Writing on Sheet Music

When Is It Cheating and When Is It Just Good Note Taking?

As a music student, you’re learning multiple new skills — finger placement, performance skills, listening skills, practice and self-discipline, and reading music, to name just a few. Of these, reading music requires sight recognition of each note on the sheet music and its corresponding correct fingering on your instrument. For many students, this presents a challenge.

You may wonder if writing on your sheet music could be helpful? Or is it actually cheating?

Writing in The Note Names Is Cheating

When a student writes the name of the notes above or below the note head, we consider it cheating. Why? Because rather than developing sight reading skills and note recognition, you’re relying on the letters you’ve written and not the notes on the staff. This just makes it more difficult for you in the long run and will only extend the time it takes for you to learn how to read music. At A Kopp Music, we want you to develop music reading skills so if you’re writing in the names of notes on your sheet music, we’ll ask you to erase them.

When Is It Okay to Write on Sheet Music?

There are many times when writing on your sheet music is good note taking and an important tool for you on your musical journey. It’s smart to write on your sheet music when you encounter any of the following:

• Sharps or flats. Can’t remember that sharp or flat? Write it in.
• Signature changes. Keep missing that key signature change? Circle it.
• Notes out of tune. Does a note sound out of tune? Draw an arrow to remind you to keep the pitch where you want it.  Is an arrow not enough? Write the words, “Pitch Up/Down!” or “Don’t over/under blow!”
• High notes/low notes. Can’t remember five ledger lines above the treble clef or below the bass clef?  Write in that one note. Just that one. And only the first time you see it in a piece of music. You rarely see it and we agree, it is a dumb note that makes us both profoundly sad on the inside.
• Fingering mysteries. If you are learning a wind instrument and are playing a note that hurts your feelings because it is crazy high/low, also write in the fingering.
• Piano challenges. Make marks to help with your hand movements or finger numbers for tricky piano passages.
• Other notations. Circle Repeats, Dal Segno, Coda, 1st & 2nd endings, etc.

Whatever notes you create are ultimately meaningful to you and you alone. If you choose to write notes on your sheet music, they should help you create the music that you want to make, exactly how you want to make it.

What’s more, they can assist you in remembering instructions given to you by your band or orchestra director or your private music instructor. Or perhaps you’re interested in playing your piece the way the original composer intended it to be played? What matters the most is that you’re creating meaningful marks that bring your music to life.

Whose Music Is It Anyway?

When making notes and writing on sheet music, it’s important to remember who owns the music and where it will go after you’re done playing it. Does it belong to your school? You will likely have to return it in good condition after you’re done playing it. Copyright laws prohibit the reproduction of music on a copier. As most high school level music does need to be turned in at the end of the semester/school year, it’s important to make sure it’s free of any marks. If you do decide to make notes, be sure to always write lightly in pencil so that they can be erased before turning them in.

Is the sheet music leased like the pit orchestra music for a musical? Again, you’ll want to return it in good shape once you’re done with it.

Is it a private lesson book that belongs to you? If so, feel free to make as many notations as are helpful to you.

The Best Tools to Make Music Notes

Wanna really up your note taking game on your own personal music? Dig out the crayons!  Crayons? Oh yes, crayons!

Items on your sheet music that are excellent to highlight include:

• Dynamic markings
• Directional notes (Dal Segno, Dal Segno al Coda, Vamps, etc.)
• Tempo or mood markings
• Key signature changes
• Time signature changes
• Clef changes

Before You Begin Writing on Sheet Music

A few tips before you start doodling:

• If the music doesn’t belong to you, always use a pencil.
• Write LIGHTLY.
• Have a good eraser on hand.
• Confirm who owns that music and if it needs to be returned with any marks erased. 
• Crayons are excellent highlighters on personal music.
• Do NOT write the names of the notes above or below your notes. That is cheating. 
• What’s not cheating is writing in the name of a note you rarely see, but only do it once.

Contact us at A Kopp Music to learn more about note taking, reading sheet music, or to schedule your student’s music lessons.