[Menvi-discuss] Cost of transcriptions

Wed Jan 21 21:00:08 UTC 2015

No mistake about the $20.  I needed an organ piece for a wedding a few years
ago and inquired to find that the transcription for the one straightforward
and not complicated piece was going to cost over $200, which was more than I
was going to be paid for the whole wedding.  There was no way I could pay
that even though I understand transcribers need to be paid for their time.

Teresa

-----Original Message-----
From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf Of
taeschr at ix.netcom.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 1:56 PM
To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy
Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] Cost of transcriptions

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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