Start here reading up on mechanical licensing and what you'll have to do.
http://www.harryfox.com/index.jsp
Recording Rights to Etude Books
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lgb&dtuba
- 4 valves

- Posts: 886
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:55 am
Yes, that's the problem. Once you start trying to record something away from pop music getting the rights cleared is time and labor intensive. (You should try clearing the rights for old German band music!)
The HFA songsite link, the yellow button on the HFA home page, is what you'll have to work through. I am assumming that you'll be recording fewer than 2500 copies
You'll need to set up a userid on Songsite so that you can search there. You might find the etudes you are looking for there, but probably not. What you can do is provide the publisher info and other detailed info and request that they add it to their list so that you can then pay the money and get the license.
That's the time and labor intensive part I was referring to. It can (and has) taken months to get new songs listed when I did it.
It looks like my userid has lapsed there so I can't give you the detailed, page by page guide, sorry.
There is an even more difficult way to do this involving working directly with the publishers and copyright office but I've never had to go that far.
Google mechanical licensing or mechanical rights and you'll find quite a bit of info on this process.
It's a royal pain, but it's the way this game is played legally. The system wasn't set up to make it easy for independents.
Given the nature of your project you might try contacting the publisher directly, explain what you are trying to do and see if they can help. They might be able to grant you a license directly (not likely, but it could happen). Or help getting their etudes onto songfile.
Good luck. You'll find this very educational in the long run, not to mention valuable experience that most musicians don't actually have.
The HFA songsite link, the yellow button on the HFA home page, is what you'll have to work through. I am assumming that you'll be recording fewer than 2500 copies
You'll need to set up a userid on Songsite so that you can search there. You might find the etudes you are looking for there, but probably not. What you can do is provide the publisher info and other detailed info and request that they add it to their list so that you can then pay the money and get the license.
That's the time and labor intensive part I was referring to. It can (and has) taken months to get new songs listed when I did it.
It looks like my userid has lapsed there so I can't give you the detailed, page by page guide, sorry.
There is an even more difficult way to do this involving working directly with the publishers and copyright office but I've never had to go that far.
Google mechanical licensing or mechanical rights and you'll find quite a bit of info on this process.
It's a royal pain, but it's the way this game is played legally. The system wasn't set up to make it easy for independents.
Given the nature of your project you might try contacting the publisher directly, explain what you are trying to do and see if they can help. They might be able to grant you a license directly (not likely, but it could happen). Or help getting their etudes onto songfile.
Good luck. You'll find this very educational in the long run, not to mention valuable experience that most musicians don't actually have.
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David Zerkel
- pro musician

- Posts: 318
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 7:30 am
- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
This is a subject of some importance to me, so I'll chip in what I know, based on the project which I am about to undertake.
Since I am a few clicks behind where the cutting edge of performance has evolved, my goal as an educator/artist is to be as useful to the next generation of tuba players as I can be. I'm about to start a project to create a website that will house MP3 recordings of the standard etudes for tuba (Bordogni, Kopprasch, Tyrell, Blazevich, Snedecor, etc.) I will do this only as copyright law will allow.
Some of this material is in the public domain, but some is not. Since I will not be trying to make a red penny off of this project, I am hopeful that the publishers of the material that is not in public domain will grant me permission to record and post, as I will essentially promoting their materials pro bono. We'll have to see how that goes.
The goal is for this project to keep me busy (and honest about my playing) for a long time. I hope to eventually be able to host samples of all-state etudes and excerpts as well.
After two flat-selling CDs that have not paid for themselves yet, I have realized that I won't make money on these projects. Without treading dangerously into the toxic wasteland of another current thread on the board, I figure that it is more important for me to do something helpful/useful than to try to make money.
Didn't mean to hijack your thread, Bigtooter! Just wanted to let you know that you are probably okay trying to make some money on the materials that are in public domain, but you may need to tread more carefully with the stuff that is still under copyright protection!
Best,
DZ
Since I am a few clicks behind where the cutting edge of performance has evolved, my goal as an educator/artist is to be as useful to the next generation of tuba players as I can be. I'm about to start a project to create a website that will house MP3 recordings of the standard etudes for tuba (Bordogni, Kopprasch, Tyrell, Blazevich, Snedecor, etc.) I will do this only as copyright law will allow.
Some of this material is in the public domain, but some is not. Since I will not be trying to make a red penny off of this project, I am hopeful that the publishers of the material that is not in public domain will grant me permission to record and post, as I will essentially promoting their materials pro bono. We'll have to see how that goes.
The goal is for this project to keep me busy (and honest about my playing) for a long time. I hope to eventually be able to host samples of all-state etudes and excerpts as well.
After two flat-selling CDs that have not paid for themselves yet, I have realized that I won't make money on these projects. Without treading dangerously into the toxic wasteland of another current thread on the board, I figure that it is more important for me to do something helpful/useful than to try to make money.
Didn't mean to hijack your thread, Bigtooter! Just wanted to let you know that you are probably okay trying to make some money on the materials that are in public domain, but you may need to tread more carefully with the stuff that is still under copyright protection!
Best,
DZ
- Quicksilvertuba
- bugler

- Posts: 76
- Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:06 pm
- Location: Texas
I graduated HS in 2005 and our ATSSB recordings were done by Dr. Wass from Texas Tech. I believe all the instruments' etudes were done by professors from that school. I'm sure he knows a bit about this subject.TexTuba wrote:I remember in high school that our school, and I'm sure many others did as well, got recordings of the All-State etudes for us to listen to and study. The tuba recordings in particular were done by the previous professor, I believe, at Texas Tech. I am typing all of this because you might want to check with him to see how he/they went about this. I hope this helps a little.
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tmmcas1
- pro musician

- Posts: 135
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 2:23 pm
Good Evening,
Don't mean to further highjack this thread but this statement by Mr. Zerkel is a damn shame: "After two flat-selling CDs that have not paid for themselves yet, I have realized that I won't make money on these projects."
Any student, pro or lover of good music who hasn't purchased either of Dave's CD's should do so NOW. His American Music Cd is FANTASTIC.
Dave, can you please let us know how to get them? I myself haven't gotten your second release and am feeling REALLY guilty as I type this.
Tom McCaslin
Don't mean to further highjack this thread but this statement by Mr. Zerkel is a damn shame: "After two flat-selling CDs that have not paid for themselves yet, I have realized that I won't make money on these projects."
Any student, pro or lover of good music who hasn't purchased either of Dave's CD's should do so NOW. His American Music Cd is FANTASTIC.
Dave, can you please let us know how to get them? I myself haven't gotten your second release and am feeling REALLY guilty as I type this.
Tom McCaslin
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king2ba
- bugler

- Posts: 175
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 3:45 pm
Uh...Dave....you do know that doing this will require the use of a computer...right? I know you have made it past using the CD drive tray as a cup holder, but a website? Does Sarah really have the extra time to do all that work?David Zerkel wrote: I'm about to start a project to create a website that will house MP3 recordings of the standard etudes for tuba (Bordogni, Kopprasch, Tyrell, Blazevich, Snedecor, etc.)
In all seriousness, this would be a great project and one that many of us would find use for!
Mike Russo
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David Zerkel
- pro musician

- Posts: 318
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 7:30 am
- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
CD Drive? Computer?? Thanks for your vote of confidence, Mike! As for the website, I have been awarded a grant for the project, so I'll have help!I know you have made it past using the CD drive tray as a cup holder, but a website?
No need to feel guilty, Tom! I've posted the information for my CDs in the For Sale section.Dave, can you please let us know how to get them? I myself haven't gotten your second release and am feeling REALLY guilty as I type this.
Thanks!
DZ
- ken k
- 6 valves

- Posts: 2372
- Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 11:02 pm
- Location: out standing in my field....
Re: Recording Rights to Etude Books
Wouldn't the publisher of the etude book own the copyright for that book?BigTooter88 wrote:Me and a few friends are considering recording some All-State try out material with the intent of selling them to interested directors. The try out material comes from very standard etude books for the various instruments. Would anyone have some insight on how to find out about recording rights and any fees that might need to be paid in order to record and sell a CD like this?
Thanks!
The original composition or etude might be public domain. If you own an original copy of that work than you can use it as PD, but if you are using a newly published edition of it, than the publisher of that new edition owns the rights to it. And you wouod need to get the permission from thatPaublisher and/or pay the mechanical recording licence fee At least that is my understanding. I could be wrong.
ken k
B&H imperial E flat tuba
Mirafone 187 BBb
1919 Pan American BBb Helicon
1924 Buescher BBb tuba (Dr. Suessaphone)
2009 Mazda Miata
1996 Honda Pacific Coast PC800
Mirafone 187 BBb
1919 Pan American BBb Helicon
1924 Buescher BBb tuba (Dr. Suessaphone)
2009 Mazda Miata
1996 Honda Pacific Coast PC800
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TubaRay
- 6 valves

- Posts: 4109
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:24 pm
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Contact:
recording rights
Another company which did/does this in Texas is called Jordan Sound Productions(jordansoundproductions.com).Quicksilvertuba wrote:I graduated HS in 2005 and our ATSSB recordings were done by Dr. Wass from Texas Tech. I believe all the instruments' etudes were done by professors from that school. I'm sure he knows a bit about this subject.TexTuba wrote:I remember in high school that our school, and I'm sure many others did as well, got recordings of the All-State etudes for us to listen to and study. The tuba recordings in particular were done by the previous professor, I believe, at Texas Tech. I am typing all of this because you might want to check with him to see how he/they went about this. I hope this helps a little.
Ray Grim
The TubaMeisters
San Antonio, Tx.
The TubaMeisters
San Antonio, Tx.
