Score formatting is just as important as the actual score. How it is formatted and how professional a score looks can determine whether or not a piece can be played. It is in your best interest and especially RMCC's interest to have a pristine product in the end. Here are some useful things to keep in mind when formatting scores. I am going to focus on the large band scores for this overview.
General Notation Tips and Musescore Layout Settings:
Instrument layout somewhat differs composer to composer, but the standard layout that I suggest going with is as follows (band score):
* = Varies depending on the composer
Flutes (Fl or Fls)
Oboes (Ob or Obs)
Bassoons (Bsn or Bsns)
Clarinets (Cl or Cls)
Saxophones (AS, or TS, or BS)
Cornets (Cor)
Trumpets (Tpt or Tpts)
Horns (Hn or Hns) – Sometimes have to replace it with Flugel
Trombones (Trb or Trbs)
Euphoniums (Euph)
Tubas (Tubas)
Timpani (Timp)
*Mallet Percussion (Highest to Lowest Register)
*Other Pitched Percussion
*Bass Drum
*Snare Drum
One other thing I would like to mention is that you should create your own templates and use them! I can not stress this enough! Use brackets to group certain instruments together, too. All of this saves you time. If needed, you can also switch out instruments. All of that was covered in my Musescore Basics video that is on the Music Basics and Music Theory page. In the video, go to the 21:26 mark for the whole explanation on creating templates.
How to Get/View Inspector (show steps to get there on the computer but use audio from the same video)
a. Go to View
b. Check mark Inspector
c. Inspector should show up on your interface and you can go from there
Consistency when fixing collisions means that if you move a piano marking down by 2.5mm you do the same with crescendo marking and the forte.
This is a bit nit picky, but make sure that the note values are understandable and consolidated correctlyI highly recommend using the “Regroup Rhythms” function that was implemented in Musescore 2.1.
How to Use or Get Regroup Rhythms
a. Select the section or phrase you wish to condense into a readable format by clicking and holding down shift
b. Go to Layout
c. At the very bottom of Layout, there should be the Regroup Rhythms option. Click on it and everything should become much clearer. You can also check out the "Regrouping Rhythms" section in the Musescore Tutorial on the Music Basics and Music Theory page.
**Warning** - This is NOT a “one-click and done” solution to the notation errors. Make sure to have the Score Leader check it over and reference other professional scores. Additionally, you can have the band directors look at the score for any errors found.
Make sure the stems of the notes are facing the correct direction. Sometimes when copying and pasting, the stems of the notes become wonky and incorrect in Musescore, so check with either the Score Leader or someone that plays the part you may be working on to make sure the stems are facing the correct way.
a. First, the score should have a cover page, with the copyright, title on top (centered) and RMCC in either the right hand corner or left hand corner of the page. The title page is only one sided and nothing should be printed on the back.
b. The score should always be printed in a portrait fashion, not landscape.
c. Page numbers should be present in the right hand corner of every page starting with the title page. The first page of actual music is usually an odd numbered page.
d. Leave at least "½“ of white space (if possible) and make sure the score is legible. If possible, try to print the score on a little bit bigger size of paper, such as A4.
e. From the title page, there should be the following:
1. A Context Page (should be on the right after flipping over the title page)
a. Has the title page written and who contributed to the piece with time frame written. Movement sections (if there are any) and their titles are written afterwards
b. Copyright centered in the middle (legit copyright is needed)
2. A Description Page
a. Gives a summary as to what the piece is about
b. Score Leader note, thank you’s, and signature by the Score Leader
Measure Numbering
Measure Numbering should often be given in clear intervals of either every five measures or wherever there is a significant part in the music that needs to be highlighted.
How to Increase the Measure Numbering Interval in Musescore
a. Go to Style > General
b. Click on Header, Footer, and Numbers
c. Look down below and you will see Measures
d. Click on interval and adjust the numbering interval to how you see fit
Out of all of these tips, the one thing I can say is to keep things organized and neat. Double check the score and triple check the score. Have other people look at the “almost final” score like your band directors look at it. Keep things looking professional so that you don’t have to go back and change a bunch of errors later. Here are a couple of other resources to use when looking at score formatting. Please look at those. You can also look at the Musescore Tutorial on the Music Basics and Music Theory webpage for more helpful tips.