Justin M. Brauer

Music Director | Theatre Educator | Keyboardist

Music Preparation - Arranging and Engraving

As a music director, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist, I know first-hand the hours of rehearsal time that have been lost to clarifying questions about poorly or inconsistently prepared music. I take pride in my attention to detail and clarity in engraving, with a player-centered approach to all the music I work on. Whether it’s engraving a new work, writing a custom arrangement for your ensemble, or even editing an audition cut, I want to help your musical project succeed. For samples of my work, click on the thumbnails to the right.

What is a music engraver? Why do I need one?

A music engraver (or music copyist) is a highly-specialized kind of musician, trained in producing legible scores for performers. An engraver’s duties include:

  • Translating a composer or orchestrator’s sketches into a typeset score that correctly reflects the original author’s work

  • Editing scores to catch mistakes, ensure consistency, avoid collisions, create good page turns, etc.

  • Extracting individual parts for performers

  • Transposing music to a new key

  • Creating a piano reduction or piano/conductor score

  • Knowing the intricacies of music notation software and being able to solve problems efficiently and creatively

  • Creating high-quality printed sheet music or .PDFs

All of this detail-oriented work leads to a rehearsal, performance, or recording session that will run smoothly, without losing time to questions over notation.

Rates

It is difficult to set a flat rate for every project to come across my desk, as no two pieces of music are exactly the same. However, I use $.60 per “active frame” (non-whole rest measure) as a baseline estimate for most work, which covers engraving and formatting of a full score and parts, and a .pdf and .xml file for the client. Contact me at the button above to get a more accurate quote for your music.

Modernized Parts (engraving) - La Clemenza di Tito, Mozart, sample basset horn and timpani parts

Modernized Parts (engraving) - La Clemenza di Tito, Mozart, sample basset horn and timpani parts

Full Score and Parts (arrangement and engraving) - When I Fall In Love for piano, violin, and cello

Full Score and Parts (arrangement and engraving) - When I Fall In Love for piano, violin, and cello

Piano/Vocal with Chords and Fretboards (transcription and engraving) - Can’t Get Along Without You from Kermit Unpigged

Piano/Vocal with Chords and Fretboards (transcription and engraving) - Can’t Get Along Without You from Kermit Unpigged

Keyboard with Patch Changes (arrangement and engraving) - Rainbow Connection for The Great Cover Up 2019

Keyboard with Patch Changes (arrangement and engraving) - Rainbow Connection for The Great Cover Up 2019

Lead Sheet with Ukulele Fretboards (engraving) - Vocal score for Failure: A Love Story

Lead Sheet with Ukulele Fretboards (engraving) - Vocal score for Failure: A Love Story

Copyright Justin M. Brauer, 2014-2023.