Transcriptions for $

[Lori Sweeney]

Since this is a composer's forum, I don't know if this subject is taboo or not BUT I frequent a lot of piano music sites and have been offered payment to do transcriptions. I've done them no charge in the past just for the challenge but I am now in a financial crisis. I found very few sites on the net that will name prices but the cheapest I found was .70 cents per measure, and that's just for a lead sheet. I DO NOT do lead sheets, I do full piano arrangements. I am currently transcribing a complicated oriental piece for my 1st paying customer at .50 cents per measure. A bargain in my opinion but then someone came along and offered me $50 to do a 42 second (approx. 15 measure) transcription. Does anyone know how a full piano transcription by ear should be charged? By measure, by time, by difficulty, etc.?

[douglas mccann]

most bizarre experience, I just spent 800 dollars on a transcriber from New York, for two piano pieces, about 12 minutes of music. then I found someone in los angeles, who is doing these kinds of works for 125 dollars vs. 500 dollars, and doing long works, literally in a few hours....I don't regret the first transcriber fees because that's what it is worth to me... the incredibly inexpensive transcriber, i feel is undercharging... that is so unusual in our world of business... I can refer him to you or anyone so in need. the transcriptions are the next step in finally getting a trained pianist to record my pieces via studio on a grand piano... so for me, it's now only a matter of resources before I can maximize my compositions...

just email me at
[e-mail]
douglas

[douglas mccann]

i found someone in southern california, who turns around piano pieces in a matter of hours, and undercharges....

happy to refer you, if you contact me...

douglas

p.s., i was getting gouged by someone from new york, literally 10 times the price....