Jeff McRitchie

Organizing Sheet Music

Musicians everywhere, from flutists to opera singers to guitar players, use sheet music. For several pieces from the same author, one can usually find a book with a selection of songs.Here are a few tips on organizing these selections into a cohesive book of your own.

Musicians everywhere, from flutists to opera singers to guitar players, use sheet music. For several pieces from the same author, one can usually find a book with a selection of songs. However, most music collections include a variety of loose leaf pieces that are easily lost. Here are a few tips on organizing these selections into a cohesive book of your own.

• First you'll need to decide how you want things organized. If you're looking to combine all of your music into a single notebook, we suggest sliding each page into a sheet protector and compiling them into a three ring binder. A three ring binder is the most versatile option and allows compositions to be added or removed as needed. For frequent use you'll want to look for either standard or heavyweight protectors. Economy ones will be cheaper but will wear out quickly with repetitive use. You'll also want nonglare so reflecting light won't occlude your vision while playing. Avery makes a wide selection of quality sheet protectors perfect for this application.

• Using alphabetic index tabs can help you further organize your music and make it easier to locate. These come both punched and unpunched, making them compatible with both three ring binders as well as a variety of binding systems. Reinforced binding edges will ensure your dividers stay in place.

• If you have several loose pieces that will be played together, consider binding them with a comb binding machine. Plastic combs used for comb binding can be customized to reflect the contents. And comb binding machines are fairly inexpensive; you can get a personal device for about $25. They are easy to use and will securely hold your pieces together.

• Another binding solution is coil binding. This will allow your finished product to lay flat when opened. The GBC ProClick can be found under $50 and punches up to six sheets at once. It is lightweight (only a few pounds) and portable, so you can use it anywhere. Simply insert the coil and use crimpers to fold it over at each end.

• If you don't want to purchase a machine, you can print or photo copy your sheet music onto pre-punched paper. Twist a coil into the holes and crimp at each end. Color coils are fun because you can find almost any hue you want. Multiple colors make it easy to color code for various music styles or authors.

• For a sturdier, more professional looking book, check out the GBC VeloBind V50. This is another machine you can find under $50 that is great for smaller projects.

• Alphabetizing is the simplest way to organize your materials. But it may make more sense to arrange in order of your playlist if you plan on performing these pieces together. If this is the case, you might consider numbering each page and creating a table of contents as well as an index. Doing so will ensure you and anyone else who uses your music book will be able to locate each piece quickly and easily.

Whichever method you choose, combining loose sheet music into a single book will help you stay organized and keep your materials close at hand.

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