About

Welcome to Michael Pilley Music, your dedicated source for professional music transcription and arranging services. Based in the South East UK, Australian musician Michael Pilley (BMus, University of Melbourne) works with clients internationally, bringing a unique combination of practical performance experience, compositional insight, and meticulous attention to detail to every project.

Precision Transcription & Creative Arrangement
This site focuses exclusively on Michael’s work in creating accurate, clear, and playable sheet music. As a skilled transcriber with publishing industry experience, Michael specialises in:
Note-for-Note Transcription: Capturing performances from audio with exceptional accuracy, ensuring every detail is faithfully represented on the page.
Bespoke Arrangements: Crafting clever and effective arrangements, primarily within popular music genres, tailored specifically for brass ensembles, wind bands, and jazz ensembles.
Michael’s strength lies in combining pinpoint accuracy with intelligent arranging techniques. His detailed knowledge of appropriate notations for various ensembles ensures the final scores are not only precise but also well-presented, intuitive, and easy for musicians to read and perform.

Informed by Performance & Composition
While Michael maintains a separate website for his performance activities, his extensive background as a versatile trombonist deeply informs his arranging and transcription work. Experience across all genres, strong sight-reading, an innate rhythmic feel, and a keen ear for blend and balance contribute to the practicality and musicality of his scores.
Furthermore, Michael is an award-winning composer (Winner, 2014 Cardiff UniBrass Composition Competition), particularly for brass ensembles. This compositional expertise, including a sophisticated understanding of harmony (often utilising jazz-influenced extended harmonies) and instrumental voicing, allows him to craft arrangements that are both technically sound and musically engaging. His published works with organisations like Nice Chart, Salvation Army Australia, and New Trombone Collective attest to the quality and usability of his writing.

Your Partner for Quality Sheet Music
Whether you need a complex solo transcribed, a pop song arranged for your brass band, a jazz standard adapted for a wind ensemble, or any other custom sheet music requirement, Michael Pilley Music delivers reliable, high-quality results designed to meet your specific needs.
Get in touch today to discuss your transcription or arranging project.