Short answer: 1. Find the score you want. >> 2. Purchase the number you need for your choir. >> 3. Receive an e-mail with a PDF you can download and use to print. >> 4. Copy the number of scores you purchased.

Longer answer: I am one of a large and growing number of composers who sells their music online, and everyone has their own method for payments and delivery, so it's understandably a little confusing each time you go to someone's website! My method is based on trust. If you have 20 singers in your choir, I trust that you will buy 22 scores from me (assuming you would need one for yourself and a pianist/organist, if applicable) and photocopy no more than that. After you checkout, you will be directed to a page with a link for download. Also, within a few minutes you will receive an e-mail that includes a link to the score, along with an invoice and a statement that gives you a license to copy the score based on the quantity you purchased. You can use the PDF to make the number of copies you purchased.

Yes, in order to be in compliance with copyright laws, you need to purchase the number of scores you intend to photocopy. After you purchase your scores, you will receive an e-mail that includes a statement that gives you a license to copy the score based on the quantity you purchased.

A minimum score purchase requirement for digital scores is becoming standard with publishing companies. The reason, unfortunately, is that some choir directors choose to purchase one score and then illegally copy the scores they need for their choir without paying for them. Sadly, I have evidence of this happening with my music as well. A minimum purchase ensures that I get a higher base of compensation should someone be intent on purchasing fewer scores than they need.

As a conductor as well, I understand that it helps to see an entire piece before deciding whether or not it will work for a choir, so I make a full sample score available for each piece. Although I redact a few parts of the piece to prevent illegal use, I try to make sure what you see is enough to determine if a piece is suitable for your needs.

At the moment, I do not mail any scores. All scores are delivered digitally straight to your e-mail inbox. However, I have priced scores based on what I would charge to mail them out, and discounted them because I know you will incur copying charges in addition to purchasing the music.

The vendor I use for payments requests an address in order to process payment, which has made some customers think they will be receiving scores. However, all scores are delivered digitally straight to your e-mail inbox.

I'm a conductor, so I understand how this happens, especially with church choirs -- you have an extra five singers show up and you suddenly need to make some extra copies! In this case, go ahead and copy the music you need and then I'll trust that you'll purchase the extra scores that you used after the fact.

I get this question somewhat regularly, and I'm afraid the answer is no. It is a longer process than it might seem to do this (it involves a lot more work than simply clicking a few buttons in notation software). I also try to make sure the music is set in a key that not only creates the appropriate tone for the piece, but also will sit in the voice well for singing, so I'd prefer that the key not be changed for that reason as well.

No, you were not overcharged. The platform I use allows me to give multiple attempts to download in case there are technical issues on the customer's end, but it multiplies it by each score purchased. I offer 5 total attempts (because I know how computers and printers can act up!), so if you purchase 20 scores, the link allows you to download it 100 times. However, this does not mean you were charged for 100 scores!