Transcription is the rewriting of music for another instrument or other instruments than which it was originally intended. For example, many works originally written for an orchestra, such as a symphony or concerto, have been transcribed for the piano, and, likewise, many pieces written for the piano have been transcribed for the orchestra. Although sometimes used as a synonym for arrangement, arrangements differ in that they change significant aspects of the original whereas transcriptions adhere to the original to the extent possible.
Transcription can also mean creating sheet music for a piece which was previously not notated, such as is frequently the case for folk music and popular music.