I'll spend time Behind Bars so that you don't have to.*

Music engraving and editing helps to make your music look neat, professional, and easy-to-read for performers. Notation clarity save on precious practice and rehearsal time.

It's not just about layout, staff size, and page turns. It's also about using common conventions for rhythm writing, text-styles, and other notations so that your music is as clear and accessible to players as possible. 

*Elaine Gould's Behind Bars is the definitive guide to music notation conventions. Gould synthesizes the best practices for notation so that musicians can expect to read music that's written in a predictable way, spending more time playing and less time deciphering. 

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What I can do for you:​​

I provide flexible and low-key music engraving and editing to fit your needs and timeline.

• The Basic
• The Once-Over
• Typesetting
• Custom

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You send me a Sibelius, Dorico, or MusicXML file. I will:

• Tidy things up as meticulously as I can.
• Make sure everything look good and parts will be ready to be delivered.
• Keep a log of changes so that you can undo anything in case you don't like it. 

GOOD FOR:

• Preparing the final draft of a commission. Perhaps you've already sent a draft to make the deadline, but you've since needed to make changes, etc.
• Preparing scores for composition competitions/call-for-scores. Make things look neat and presentable!

 You send me a PDF of your score. I will:

• Go through the entire score
• Mark it up digitally (using my iPad)
• Send you a list of recommended changes to supplement the markings

GOOD FOR:

• ​First delivery. Got a deadline for a commission coming up soon? Very soon? This is a quick look. It's not the most thorough, but we'll try to catch as much stuff as we can so that you can deliver the most presentable product that you can!

You send me score and/or parts (hardcopies or high-quality scans). I will:

• Plug it into Sibelius
• Send you a digital score and parts

GOOD FOR: 

• Handwritten music. I'll take hard-to-read handwritten music and make it look readable
• Parts to score. Only have a set of parts but no full score?
• Score to parts. Only have a score? I'll make you parts.
• Preparing pieces for scholarly publication. Many scores that musicologists encounter are in non-digital formats. I can digitize them for maximum flexibility when publishing scholarly work. 

Any of the services described are flexible! Need something custom? Let's talk– I can make most things work!
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• Have your score just how you want it, but need someone to look over parts?
• Want to send me what you have of the piece you're delivering in two days to look at?
• Want me to make your graphic notation less pixelated?
• Got a rush order?
• ​​Want things transposed?
• Have a Sibelius file but want it as Dorico?

SERVICES

• Score editing
• Music engraving
• Parts preparation
• Typesetting
• Digitizing handwritten scores
• ​Advising

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TYPES OF MUSIC (flexible)

• Traditional Western music notation
• Non-traditional graphic or experimental notation. 
• Small/chamber groups
• ​Large ensembles (band, orchestra, choir)​

SOFTWARE

• Sibelius (primary)
• Dorico (secondary; slower)

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TIMELINES + FEES

EVERY PROJECT IS DIFFERENT. Depending on the size of ensemble, the length of the piece, the type(s) of notation required, every piece takes a pretty different amount of time to edit and/or engrave. I can typically turn smaller orders around in 24 hours (e.g., a once-over for a 5 minute chamber work), however if you have a large work with a deadline in 24 hours, there's a good chance I can't provide full service. If you're working in Sibelius, chances are I can turn things around much faster. 

​We'll work together to find a timeline that works best for both of us.

FLEXIBLE FEES. As every project is very different, I usually discuss project fees on a case-by-case basis. Please be prepared to let me know how much you're able to pay!

For larger works, I ask that you pay 50% of the agreed upon fee in advanced. For smaller works, I ask that you pay upon completion. I accept PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, and checks.

YOUNG/EMERGING COMPOSERS
PAY WHAT YOU CAN.

I understand that money can be tricky for early-career composers. I'm proud to offer self-identified young and emerging composers a limited pay-what-you-can policy. Although I don't complete work gratis, I can work with you to find a plan that works for both of us.

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