full Paper

• The Identity Problem of Turkish Folk Song Performance in Terms of Voice Training

Approaches - Music and Sciences Symposium, 2019 - Full Paper

• Education from the Perspective of a Visually Impaired Scholar – Honoring World Braille

Day, 2024 - Abstract

• Dumlupınar, Y. (2022). Evaluating Academic Career Opportunities of Blind Musicians:

Koray Sazlı's Experience. In International Research in Fine Arts (Ed. Hasan

Arapgirlioğlu). Serüven Publishing. ISBN: 978-625-6399-12-9

• Edinburgh Bağlama Festival, UK - 16 Feb 2025

• Recital - Britanya Kürecikliler Derneği, London - 25 Dec 2024

• Radio Program - Ozanca Türküler, Ankara - 4 Oct 2023

• TRT Müzik - Engelsiz Sahne (Ep. 45), Istanbul - 25 Mar 2019

• Lecture-Recital - ITU Turkish Music State Conservatory - 21 March 2019

• TV Appearance - İbrahim Altun ile Arguvan Türküleri, ER TV -12 Jan 2019

Selected Seminars:

• Music Education for the Visually Impaired from a Disability Studies Perspective - University

of Amsterdam - 1 Apr 2025

• Inclusive Learning in Conservatories: A Blind Musicologist's View - UCL University College London iMerc - 21 May 2025

• Turkish Folk Music Voice Training Masterclass - Istanbul University - 6 Dec 2023

Reviewer - British Journal of Visual Impairment

Manuscript ID: BJVI-24-0129.R1 - Vocal Music & Listening Comprehension in Iranian

EFL Learners with Visual Impairment - Feb 2025