Items on a Page

Note: Information on this page was obtained from Ted Ross’ book, Teach Yourself the Art of Music Engraving, Gardner Read’s book Music Notation, A Manual of Modern Practice, and tips from Kallisti Music Press.

Element Placement Font/Type style
Title Centered between the edges of the printing area. Title page: Times 42
Caption title: Times 24 or TimesBold 24
Subtitle Centered below the title, and put in parentheses. Times 32/18 respectively. Or use a fancy display font, especially for new music.
Composer (and/or Arranger) Name Equal distance from the bottom of the title and the top of the first staff, flush with the right side of the printing area. Sometimes different typefaces are used for the composer and arranger names to distinguish them from each other. May appear in one of several forms. (examples)
Lyricist Name (in sheet music) Left of the page, flush wih the margin of the printing area. Sometimes set in italic type, while the composer’s name is in roman type.
Staff Names – MetTimes 12
Tempo Marking Slightly above the top staff. The left side of the first letter is flush with the left side of the time signature. Main tempo heading– TimesBold 14. Tempo modifications (such as pi`u mosso): TimesItalic 14
Procedural Markings (divisi, etc. – Times 12
Expression Markings/Articulations As close to the notes as possible. Keyboard music: in between staves. Vocal and instrumental music: attached to individual staves. TimesItalic 12
Instrument Name Centered between the bottom of the title and the top of the tempo marking. Flush with the left margin of the printing area, never aligned with the indented first staff. Different type than the tempo marking.
Rehearsal Signs Above and slightly after the barlines they apply to. Should be closer to the staff below than the staff above, and should not interfere with notes, ties or slurs.. –
Measure Numbers – Helvetica 10
Page Numbers – –
Segno Slightly before the first beat in the measure, or slightly after the barline. Different type than the tempo marking.
To Coda Same placement as a rehearsal sign, but goes before the barline. Often the words To Coda are left out, since they are not necessary with the sign.
Coda There is no standard placement of the coda sign. Place it somewhere where it doesn’t collide with the music and can be seen easily. –
Copyright Notice Centered at the bottom of the page. . Helvetica 9