[Menvi-discuss] Cost of transcriptions

Wed Jan 21 19:56:13 UTC 2015

Dear listers, 

This is quite a fine discussion indeed, and it's refreshing to see your views on  this issue! 

I truly feel that where blind students must pay for work themselves, that the cost should be as low as possible, if not gratis.

But where funding is available as with state schools and such, the per page fees Tina mentions are not normally considered too high - twenty dollars, yes, but I am willing to bet that perhaps there is an error there, as some agencies do pay twenty five dollars per hour. 

But take one case scenerio that I know of: 

One very experienced transcriber needed to spend 9 hours on a very complex transcription of only two braille pages. The transcriber was being paid seven dollars per braille age. That comes out to about a dollar fifty per hour; clearly not acceptable when serving burgers might easily bring one minimum wage plus tips. 

Sadly, in such cases, the transcriber is doing not only the brailling, but his or her own proof reading, and much formatting when text insertions are done later. Proof readers-formatters often earn $25 per hour, while music specialists may earn only a fraction of that per hour, and mostly less than minimum wage.

So alas we must keep these discussions going; and so glad to see the students themselves become involved! 

Richard Taesch

-----Original Message-----
>From: Chris Smart <csmart8 at cogeco.ca>
>Sent: Jan 21, 2015 8:12 AM
>To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy <menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
>Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] Cost of transcriptions
>
>ah shoot, that's really unfortunate.
>
>At 09:01 AM 1/21/2015, you wrote:
>>Nope, not even in the neighbouring countries.
>>
>>The nearest is Japan and Korea, if I am not mistaken, and I do not
>>know the language.
>>
>>
>>
>>On 21/01/2015, Chris Smart <csmart8 at cogeco.ca> wrote:
>> > There aren't any transcribers in your country I guess?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Sent from Chris's iPhone.
>> >
>> >
>> >> On Jan 21, 2015, at 00:58, Nicole Ming Hui Pua <nicole.mhpua at gmail.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Dear Tina,
>> >>
>> >> Thank you for this information. Although it still sounds way too
>> >> expensive for an overseas musician like me (Malaysia), it is good to
>> >> know the standard charges.
>> >>
>> >> Nearly 20MYR per Braille page is...hmmm, lost for word. Imagine buying
>> >> a complete score when you are only earning 1200MYR...
>> >>
>> >> But then again, it is more worth it than spending it on a meal of sushi!
>> >>
>> >> Thank you.
>> >>
>> >> Nicole
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>> On 21/01/2015, Tina Davidson <tinatd at comcast.net> wrote:
>> >>> Hi Members,
>> >>> There have been past discussions about the cost of braille music
>> >>> transcriptions and the average per braille page is about $5 to $9,
>> >>> depending
>> >>> on the complexity of the music. This fee is for individuals or for
>> >>> institutions and you (or your school) should get quotes from several
>> >>> transcribers before deciding who is best and who is currently available,
>> >>> in
>> >>> terms of time.  The list of certified braille music transcribers is
>> >>> available on the NLS website:
>> >>> http://www.loc.gov/nls/music/circular4.html
>> >>>
>> >>> I'm repeating all this because it has come to my attention (from a
>> >>> client)
>> >>> that someone has quoted as high as $20 per braille page - which is
>> >>> ridiculous !! Please be aware of the average costs and choose your
>> >>> transcriber accordingly. I believe in an open market on pricing and
>> >>> transcribers are professionals and deserve a fair wage, however. that's
>> >>> way
>> >>> above the standard fees.
>> >>>
>> >>> Tina Davidson
>> >>> Certified Braille Music Transcriber
>> >>
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