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From the ear to the page

Music Notation & Sheet Music Preparation

Accurate, clear music notation for real players — sheet music that works in rehearsal and on stage, not just on paper.

Why work with me

Every instrument, every ensemble, every style

I notate for every instrument and every kind of ensemble — from a duo to a full orchestra, big band or choir — in any musical style: jazz, classical, rock, pop, Israeli music and more, with or without lyrics. That includes Hebrew lyric notation — not something every notation service in the world offers.

More than 20 years of experience in music notation and music education, including many years arranging for event bands, live shows and recordings. Every job gets my personal attention and musical understanding — what the player actually needs to see on the page for the music to really work.

This is music engraving — notation clean enough to read at a glance, and precise enough to hand straight to a professional orchestra or a publisher.

"The goal of my work is to let my clients' projects sound the way they asked for — or, in many cases, far better than they ever dreamed."
Sound familiar?

Music Copying | Re-engraving / Transcription

Stuck without sheet music before a show?

Can't find the sheet music for the song you need?

Have handwritten parts and want clean, printed sheet music?

Working on a project with guide tracks, but no parts for the players?

Professional notation turns musical ideas, recordings and existing material into clean, clear sheet music that players can work from in rehearsal and on stage.

What you can order
1

Sheet Music Preparation

Professional notation for ensembles, orchestras, independent musicians and educational institutions.

The service includes:

  • Preparing a full score
  • Extracting parts from a score
  • Re-notating orchestral or section parts
  • Copying sheet music from handwriting
  • Preparing charts
  • Notating jazz solos
2

Re-scoring & Part Adaptation Between Instruments

Rewriting and adapting parts when the ensemble isn't complete — for example, no horn player, only saxophones. Especially common in music-education ensembles and orchestras with limited instrumentation, so the group can still play the full program without every "original" instrument in the room.

The service includes:

  • Adapting range and timbre for the substitute instrument
  • Preserving the original harmonic or melodic role
  • Re-scoring entire sections (winds, strings and more)
  • Matching what's actually available in the rehearsal room
3

Chart Writing

Writing clear, readable charts for players.

A good chart lets musicians play from a first read and understand the structure, harmony and style as they play.

For charts written for shows and productions, I pay special attention to spacing, clear visibility under stage lighting, and cues that give every player the bigger picture of the number — not just their own part.

A chart can include:

  • Notation
  • Chords
  • Lyrics
  • Tabs
  • Horn lines
  • Musical markings

Graphics can be added too, such as an ensemble or institution logo.

The result is sheet music that's easy to work from in rehearsal and on stage.

4

Transcription - Music Copying - Writing by Ear

Copying handwritten or printed sheet music into the computer and reorganizing it professionally.

For example:

  • Re-writing sheet music
  • Changing the key
  • Combining parts
  • Building a score from separate parts
  • Layout and preparation for print
How it works

The Work Process

1

Send the material

Send a recording, video, partial sheet music, a MIDI file, or whatever you have — even if it isn't complete.

2

Time & price estimate

After a short look at the material, you get a clear time and price estimate before work begins.

3

Writing & delivery

The notation is written and delivered as a PDF (Sibelius/MusicXML on request), including a short correction round once the players see the material.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Music Notation

What is music notation?

Music notation is turning audio into sheet music — writing music down from a recording, video or existing material, so it's ready to work with clearly in rehearsal and on stage.

What's the difference between notation, copying and transcription?

In practice they all describe the same idea: turning something heard or recorded into sheet music. Sometimes "transcription" also means a precise record of a performance (a solo, articulation, dynamics), while "notation" focuses on the material the players need in order to play it well.

What do I get at the end?

A clean PDF (score + parts). If needed, you can also get an editable file (Sibelius / MusicXML).

What material do I need to send to get started?

A recording, video, sketch, partial sheet music, MIDI file, lyrics — anything you have. Even if the material isn't "perfect", we can start from it and fill in what's missing together.

What kinds of ensembles is this suited to?

Small groups (trio/quartet), educational ensembles, orchestra, big band, choir, and solo-artist projects too. The main thing is to know in advance who will be playing and how much detail is needed.

Can you prepare lead sheets / charts?

Yes. A clean lead sheet (melody + chords), individual parts, or a full score — whatever the project needs.

Can you also transcribe solos and exact parts?

Yes. It can go down to a high level of detail: solos, articulation, dynamics, ornaments, and everything needed to capture the performance faithfully.

What about complex chords, slash chords and jazz writing?

That's part of my specialty. Chords are written so they're readable and correct for the players, and the layout and spacing are arranged so the page is easy to read in real time.

How long does it take?

It depends on the length of the material, the number of instruments and the level of detail. After a quick look at the material I can give you a proper time estimate.

How much does it cost?

The price depends on length, complexity, number of instruments and level of precision. Send the material and the deadline — and I'll come back with a clear quote.

Can I get corrections after delivery?

Yes. It's always best to do a short round of corrections after the players have seen the material. That's usually what brings the result to "stage-ready".

Tight deadline?

Let me know the date and the urgency up front. In many cases a project can be turned around quickly — depending on workload and the complexity of the material.

What is a full score?

A full score is the page where every instrument's part is written one above the other, one line per instrument, so the whole ensemble is visible at once. The individual parts for each player are extracted from the score.

Shall we talk?

Get in Touch

+972-54-460-5634

info@ofirtal.com

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