SignSounds is an online American Sign Language (ASL) music dictionary created to increase access to music education for Deaf learners, musicians, interpreters, educators, and anyone interested in the intersection of music and sign language.

The project began out of necessity. As a Deaf music student, I quickly discovered that many interpreters working in music classrooms were unfamiliar with specialized musical terminology. As a result, complex concepts were often fingerspelled or required lengthy explanations, making communication less efficient and creating additional barriers to learning.

This dictionary is an ongoing effort to bridge that gap by documenting music-related vocabulary in ASL. Some entries build upon signs already used within the Deaf community and apply them to musical concepts where appropriate, while others propose new visual representations for terminology that previously lacked widely recognized signs. The goal is not to prescribe how every Deaf musician should sign, but to encourage discussion, improve accessibility, and provide a practical resource that can continue to evolve with the community.

Each dictionary entry is designed to provide more than a simple sign demonstration. Whenever possible, entries include:

A video demonstration of the sign

An English definition compiled from multiple reference sources

Source citations

Related reference materials, including Wikipedia articles when appropriate

 Images or diagrams when they support understanding

Notes on a sign's etymology or development for selected entries

Synonyms for easy searching

Accessibility, research, education, collaboration, and a love of music are the guiding principles behind this project.

Ultimately, I hope this dictionary helps remove vocabulary as a barrier to studying music. Deaf students should be able to pursue music theory, performance, composition, conducting, and other musical disciplines without being limited by a lack of accessible terminology. I also hope this project encourages others to contribute ideas, continue developing specialized vocabulary, and expand access to fields where Deaf people have historically faced communication barriers.

My long-term vision is for Sign Sounds to become a trusted resource for Deaf musicians, interpreters, educators, researchers, and linguists—a living dictionary that continues to grow alongside the community it serves.