Re: Sharing rhythm transcriptions.
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:59 pm
This is a very interesting thread, which make me realize how much value and importance we in this community place on the rhythms that once learned and mastered, bring us such joy. It reinforces the wonder and awe of the instrument, that it is so powerful (and this is a heart-power by my way of thinking) that it becomes a question of sensitivity and ethics as to how and to whom should this knowledge best and appropriately be passed along. Yet it must be passed along if it is to survive - none of us will live forever!
Each of us may find a slightly different answer. In my case, everything I learn from my teacher I share with my youngest son, who loves the congas as much as I do. My teacher knows this, and encourages me in this. In fact, I probably am a better student knowing that I will be almost immediately passing along exactly that which I am striving to learn.
I would not frown on anyone receiving just compensation for their labor of making a transcription - I have done extremely detailed guitar transcriptions and it is a lot of work. I have read that, at least in the US, melodies and lyrics are the subject of copywrite, but rhythms and chord progressions are not - for example, Bo Diddley can't copywrite the son clave pattern, even though he thinks he invented it. And likewise, no one can copywrite the I-IV-V 12-bar blues progression (or any other chord progression). These are shared common rudiments that "belong" to everyone, and just like without an alphabet there would not be written language, you can't copywrite a letter and charge others to use it. I am not a lawyer (so please don't take anything I say as being legal advice) but I would not think it a legal wrong to transcribe and sell rhythm patterns, from whatever source they were learned. And in my opinion, it certainly can't be wrong to pass along this wonderful cultural commons by teaching others. Yet, I also don't see where anyone should feel obligated to give away what they have worked so hard to obtain, either. I would give away anything if I knew that it would make a positive difference, but if someone had the same opportunity as I did to listen hard, take good notes, and make a transcription, but was just too lazy and wanted to benefit and take a free ride on my energy and effort, I would probably feel that they didn't want it badly enough for it to make a difference.
My $0.02 worth, YMMV!
Bob
Each of us may find a slightly different answer. In my case, everything I learn from my teacher I share with my youngest son, who loves the congas as much as I do. My teacher knows this, and encourages me in this. In fact, I probably am a better student knowing that I will be almost immediately passing along exactly that which I am striving to learn.
I would not frown on anyone receiving just compensation for their labor of making a transcription - I have done extremely detailed guitar transcriptions and it is a lot of work. I have read that, at least in the US, melodies and lyrics are the subject of copywrite, but rhythms and chord progressions are not - for example, Bo Diddley can't copywrite the son clave pattern, even though he thinks he invented it. And likewise, no one can copywrite the I-IV-V 12-bar blues progression (or any other chord progression). These are shared common rudiments that "belong" to everyone, and just like without an alphabet there would not be written language, you can't copywrite a letter and charge others to use it. I am not a lawyer (so please don't take anything I say as being legal advice) but I would not think it a legal wrong to transcribe and sell rhythm patterns, from whatever source they were learned. And in my opinion, it certainly can't be wrong to pass along this wonderful cultural commons by teaching others. Yet, I also don't see where anyone should feel obligated to give away what they have worked so hard to obtain, either. I would give away anything if I knew that it would make a positive difference, but if someone had the same opportunity as I did to listen hard, take good notes, and make a transcription, but was just too lazy and wanted to benefit and take a free ride on my energy and effort, I would probably feel that they didn't want it badly enough for it to make a difference.
My $0.02 worth, YMMV!
Bob