← Reading & Marking Up Music · Marking up music · about 10 min
Why and what to mark
Pencil on paper makes you a better player. Here's what to write down.
Why mark your music?
Annotating means writing helpful reminders on your sheet music. Professional musicians do it all the time.
A mark is a message from your past self. It says: “Careful here.” Or “Breathe here.” Or “This is the F♯.”
What to mark
Circle hard spots
Circle any measure that trips you up. Those are the measures to practice most.
Mark accidentals
Put a small highlight or circle on every sharp or flat that is not in the key signature.
Write fingerings
For tricky passages, write the finger numbers or chord names above the notes.
Breath marks
Wind players: draw a small tick where you will breathe. Plan your breaths before you need them.
Count tricky rhythms
Write the beat numbers under complicated rhythms: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &.
Dynamics and reminders
Circle the loud and soft markings so you don't miss them.