[Menvi-discuss] Cost of transcriptions

Thu Jan 22 03:56:11 UTC 2015

This is a very interesting discussion.

Recently, I had two different experience. First, I was engaged to
transcribe a music textbook. The organisation was not willing to pay
much, but I took it up as an experience for myself. The next problem
came in when we could not find volunteer readers who reads music.
Well, we managed eventually with 2 regulars and several ad hoc.

It worked out fine but, making sure they are reading correctly could
be challenging as not everyone has the same knowledge of music and,
everyone has to be taught what you need and not assume some things are
not important.

Then, I was asked to play for a friend's wedding. I managed to get my
good friend to come over during one afternoon and read to me the piano
score ffor Bach's `Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring`. But, we did not have
time for the second piece. So, I then went to another blind musician
who has perfect pitch and got him to listen to a recording of it. And,
I copied down what he told me.

I wish I could engage more musicians to be assisting blind ones in
copying scores.

Hmmm, maybe it should be a new project?

Nicole

On 22/01/2015, Bettie & Bill Downing <bnbdowning70 at embarqmail.com> wrote:
> Can you ask some piano teachers in the area or the high school choral
> director for a teen-ager who plays piano and needs a little extra spending
> money?
>
>
>
> On Jan 21, 2015, at 9:03 PM, Teresa Haifley wrote:
>
>> I know that if I hadn't had readers so I could do my own transcribing
>> over
>> all these years I would never have been able to teach or work as organist
>> and choir director as I have.
>>
>> I have been without a regular reader for a few years now and rely on
>> digital
>> files without the freedom of choice I once had.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf Of
>> Ria Andriani
>> Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 4:55 PM
>> To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy
>> Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] Cost of transcriptions
>>
>> From a blind musician's point of view, it's also worthwhile to teach a
>> few
>> friends to read music. Most of the time they are happy to do it whilst
>> spending time with you, with breaks and meals or coffee. In England and
>> Australia one can also arrange for volunteer readers to help the musician
>> involved to transcribe.
>>
>> I do most of my transcriptions myself nowadays.
>>
>> On 1/22/15, Bettie & Bill Downing <bnbdowning70 at embarqmail.com> wrote:
>>> Ha!  Good for us.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jan 21, 2015, at 3:34 PM, Teresa Haifley wrote:
>>>
>>>> Actually, you ended up doing it for the NLS after I talked to them
>>>> about my need.
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On
>>>> Behalf Of Bettie & Bill Downing
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 3:28 PM
>>>> To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy
>>>> Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] Cost of transcriptions
>>>>
>>>> Teresa, I hope you found another transcriber since most of us don't
>>>> charge that much.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Jan 21, 2015, at 3:00 PM, Teresa Haifley wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> 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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>>
>> --
>> Ria Andriani
>> University of New South Wales
>> Bachelor of music/Bachelor of arts
>>
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