If you are a musician, you’ll know that one of the biggest drags is keeping track of all that sheet music. It might be separated, ripped, spilled on and torn. How do you keep sheet music in one piece so it last for years and years?
The one problem with sheet music is that it can come in different sizes. There doesn’t seem to be a standard size amongst printers for music. The longer and more complicated the song, the larger the sheet of paper to fit more on. However, that’s not always the case. Sometimes there will just be several sheets of music to hold and leaf through while playing.
To keep your sheet music safe, you can do several things.
1. Purchase a hard-sided folder. This folder has sleeves where your music can slide in for transportation. An even better option would be if this folder could be zipped or sealed shut. That way, it wouldn’t matter if you picked it up upside down while you were running to a car. The music won’t fall out in a puddle on the sidewalk.
A soft-sided folder can still tear and tear the music inside. It can also get wet, which ruins sheet music as fast as anything else does. Plastic or other hard materials protect it from the elements the best.
2. Roll your music. Don’t fold it more than what it is already folded. Creases may make the music hard to read when it is opened correctly, either by casting a shadow or not laying flat. A rolled sheet will never have creases.
3. Use tubes. If you roll your music, a folder won’t work but a tube will. Get a hard tube case and store your rolled music inside. Keep it inside with a seal or snapped on lid.
4. Don’t counter fold the sheet music. The music is meant to be folded one way, so don’t open it and fold it backwards. Repeated folding backwards will make the crease flimsy and possibly tear along the seam.
Sheet music can be expensive, so you want to take care of your copies. With a few simple tips, your sheet music can last for years to come.
