By Brian Parker

In stark contrast to major record labels and publishers, the sheet music industry has for the last decade embraced the quick shift to digital media without confronting the issue of piracy. Due in part to the prevalence of the copy machine far before the internet’s rise to ubiquity, and possibly because of the niche supply and demand for scores, the sheet music industry has survived despite a declining market.

Taking cues from this format shift, Sheet Music Direct has launched a new iPad app that brings sheet music to your mobile tablet device with a a cloud-synced library. Sheet Music Direct is a joint venture between the UK-based Music Sales corporation and the US-based music publishing company Hal Leonard, two of the largest sheet music publishers in the world. Their joining forces means the Sheet Music Direct iPad app will feature their extensive catalogs of sheet music and scores, condensed in a well-designed interface.

Sheet Music Direct’s cloud-synced library allows the user to browse through their purchased scores, as well as create set lists for performances that feature several pieces. The score browser can be segmented by new and popular releases, instruments, and genre, and a tag feature supports a wish list function, so tagged scores can be purchased later.

The performance mode, which is surprisingly intuitive, supports tempo changes and transpositions for any score, making arrangements adaptable to each musician.

Sheet Music Direct for iPad represents a positive shift that supports musical literacy in an industry often flanked by uninventive and unmusical production and composition in the mainstream. The functionality of carrying several scores within a single device, without risking the loss of valuable music is efficient and economical. Hopefully the app will grow to offer note margins and uploads of personal compositions for serious students and composers.

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