Comments on: Transcribing for Musicianship and Career Opportunities

By: MajoringInMusic

MajoringInMusic — Tue, 24 May 2016 04:05:38 +0000

In reply to MajoringInMusic. Two suggestions from the author of this article: 1. Check with your local Musician’s Union about possible work. 2. Consider studying with a composition teacher who works in film and television.

By: MajoringInMusic

MajoringInMusic — Tue, 24 May 2016 00:05:24 +0000

In reply to Durrell. We've reached out to the author of this article for more information. In the meantime, if anyone else has knowledge of career opportunities in transcription, please post.

By: Durrell

Durrell — Mon, 23 May 2016 17:08:10 +0000

Great read here. Transcription is something I have been doing for the past 4 years. It really enhances one’s musicianship and is the topic of my capstone project as I end my graduate degree in music education. I’m curious about how one gets career opportunities in this field. Could you point me to some other resources that could help?

By: Cha

Cha — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 18:27:11 +0000

Read your article and indeed it is very true. I’m a full time piano teacher and ever since I started transcribing, I find that I’ve improved in my playing as well as my listening skills. I’ve been doing transcribing since last year and I play it as a piano cover in my YouTube channel. I’m also looking for career oppotunities. I wonder whether you can recommend music schools, organization etc. where I can apply for career advancement?

By: MajoringInMusic

MajoringInMusic — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 18:06:07 +0000

In reply to Joshua.

Here are some ideas we’ve gathered for you:
1. Feel where the big beats are (heaviest stresses on beats) and assume that’s the downbeat of each bar, count out loud the number of beats in between each big beat.
2. If it’s an odd time signature, try to figure out a pattern of stresses and break it down (if it’s 7/8 time, it might be a group of 2 and two groups of 3, for example).
3. Counting out loud is very helpful.
4. Like most things, it takes practice and a lot of listening to get comfortable with and be good at transcribing.

Hope this helps!

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 00:18:39 +0000

This article was helpful for me to get a new perspective on transcribing and it’s different uses. It also helped me see my mistake of trying to do something difficult right away. With ten years of piano lessons, I have all kinds of arrangement ideas and melodies in my head. But to put them on paper is a whole different story! Your article showed me to build my ability to write what I hear just like I built my ability to play what I read. Thanks for that article!

I have a simple question: How do you know the time signature for a song I want to transcribe? I try to transcribe a song I know without looking at any other arrangement before hand. But I always get stuck on the time signature and have to than take a peek at some one’s finished project for help! Is it because I have an embarrassing amount of music theory for ten years of lessons, or is there some basic trick that I haven’t heard?!?

It would be great to get some help from a professional when I run into problems like these. (As if you haven’t been helpful already!!!) Just wanted to thank you for the article and get a little tip if it’s not to much trouble. Thanks again!

By: John

John — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:10:08 +0000

This is a well written piece, and the advice matches what I have heard from music teachers over the years. It’s nice to read from a member of the Vintage Modernists. Thanks for the article.

John
Spokane, WA