Music Teachers Blog

I have the pleasure of dipping my feet into two different worlds of music on a daily basis:  The world of teaching, and the world of performing & recording.

It is within the latter, the world of performing and recording, where I have the opportunity to meet many other artists in the entertainment business who do the same thing as I:  Compose music, record it, distribute it, and perform it.

You might be very surprised to hear though, how great the percentage is of performing artists out there who a) have never had any formal music training, and b) do not read music.

This is where you come in as an educated music teacher.

The selling of original sheet music is a nice source of income for recording artists – both independent and record label alike.  Though, for non-music-reading independent musicians who do not have someone to automatically transcribe for them (as most record label artists have), they end up hiring a transcriptionist to produce their sheet music.

I personally know many artists who pay anywhere between $50 – $200 to transcribe a song, or between $25 – $50 for someone to proofread transcriptions (meaning they do their best to transcribe it on their own, and then pay a professional to look it over for mistakes).

With the economic downturn this past year in the United States, there are many people who are either searching for jobs, or are simply looking for additional ways to make supplemental income. For you music teachers who have knowledge and experience in notation, offering transcription services is one way that you can earn supplemental income. In fact, many transcriptionists are actually music teachers.

Why?

Because we as music teachers are great at reading music, are keenly aware of mistakes when we hear or see one (in music), and need I mention that we also know our theory.

How Can You Get Started in Sheet Music Transcription?

• Having knowledge and skill in notation is key here.  But also having the ability to hear a song and write it down is also very essential. In other words, to learn music by ear.  Most artists who hire out a transcriptionist only have their recordings to offer as a means of getting the music down onto paper.  So you would need to feel comfortable listening to someone’s song and figuring it out from there.  Some however, are able to provide you with a midi file that you can pull directly up into a notation software program and edit from there. Which brings me to my next point…
• You will need a reliable notation software program.  Two of the most commonly used programs are Finale, and Sibelius. For the full versions, these run between $530 to $600, but you can purchase scaled down versions for less.

Screenshot of sheet music within Finale

Finale offers a freeware program called Notepad, which operates much like the full-fledged version with the exception of certain key tasks that a more advanced user would require, such as the ability to change key signature mid-song, or time signature, for example.

Sibelius has a freeware program called Scorch, which I wouldn’t even consider a notation program at all – as it merely only has the capability of displaying music, playing music (through a midi file), and transposing music to a different key .

Aside from these two mainstream notation software programs, you can Google “Free Notation Software” and find an array of various freewares that could work for you, or at least to practice on.

• Finally, you will need to get the word out that you are available. This is a day and age of social networking – use it to your advantage.  Use Facebook, Twitter, etc. Create a blog or website. Perhaps offering a special discount or even offering your services for free initially, to attract customers and to build your clientele.  Broaden your network by seeking out independent artists (particularly pianists) and “friending” them.

There are so many possibilities with this and it really is a skill that is in need. Not only does it benefit you for financial reasons (and to keep your skills brushed up), but it also greatly benefits the artist who needs your services.

It is yet another way for an educated musican to make use of their valuable skills.

Posted in Financial Business, Music & Technology |

About the Author

Jennifer is a composer, recording artist, and piano teacher from Seattle, Washington. She has been teaching the piano for 14 years, and currently maintains a small studio of 15 piano students and 2 violin students, where she encourages creativity, and fun.

In addition to teaching, she records and composes her own music, and she performs publicly. Last year she toured the northwest including shows in Seattle at Benaroya Hall, Salt Lake City, Idaho Falls featuring guest artists Emmy award winning composer/pianist Jace Vek, and pianist Michele McLaughlin. She released her debut album "Key of Sea" in January of 2007, and just released a 2nd album, "The Lullaby Album" in July of 2009. The 2-Disc release features 13 original and traditional lullabies in both Solo piano and fully Orchestrated versions. The album includes the talents of Emmy Award winning composer/pianist Jace Vek, Ourstage Grand prize winner Jillian Goldin, and Grammy Award nominated producer Paul Speer.

Jennifer's music has been featured on NBC Universal sports, as well as several independent films, most recently Poor Boyz Productions 2008 International Free Skiing Festival award winning release "Reasons". She won a publicly voted award for her music in the 2008 Swan Lake Moving Image and Music Awards in Germany, and her song "Fly Away" won 1st place in the 2007 SLM: IM Awards, three 1st place channel prizes for Instrumental Music on OurStage.com, and was included in Kathy Parson's "Top 20 of 2007" list (Solo Piano Publications).

Jennifer started playing the piano and violin at age 5, and went on to study Piano Pedigogy at Brigham Young University (Idaho). She has performed as a soloist with the Murray Symphony Orchestra on the MacDowel 2nd Piano Concerto, and won the silver prize in her university's concerto competition for Prokofiev's 3rd Piano Concerto. She has worked with the Seattle Symphony, participated with the Seattle Composer’s Salon at Benaroya Hall, and was a featured soloist at the Roosevelt Hotel. Jennifer performed with the Salt Lake Temple Square Concert Series for 3 years, and has also performed on the violin with various symphonies including the Oregon Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra.

Jennifer recently had her first baby, Preston, with her husband Will in June 2008. She is enjoying new motherhood and learning to juggle her music career along with it. She enjoys writing, chocolate, cooking, fashion, blogging, and a variety of outdoor sports. www.jenniferthomasmusic.com www.myspace.com/jenniferthomasmusic www.ourstage.com/fanclub/jenniferthomas