What should your sheet look like? [The Formatting Guidelines]

[Gu4n]

A fancy font here, another neat font there et voila: the most beautiful sheet you've ever made. Unfortunately, that's not the way we work at NinSheetMusic. I often encounter sheets which lack a (proper) title, game-, composer- and arranger-name, copyright or key signatures. I prevent this in the future, I'd like to reintroduce the standard format NSM "gurus" are using ever since it was introduced before the site crashed. Take a look at this picture, and the explanation below.

If there are clear improvements that can be done to an arrangement it will not be accepted.

Here is a basic template for a sheet on NSM: [NSM Template File] (Finale Notepad users can find additional template files [here]. (Thank you, TheMarioPianist!))

The Formatting Guidelines:



(1) Song Title: Times New Roman, Size 24, Bold, Centre Aligned

• Just the name of the song in quotation marks, nothing more to it. This goes at the top of the first page.

(2) Game Name: Times New Roman, Size 12, italic, Centre Aligned

• This goes just under the song title. Write the full game name, not any abbreviated versions.

(3) Composer: Times New Roman, Size 12, Bold, Right Aligned

• Put this at the top of the sheet like in the picture. Separate multiple composers with commas, with an "&" sign preceeding the last one.
• You can either write "Composition by ..." as in the picture or "Composed by ..." That's it. No colons, semicolons, hyphens or anything fancy.

(4) Arranger: Times New Roman, Size 12, Italic, Right Aligned

• Put this just below the composer. Write it exactly as you'd like your name to appear on the site. It doesn't have to be your forum username.
• You can either write "Arrangement by ..." as in the picture or "Arranged by ..." That's it. No colons, semicolons, hyphens or anything special. If you used "Composed by," then use "Arranged by" and vice-versa.

(5) Metronome Marking:

• You have to include one of these with your sheet. It must include "note value = number" like in the picture.
• You can also add a musical direction (eg Presto) if you wish but don't substitute a Metronome Marking for a musical direction.

(6) Key Signature:

• Use a key signature to indicate the key of the song, or at least the key that it tends to hang around most often
• If a song doesn't have a definite key, do not use different key signatures every few measures to simply eliminate accidentals.
• If you need help with a key signature, just ask, there'll always be someone willing to help you.

(7) 8va/8vb/15ma/15mb:

• Use these if the notes tend to go very high or very low and the number of ledger lines impacts on readability.
• 8va & 15ma are used to indicate that notes should be played either 1 or 2 octaves higher.
• 8vb & 15mb are used to indicate that notes should be played either 1 or 2 octaves lower.

(8) Clef Changes:

• In some instances (eg the left hand going very high or the right hand going very low) a clef change is needed. Insert these as necessary.
• If you want a clef change but your version of Finale can't do it, ask around the Submissions Forum.

(9) Copyright: Times New Roman, Size 10, Centre Aligned

• This goes at the bottom of the first page. It's easiest to enter during document setup when you first make the file.
• Use the format used in the picture - <Publisher> © <Year Published> (Including the spaces, without the <>, just like the example.)
• The Alt code for "©" is Alt 0169. You can also highlight this one and Ctrl C/V it into the file.

(10) URL: Times New Roman, Size 10, Centre Aligned

• Include NSM's NEW URL: https://www.NinSheetMusic.org/ (complete with https and trailing slash; the picture above will be updated in the future). This goes just under the Copyright.

I hope everyone follows this standard-form from now on. It's really not that difficult and you'll be helping to raise the quality of the sheets on the site.

Other Formatting Guidelines:

Second+ Pages

If your arrangement exceeds one page, it is required that the following pages have a mini title and page numbers. These should occur naturally in finale, but if for some reason there is an issue with them, they should be as follows:

• Second+ page(s), mini-titles should be Times New Roman, Size 12, Centre Aligned. At the top of each additional page.
• Page numbers should be Times New Roman, Size 14, and should be aligned in the pattern, Even Numbers Left Aligned, Odd Numbers Right Aligned. At the top of the page.

Measure Numbers

• Measure numbers are required and should appear at the start of each system. They should occur naturally, but if it is an issue you can reset them by going to the Document tab at the top, then select "edit measure number regions". When the pop up appears, hit "delete" then "add".

Duets:

• For Duets written for 2 people on 1 piano ("four hands"), the top piano part should have the high notes played by the person on the high end of the piano while the bottom piano part should have the notes played by the person on the lower end of the piano. These types of duets need to be formatted in the following way:

First System: Following Systems:

[Here is a template file for this type of arrangement, complete with the correct formatting]

• For Duets written for 2 Pianos, try to give both parts the melody at some point and aim to have them roughly equal in difficulty if possible (I'm aware that this is not always possible). These types of duets need to be formatted in the following way:

First System: Following Systems:

[Here is a template file for this type of arrangement, complete with the correct formatting]


Medleys and Collections

• For arrangements that contain a collection of fanfares, jingles, and other miscellaneous sounds used in-game, we ask that you format your arrangement in the following manner:
  
  • Each individual jingle must have its own time signature, key signature (if applicable), tempo marking, and dynamic indication preceding the track. It must also have a solid final bar line at its ending, and must not be connected to the following measure. Measure numbers should reset as a new song begins.
  • For collections containing more than three songs, make the arrangement title generic (such as "Fanfares Collection") and specify the individual song titles just above the Right Hand of their first measure. Here in an example of this style of formatting.
  • For collections containing three or fewer songs, you may either format the arrangement the way previously mentioned OR create an additional header for each song. These added headers must include the song title and game title with the standard formatting procedures. Only include additional composer/arranger information if it differs between songs. If it is too long to include all of the song titles (each separated with a "/"), a generic compilation title may be used for on-site purposes only. Here in an example of this style of formatting.
• For medleys that include multiple variations of a single song from a game, make sure you include the name of each new variation in the medley just above the Right Hand as it appears. Indenting the system that starts the new variation is optional. Here in an example of this style of formatting.
• For medleys that are prearranged into a single song in-game (such as credits themes) it will not be mandatory that you list out all of the track names as they occur. However, if you as the arranger would like to do so, you are free to.

Pedal Markings:

• Either write out complete pedal markings for a particular section including the release pedal symbol as needed
• -OR- write "con pedale" at the start of the section and then "senza pedale" at the end of the section.
• Both of these options go under the left hand.

Dynamics

• These are now required on all sheets.
• Sheets should have, as a minimum, at least an opening dynamic marking. Obviously more would be preferable.
• Dynamic markings should be placed once between the two staves. If the dynamics are different per hand, write each one outside their staff (RH above the staff, LH below).

Articulations and Slur/Phrase Markings

• These aren't a requirement but obviously we'd prefer it if your sheet had some of these.

Finale Defaults
Sometimes finale automatically puts these things in your blank file. Some of them are unnecessary and need to be removed.

• Delete the text box in the top-left corner that says "score" if it happens to exist.
• Remove the abbreviation "Pno." to the left of each system. To remove it, go to the file info/score manager and where it says "abbreviated name", click it and backspace what's there.

However, some defaults are a good thing. Several things that SHOULD be present are listed below.

• The first system of the music should have the instrument's name ("Piano") to the left of it, between the two staves, in the center of the bracket. People want to know what instrument you are writing for.
• The first system should be indented to accommodate the "Piano" mentioned above.