Score and parts: what comes in a set, and what to check before you order

When a band buys a new piece, the parcel usually holds two things: the score and the parts. If you are new to buying music for a group, here is what each one is for, and what to check before you spend the band's money.

The score

The score is the conductor's copy. It shows every instrument at once, lined up bar by bar, so you can see who is playing what at any moment. You use it to plan rehearsals, to spot problems before the band finds them, and to know where the tune is when it moves around the band.

Some scores are written at concert pitch, where every instrument is shown at the note that actually sounds. Others are transposed, showing each part as the player reads it. Both are normal. It is worth knowing which you have before the first rehearsal.

The parts

A part is what one player, or one desk, reads from. It has only their line, with enough cues to help them come in at the right moment. A wind band set has parts for each instrument, often split into firsts, seconds and thirds for the bigger sections.

What to check before you order

• The instrumentation. Does the list of parts match your band? Look for parts you have no players for, and for players you have who have no part.
• How many copies. A set usually has one copy of each part. If three of your clarinets share the second part, you may need extra copies.
• Transposition. If your band has tenor horns rather than French horns, is there a part in E flat? Is the bass part in the clef your players read?
• Cues. Good cues let a missing player be covered by someone else. They are often the sign of an arranger who plays in a band.

Score only, or the full set?

If you are not sure a piece suits your band, buy the score first. Read it through, play the tricky bits on the piano, and then decide. For the pieces in my shop you can choose the score on its own or the full set.

Looking after the set

Parts go missing. It happens in every band. Give each piece a folder, number the parts, and ask players to hand them back at the end of the season. A pencil in every folder saves a lot of ink on the music.

If you have a question about what is in one of my sets, ask me before you order. Tell me your line-up and I will tell you how it fits.