Sheet Music Mountain

Paper, paper EVERYWHERE!... To fix the problem of loose pages, oversized books, books that just won't stay open, paperbacks that keep sliding off the piano no matter what you do, and to finally be able to find what you're looking for when you need it:

1) First of all, take stock of what you have. Even if this means simply sorting you piles into books, single sheets, lyrics, instrumental, vocal, etc. Figure out what the best way of dividing your music is, based on your situation. I am a pianist, accompanist,and music teacher. For my music, I have labeled my music: 1) by composer (for my repertoire for the university), 2) as instrumental or vocal, 3) theory, 4) student books, 5) exercise/technique, 6) sight-reading, 7) sacred, 8) popular, and 9) Holidays.

2) Now that you have made a few mini mountains, you'll need something to put your collection in. I use boxes fromwww.musicity.com to store my files in. However, you could also use a plain, old file cabinet to put your music in. It seems to be a staple of Goodwill and other thrift stores to at least have one or two of these on hand. At thrift stores they normally run $19 and up.

3) If you wish to really make your collection stand out, stay neat, and convey a sense of style---Why not invest in a handsome cabinet for your collection? Files don't have to be ugly, you know. There are many styles out there, such as the one shown here:


4) One method of organizing that I've seen in many choral rooms is to use open modular storage. Literature can be accessed and labeled easily. Also, you can tell in one glance what you have on hand. Amazon sells this very durable unit in different colors. With this unit you should not have to worry about anything toppling over. It's built specifically to hold literature and meant to last for years!



5) You could also just use regular bankers boxes and then cover them with sheet music, paint designs, or decoupage them to suite your taste. Amazon.com sells a pack of 12 for as low as $23.99.



6) My answer to locating sheet music however, is to lose the traditional scene of
stop-and-go road traffic. I purchase 95% of my sheet music online. Most sites offer instant digital downloads. It's nice because you can shop 24 hours--no waiting for the store to open back up again. I've made another lense which can help you locate sheet music online. These are companies that I use myself, and I am picky. You can find my list by clicking here: Finding and Purchasing Sheet Music Online.

7) The next area you might need to look at is when you're out on a gig. Do you memorize all of your music, or do you tote books of sheets around everywhere you play? You could use page protectors and three ring binders to solve some your problem. I use the sheet protectors because I turn my own pages and it is easier to just turn an entire page with your whole hand than to try to grab an edge. It's also creates less noise. Nothing is more distracting than to hear the rattling and snatching of pages while you play. You want your audience to hear the sound of music, not the sound of a page being flung open. It just doesn't look professional.

8) How about if you had all of your sheet music on cds, anway? Think of how much less space would be taken up, not to mention how much easier you could locate your files. You could also print an extra copy if needed. Here is just one example from SheetMusicPlus. They offer cd music for piano, guitar, complete orchestral scores and individual parts, etc. in addition to digital sheet music downloads and other supplies.


Beethoven: Complete Works for Solo Piano (Version 2.0) CD Sheet Music. By Ludwig van Beethoven. (Piano). This edition: 30400001. CD Sheet Music (Version 2.0). CD-ROM only. 8 pages. Published by CD Sheet Music. (220504)
See more info...

9) The Ultimate fix? GO COMPLETELY DIGITAL!---Invest in a MusicPadPro by FreeHand Music Systems. Lose the endless hassle of dealing with piles and piles of paper. I always refer to this as my favorite, new toy because it has made my life so much easier. It's a tool that can be used by all musicians--- not just pianists. You can buy the music already digitized online, or do it yourself with just a computer and a scanner. The scanner doesn't have to be a top dollar model because you only need to set your DPI (dots-per-inch) between 75 to 95, anyway. After scanning, just save the file in a graphic format, such as a bitmap or JPEG, and then import it into FreeHand format; Likewise, you can import Finale scores or PDF scores into MusicPad Manager and save them in FreeHand format. I have used an Epson Perfection 3490 Photo with no trouble for almost two years now, and I keep it set to 150 dpi every time I prepare music. Granted, it does take a little work to prepare the music, especially if you have file cabinets full, but it is definitely worth it. For my purposes, I sit my pad right on the piano---right where my falling sheet music pages used to live. FreeHand also offers an optional stand for string players, orchestra,etc. It works like a regular notebook, and you can make score changes, in different colors if you like, right on the screen. You can organize your music by playlists and file folders, just like you're used to on your computer. The 'pages' can be turned by either using the stylus (like the one that comes with a pda), simply touching the screen (touching right or left takes you forward or backward in the music), or by using an optional pedal switch so that your hands never leave your instrument. The unit operates on both AC and DC power. If cords get on your nerves, as they do me, I would recommend buying a power pack to extend your time. By default, the unit will hold a charge for 3 hours however, you may want the reassurance that your screen won't suddenly go blank. This digital stuff is awesome however, you should always have a backup plan. Whatever I do, I take hardcopy with me in my three ring binder of whatever music I'm using that day. It doesn't look too cool to suddenly lose power in the middle of a gig, causing your playing to come to a screeching halt. No matter what you do, always, always have a backup plan.