How to Make a Photocopy Music "book" Without a Binder

Sometimes when playing from a photocopied score, a 3-ring binder is not an option.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• photocopied score, single-sided copies only
• non-reflective ("magic" type) tape
• optional: typing paper

1. Arrange your sheets of music in the order you will play them, front to back. There are only 2 choices: the first sheet of music will either be a left-hand sheet or a right-hand sheet. Since this particular method of assembling a score is not well suited to pieces involving quick and potentially violent page turns, inserting blank sheets in the score to facilitate page turns would not be productive.

2. This step is optional.
   If the first page of music is a left-hand sheet (a sheet which is on the left side when you have the "book" open), add a blank sheet of paper before it. If the last page of music is a right-hand sheet, add a blank sheet of paper behind it.

3. 
    
   You have applied your first pieces of tape and have turned the 2-sided page over.

   If the first sheet of music is a left-hand sheet to which no blank sheet has been added, as per Step 2, then skip to the next step.
   If not, then you are now ready to tape two pieces of music (or one piece of music and a blank sheet) together.
   Put the two pieces back-to-back on a work surface, in front of you. You will either be looking at a sheet of music with another sheet behind it (like both sides of the same page), or else you will be looking at a blank sheet of paper with a sheet of music behind it (two sides of the same page, but one is blank).
   Start on the outer side - the side you hold when you turn pages. Tape together both corners, with one piece of tape on each corner, then use a third piece of tape to join the two sheets in the middle of the edge, midway between the two corners you have already taped. Put the music on your work surface so that the last sheet you are dealing with is face up. At this point, the taped side of the music is to the left.

4. 
    
   You have added the 2 tape strips to the right-hand edge.

   Put 2 strips of tape between the right-hand edge of the two sheets. One should be halfway between the top right corner and the middle of the right edge. The other should be halfway between the bottom right corner and the middle of the right edge. The sticky side of the tape should be facing up.

5. 
    
   The first 2-sided page is done and you are ready to link it to the next.

   At this point (unless your first sheet is a left-hand sheet with no extra sheet of paper before it) you are ready to finish taping together your first front/back page of music.
   Tape the right edge at both corners and in the middle, just like you have already taped the left edge. If this is your first sheet, and it is a left-hand sheet with no backing, you will skip this step.

6. 
    
   Your next step will involve the outer two strips of tape here shown.

   Pick up your next sheet of music and lay it face down on the 'preceding' sheet of music. Put one strip of tape under the middle of the right edge, sticky side up. The two strips referenced above in Step 4 should be protruding from the previous 2-sheet "page" of music.

7. 
    
   You have now attached your next sheet.

   Take those two strips of tape and fold them over the new sheet of music.

8. 
    
   You have taken the first step to attach to your next sheet.

   Take your next sheet of music and put it face down on the sheet you have just added. If you started the "book" with a single-sheet "page," then you are about to start taping together your first 2-sheet page.
   There should be one piece of tape protruding from the right edge of the book. Fold it over the sheet you just added.

9. Insert two pieces of tape under the right edge of the sheet you just added, as per Step 4.

10. 
     
    This book is finished. It ends with a single sheet (page 5).

    Add your next sheet of music. At this point, you are merely scrolling through the steps given above, starting with Step 3. Continue until all sheets have been added to the book.

Tips & Warnings

• This method of making a music "book" can also be used for making other kinds of "books."
• It is possible to re-order some of the steps. The steps are given in the order specified in order to avoid the potentially awkward situation of having to insert strips of tape between sheets that have already been substantially taped together.
• Be aware of copyright laws.
• Copyright laws, as they pertain to music performance, come down to three words: ease of performance. If it is easier to performing from a photocopy than it is from a "real" copy, you are not subject to prosecution for doing so. Depending on the venue, it may be appropriate (or even required) to have a "real" copy of the music on the piano or music stand while you perform from the copy.
• Do use normal, clear, non-reflective tape. Blue tape is used in the step-by-step photos for illustration only.