Fine Line’s Success with Sibelius: A Symphony of Precision

Fine Line Music Service, a rapidly rising star in the music industry, epitomizes excellence in music preparation and production. Run by partners Gregory Jamrok, Abraham Libbos, and Josef Zimmerman, Fine Line is a full-service music production team that seamlessly translates composers' visions into successful recording sessions and live performances. In just two and a half years, Fine Line has been instrumental in bringing to life the scores of some of Hollywoods' most prestigious projects, including the Academy Award®-winning films "Oppenheimer" and "The Last Repair Shop."

The Art and Science of Music Preparation

At Fine Line, the scope of work varies widely, reflecting the diverse needs of their clients. Their tasks can range from printing PDFs of sheet music to complex audio transcriptions and preparing music for film, TV shows, and award submissions. Music preparation involves taking the raw materials from composers—whether in digital or audio form—and transforming those materials into readable, playable music for live musicians.

This intricate process requires a blend of technical skill and artistic sensitivity, ensuring that the final product meets the high standards of world-class players. Fine Line’s team, consisting of around 30 skilled professionals, brings a wealth of experience to this task, ensuring that every note is perfectly placed.

Achieving Accuracy and Speed with Sibelius

Even though Abe, Joe and Greg require their team to be fluent in various music notation programs, Sibelius, Avid’s powerful music notation software that helps in translating complex digital files into readable sheet music, is central to Fine Line’s meticulous music preparation. “We couldn't do what we do without Sibelius, honestly,” Abe emphasizes.

Sibelius allows Fine Line to maintain a high level of accuracy and speed, even under tight deadlines. This is particularly important in an industry where timelines have become increasingly compressed. As Greg notes, “Sometimes, when we get a file from a composer, we have less than a 12-hour turnaround. The timelines since the pandemic have dwindled.”

Fine Line’s philosophy is to make the music "look like music." This means that the notation must be intuitive and easy for musicians to interpret quickly. As Greg puts it, “Music doesn't look like music sounds.” Sibelius plays a critical role in this process, turning the complex "computer language" of digital files that outline the composer’s intentions into beautifully notated music.

Mastering the Music for "Oppenheimer”

One of the most notable projects that Fine Line has worked on is Christopher Nolan’s "Oppenheimer." The film's score, a critical component of its success, was a massive undertaking for the Fine Line team. According to Fine Line, everyone involved in "Oppenheimer" was operating at the top of their game.

Not only did Fine Line initially prepare the music for the film, the team, along with Ludwig and Serena Göransson, re-scored the original piece for the Oppenheimer Live in Concert performance, a concert experience where a live orchestra performs the musical score in sync with the movie. This required a piece-by-piece analysis to incorporate the required structural changes while making sure the end result remained cohesive, maintaining its emotional impact. Abe, Joe and Greg compare this process to a puzzle: “You've got it all put together and then you drop it on the floor. You’ve got all the same pieces, but they’re in a different order,” they muse, adding “Our job was to make a manual of how to put the puzzle back together.”

A particularly demanding task was the preparation for the Trinity Test scene, one of the most show-stopping and tension-filled sequences in the movie, depicting the first-ever test of a nuclear weapon. This required a unique approach where every musician had an individual part—unlike typical orchestral music where multiple players share the same part. A major logistical challenge, especially considering that musicians share stands and need to turn pages simultaneously. Fine Line's solution involved innovative use of technology and extensive pre-planning to ensure smooth transitions and seamless performance.

“This was like the rock and roll concert of orchestral movie music. When the bomb went off, you felt the bomb going off,” says Greg.

The success of Fine Line's work on "Oppenheimer" was evident not just in the flawless execution but also in the audience's reaction to the live performance. The energy and intensity of the performance, combined with the perfectly balanced pre-recorded tracks, created a powerful experience that elicited a standing ovation. Such moments underscore the impact of meticulous music prep and the critical role it plays in the overall production.

Building Relationships and Embracing Technology

Fine Line’s work is characterized by its emphasis on relationship building and detailed communication with composers. At the start of any project, Fine Line's team makes it a point to establish a personal connection with their clients. This initial step helps in understanding the specific needs and preferences of each composer, ensuring that the music prep process is tailored to their unique style.

The journey to excellence in music prep requires a deep passion for music and a keen interest in notation and transcription. As Greg explains, “Fine Line is a destination for those who are dedicated to the art of music preparation. The team is comprised of individuals with a strong background in orchestral, pop and jazz music, all of whom bring their unique skills to the table.”

The partners also note, “There’s no class that can really train you to do what we do. It's just so specific. And it's such a narrow focus on what has to happen, it's different for every client,” they advise, before adding, “A big part of our job is to make the musicians’ job easier, so they can relax and focus on the performance”.

Fine Line’s journey in the world of music prep continues, driven by a deep understanding of their craft and a relentless pursuit of quality.

About Sibelius

From concert halls to classrooms, more composers, arrangers, and educators rely on Sibelius to write, share, and publish music. Sibelius powers today’s professional music industry with sophisticated features like AI-powered accelerators, advanced options for markup and layout, Sibelius Cloud Publishing, and the ability to work across any device. With Sibelius, you can create and collaborate with musicians around the world and be confident that your work translates into something you can be proud of.