This can amount to a substantial loss of wages that have been gained over many years by hard-fought negotiations. The American Society of Music Copyists, formed in 1961 by music preparation professionals, has been instrumental in establishing wage scales, terms and working conditions. There was a time when 37 cents a page, unexpected dismissal out of town, lack of benefits, insufferable waiting for payment from an employer and a sympathetic yet ineffectual ear from union officials were all the norm. Today, those engaged in music preparation have achieved parity with performing musicians and are recognized as equals by our union and management. If that were the case, offices could have a clerk or secretary attend to the job.
Copyists are skilled, experienced professionals who have developed speed, accuracy and legibility.
They are indeed experts in music notation and are an essential step in the process of expressing a composer's creative intention to the listener. Whether the tool being used is a pen or a computer, this complex task requires specialization and a high degree of knowledge and technique. In recent years the technological advances in computer aided music notation have attracted many newcomers to the field. There is always room for competent people willing to subject themselves to the rigors of learning the craft. We, the American Society of Music Copyists, welcome them as colleagues within our ranks.