Navigating Digital Sheet Music on the Web: Challenges and Opportunities

Affordable digital sheet music readers, along with the recent proliferation of Web sites hosting digital sheet music, necessitate a more detailed discussion of these valuable resources with a focus on copyright and website functionality in addition to coverage and quality. The phrase digital sheet music represents music digitized from its original paper format and music that is digitally produced in an electronic format. Web sites with digital sheet music content are most commonly hosted by individuals, libraries, professional societies and organizations, or companies, although content can also be disseminated through peer-to-peer sharing networks. Understanding some of the differences between host sites will help end users 1) better navigate their online options; 2) effectively search for and evaluate available content; and 3) form realistic expectations when searching for music scores in electronic format.