Music publishing
I am looking into self publishing my editions of 4 violin concertos (Bruch g, Mendelssohn e, Lalo Symphony Espagnol, Saint Saens #3.) I am asking for some advice on this.1. I expect that spiral bound is best? Since it lays flat on the music stand.
2. I gather that the standard music publishing format is 9.5x12.5 inches, buff or cream color, 70 lb. paper?
3. There are 3 different versions. One edited, one Urtext, and one piano reduction. Would it be best to have 3 different versions, or combine the edited and Urtext in one volume?
4. All of these I notated on Finale. The cover of each would be in color, to catch the eye.
I would not necessarily expect to sell a large amount, but the bowings and fingerings are "in the Galamian tradition." What do you think would be a fair price for this? Thanks, Bruce
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If I'm right about what it is, 70 lb. paper is very expensive and very heavy. When I print my music (for my own use) 28 lb is plenty good for me and I usually use 20 lb, even printed on both sides.
Actually all paper has gotten expensive in recent years.
Have you considered selling it as print on demand? That way the customer could choose the printing option that suits them?
Scanners and photo copiers (only used to avoid page-turns, of course!) accentuate the "ghosts" of the other side of the page; paper must be really opaque.
Slightly larger print with more space between systems to write in fingerings, dynamics, etc.
I love spiral bound music books, wish more of the larger ones would come that way!
Why not put them on Amazon in kindle format, saves publishing costs, and let people download and print them themselves.
Spiral bound is fine. Plastic combs -- no. But there is something in between called a steel coil. That is what I use for the "editions" that I have printed at a local print shop. The latest was a Fanny Hensel trio that I had printed, covered, and bound -- one violin part, one cello part, and one piano score, all for $15.
I agree with your choice to use heavy paper. I don't know what the big publishers use, but I disagree with Andrew about using 20 or 28 because those are too thin and notes and markings will show through.
The question you really have to ask yourself is whether your objective is legacy or profit. If you make a really high-quality, well-produced edition that is inexpensive, your editions might actually become popular among students and -- more importantly -- teachers. If you want to make a profit, then the calculus is a little different. You want to optimize price against materials, shipping, and overhead costs -- including marketing. What's your angle? What makes your editions stand out? I recommend against "Galamian tradition" as a sales point because anyone who wants editions in the Galamian tradition will just get Galamian editions!
https://www.lulu.com/
Ten years ago I set up a spiral bound version of the solo Bach for my students to use on another print-on-demand service, The Book Patch. It had the public domain urtext in the front and the scan of the original manuscript after. The service made it very easy, and even today it's still only $10 to print a copy:
https://www.thebookpatch.com/
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1. That sounds reasonable.
2. I have no idea.
3. I like combined Urtext/edited editions so I can easily see what the edits are.
4. No opinion.
One question to consider is whether your editions will be available to download by folks who use electronic sheet music. Good luck!