[Menvi-discuss] Cost of transcriptions

Thu Jan 22 04:02:50 UTC 2015

Hi Nicole,

Yes there are good readers and frustrating readers. There are drills
which you can use to speed up the process which might help/complicate
the whole process. I guess you can also arm yourself with theory
books/cheat sheets in case there are symbols which she/he doesn't
know.

Cheers,
Ria

On 1/22/15, Nicole Ming Hui Pua <nicole.mhpua at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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
>>>
>>> Please visit www.menvi.org/donate.html  to make a voluntary contribution
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>
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-- 
Ria Andriani
University of New South Wales
Bachelor of music/Bachelor of arts