In support of transcription

I genuinely enjoy arranging and realizing music.  I started learning instruments in grade school and moved from clarinet in Junior High to Saxophone in High School.  I often found myself in situations where I was applying what I was studying, which gave me much more experience that if I only focused specifically on my studies at university.

A big part of that has to do with playing in Portuguese dance bands.  At that time, the internet was not as bountiful and vast as it is now, meaning that if we wanted to learn a new song, we’d have to find the lyrics in liner notes (when available) or just by listening to the songs directly and writing them down by ear.  Similarly, websites like guitar-tab where someone can find countless chord charts of popular (and not-so-popular) songs were not available, so discerning the key and chord progressions were also necessary to do by ear.

As a result of coming up this way, I’ve had the benefit of spending hundreds (maybe thousands) of hours on transcription.  In this time, I’ve developed an appreciation for the benefits of transcribing the melody as part of my process when I’m working on any arrangement/realization.

For years now, I recognize the importance of having good clean lead sheets with the melody, lyrics, and chord progression and have made my own for songs that I’ve been asked to perform rather than just buying the sheet music online.  What’s the fun in that?  How am I going to grow if I don’t just do the work myself?

I will explain my process with the example of a Portuguese show I was commissioned to arrange in Fall 2019.

I start with a music track.  Sitting at the piano, I will usually figure out the melody, key center, and time signature to start.  Once I have a general idea of what key I’m in, I start by creating a new lead sheet in the proper key and transcribe the melody (pitches and rhythm) along with the chord progression, one section at a time.  These days, since I have more resources with the internet to find lyrics, I add the lyrics if the assignment calls for it.

That’s pretty much it!  The thing that makes me a good person to work with is my ear is developed to the point that I can be quick about completing commissions, and I enjoy it!

I would really love to find more projects where I’m doing that for singer/songwriters who would like their original songs to be realized into a proper and clean lead sheet.  Hit me up!  I would love to work with you!!!

So close.... Do I go for it?

I’m so close. I’ve been focusing so hard at paying off my debt. All I have left is my student loans. I owe $2,800 right now. I have more than that in my savings. A good portion of that is for the taxes that I’m expected to pay at the end of this year for my teaching gig that does not take taxes out of my checks. I could easily pay this debt off right now even though I would temporarily have nothing in my savings any more. On the other hand, I could potentially get all that money back in my savings account in a month or so, so then I would just be back to where I am now minus the debt. I’m kind of torn about it. Not sure why. I feel like I should be careful and I’m already so close that it’s not a big deal if I don’t do it right this moment….. But it seems like it would be something that would be great to finish before the end of the year just so I can start this next year with a fresh start. Debt-free and on my way to figure out what to do next. Just need to save 6 months expenses and I’ll be ready to give to more charity and to get more into investing. What do I do!?!?