- Copy the score and place the pages back-to-back with tape. No plastic page protectors at any time, please.
- Sight-read the piece the best you can.
- All fingering written in as neatly as possible. We cannot start on the piece until every note has a finger number over it. Always play with this perfect fingering.
- All foreign words translated (use Google translate).
- Sections put in every 2, 4 or 8 measures (your choice).
- Counting put in if needed.
- Measure numbers put in.
- Harmonies in every measure analyzed. Label large sections A, B, C, etc. If the piece is in sonata-allegro form, mark the exposition, development and recapitulation.
- Learn about the composer, the piece, where it is placed in their life, etc. Learn about the style period and what has been written about the interpretation. CD covers are a great resource for this.
- Key of piece written in front of the grand staff.
- Listen to the piece (several recordings) and write in final tempos for sections with nuances (including pedaling, articulation, dynamic changes) you like.
Madeline McEwan won the "preparing score" contest at master class in January 2012. See how neat everything looks? I would even encourage her to add numbers 5, 6, and 7. Thank you for your hard work!
