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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Ordering/Payment

  • Do you offer Gift Certificates?

    Yes we do! To buy a gift certificate for yourself or someone else go to this page and choose "Gift Certificate" as the option type. Type in the desired amount, a small explanatory note and then go through our normal checkout process.

    Gift certificates will be emailed to the purchaser as a coupon code within 1 business day from when payment is received. The purchaser can use the gift certificate him/herself, or can give it to someone else.

    We do not offer physical gift certificates.

     

  • How do I place an order?

    WEB - Our shopping cart and online checkout process work just like those from any other major retailer on the Internet. For Ship to Me products, you can choose from a variety of shipping options and speeds. PDF scores have no shipping charge. To see a live demo, watch this video.

     

    QUESTIONS - Most questions can be answered by reading the FAQs below. If that doesn't help, email us, send us a note via our contact form or give us a call.

  • Why am I getting the following error message at checkout "5005 The value for the # field is too long " ?

    This means you are trying to enter a ZIP+4 type of zip code for a US address. Please enter only the first 5 digits of the zip code.

  • Why am I getting an "AVS Error" when I try to check out?

    An AVS error usually means a problem with the billing address you typed into our website doesn't match the address your credit card company has on file. Please retype the address or try another credit card.

  • What forms of payments do you accept?

    ○ The major credit/debit cards - VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.

    ○ PayPal

    ○ Personal check, but we wait for those to clear before we ship or allow download of any music. Playing this way is the slowest way to get music.

    ○ Purchase Orders are only available to universities, governmental agencies, public schools and large companies that are unable to pay via credit card or PayPal due to internal policies. Please contact us if you wish your account to be PO enabled, as PO does not appear by default as an available payment method. Schools in New Jersey and Indiana are required by their states to file a hard copy of all POs with the provider of goods and services, and should mail or email us copies of all POs and vouchers.

    ○ Bank to bank transfers. We accept bank transfers, with the money transiting through PayPal. Click here to see how. Our PayPal account is info@artofsoundmusic.com

  • If I pay by check, Purchase Order or eCheck can I download PDFs immediately after checkout?

    We wait for these payments to "clear" before making the music available for download. If you need music faster, contact us to cancel the order and then you can reorder and pay by Credit Card or PayPal for immediate download.

  • What is the advantage of ordering PDFs vs. "Ship to me"?

    ○ Can receive music within a few minutes

    ○ No shipping cost

    ○ Ability to easily print extra parts for rehearsal purposes or reprint lost parts

  • What is the advantage of ordering "Ship to me" vs. PDF?

    ○ Music is professionally printed and bound

    ○ It"s easier " just open your mailbox when the music comes

    ○ Best for large works and those with many parts

  • What is the difference between the sorted by part and sorted by work versions of the Gig Ready Libraries?

    First, let's start with the similarities. They both come as one single file. As the name implies, the sorting of pages within the single PDF files are done wither by the title of the arrangement the instrument (for the sorted by work version) or by instrument then arrangement title (for the sorted by part version).

  • When I buy a PDF or hard copy, do I get the score and the parts or just the score?

    Unless noted otherwise, you get the score and the parts.

  • I am having trouble creating an account..

    if you are using Internet Explorer, try the Firefox or Google Chrome browser.

  • Download/Save PDFs

  • Do you email PDFs to me?

    No, you must download the PDFs from our website. PDFs purchased by credit card or PayPal can be downloaded immediately after checkout. Instructions on how to do so are listed below.

    To see a live demo, watch this video.

  • I've ordered some PDFs and order is marked as "Awaiting Payment" status. Can I download the PDFs now?

    No. You have chosen to pay by check, eCheck or PO. Once actual payment is received, the status will be changed to "Ready for download or shipment" status, and you will be able to get your music. Download it from a PC or Mac, not from a phone or tablet.

  • I've paid and my order is marked as "Ready for download or shipment" status. Can I download the PDFs now?

    If your order contains 1 or more PDFs, then yes.

     

    ○ Ensure you are logged into our site from a PC or Mac (NOT a phone or tablet)

    ○ Go to the "My Account" section

    ○ Click on the "view" button next to your recent order

    ○ Scroll down

    ○ Click on the red download button next to every item you have purchased to download the ZIP file containing the music.

  • How do I download the PDF files directly after payment is made or sometime later?

    ○ Ensure you are logged into our site

    ○ Go to the "My Account" section

    ○ Click on the "view" button next to your recent order

    ○ Scroll down

    ○ Click on the red download button next to every item you have purchased to download the ZIP file containing the music.

     

    The red download button will disappear and download links expire after 5 downloads or 7 days from the time of order, whichever comes first. If you need to download the music after this happens, email us or use our contact form to let us know.

    To see a live demo, watch this video.

  • Where are downloaded files stored on my computer?

    A number of factors can affect where downloaded files are stored, including the operating system, browser and specific configurations of each. If you are unsure where your downloaded file was saved, the first place to check would be your computer's "Downloads" folder.

     

    If you are using Windows, the Downloads folder is located under your user name in the Users folder on the drive where Windows is installed (i.e. C:usersyour namedownloads).

     

    If you are using a Macintosh, the Downloads folder is located in your home folder, which is denoted by your user name (i.e. your name/Downloads).

     

    Some Web browsers give you the option of specifying a different folder to save downloads to. To check if you have specified a folder other than the default Downloads folder, open your Web browser and check your configuration by selecting Tools then Options (or Internet Options).

  • Open/Print PDFs

  • What is a ZIP file?

    A ZIP file is an archive file that contains one or more files inside it. The ZIP files we provide typically contain a locked PDF of music and a file containing the password to unlock that PDF. Putting the music in ZIP files has a few benefits vs. not such as : file compression reduces the download file size and time, can get a multitude of files by downloading just one and easier storage/organization.

  • How do I open and print music from the ZIP file I downloaded?

    COMPUTER INSTRUCTIONS - Double-clicking the ZIP file will open it on Windows and Macintosh computers, and expose the files inside, which for us are typically a locked PDF and password file. Double click the file called "Password" and copy the password. Open the PDF and paste in the password when asked. From this point, you can view and print your music.

    To see a live demo, watch this video.

     

    IPHONE/IPAD (IOS DEVICE) INSTRUCTIONS

    ○ Ensure an App that can open Zip files has been installed on your device from the Apple App Store, such as WinZip.

    ○ Go to My Account on artofsoundmusic.com, click the order and then product name to download.

    ○ The file will be downloaded to your device and you will be asked which App should be used to open it. Choose WinZip.

    ○ In the Zip App, touch the password.txt file to open it. Copy the password shown.

    ○ In the zip App, touch the PDF file name to open it. Paste in the password and you will see the music.

     

    ANDROID DEVICE INSTRUCTIONS

    ○ Ensure an App that can open Zip files has been installed on your device from the Google Play Store, such as WinZip.

    ○ Ensure an App that can open PDF files has been installed on your device from the Google Play Store, such as Adobe Acrobat or MobileSheets.

    ○ Go to My Account on artofsoundmusic.com, click the order and then product name to download.

    ○ The file will be downloaded to your device.

    ○ Open the Zip App and navigate to the SD card's "Download" folder.

    ○ In the Zip App, touch the password.txt file to open it. Copy the password shown.

    ○ In the Zip App, touch the PDF file name (e.g. 617.pdf). You will get a choice of PDF reader Apps to open it in, pick one.

    ○ When prompted by the PDF reader, paste in the password and you will see the music.


     
  • When I try to open the zip file I downloaded, a get a dialog box saying something like "your trial of WinZip has expired. You need to pay $29.95 to continue". What do I do?

    You have some TrialWare installed on your computer, likely put there by the manufacturer. This TrialWare is not needed to open zip files as Mac and Windows have free, built-in zip file opening capability. To use the built-in zip utilities of your computer, you need to uninstall the TrialWare. The general process to follow can be seen here.

  • I have Windows and when I try to open the PDF file, Microsoft Word is trying to convert it. What do I do?

    Word is behaving badly and has hijacked the PDF file associations. To correct this, do the following:


    Option 1
    • * Copy the PDF to your desktop
    • * Right-click on the PDF icon
    • * On the menu that appears click "Opens With" and then click "Choose Default Program"
    • * Select one of these if you see it: Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader. If neither is a choice, click "More Options", and look for a folder with an Adobe application to open the PDF


    Option 2 - On the document icon itself, right-click, go to properties. Under the "General" tab, go to "Opens with", click on the change button, choose the Adobe program (assuming you have it), click ok, apply, ok. More details here http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-file-open-program#1TC=windows-7

    Option 3 - Move the PDF out of the zip file to your desktop. Go to the windows start menu (bottom left of screen), choose to open Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader. Choose File>Open and navigate to the PDF on the desktop to open it.
  • Do your PDF files require a special viewer?

    We sell standard PDFs that can be opened with Adobe Reader and Apple Preview. Our PDFs are password-protected, so you will need to enter the password each time you want to open or print the music.

  • My PDF files are not opening with Adobe Acrobat even though it is installed on my computer. How can I use Adobe Acrobat to open the PDFs?"

    Read the instructions here at https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/cant-open-pdf.html#id_95545 on how to associate all PDFs to Adobe Reader.

  • When I paste the password into the PDF I see the error "The selected document can not be opened."

    You need to install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader which you can get here. We recommend that you do NOT install the extra McAfee software, so you should UNCHECK that box before you download Adobe Reader.

  • When I enter the password in the PDF I get an error message saying the password is incorrect.

    There are two known reasons for this:

     

    1. Some rogue PDF programs will show an error even when the password provided is correct. "PDF Complete" is an example of this - you should remove any such program from your computer and use the free Adobe PDF product instead. When the error message appears that the password is not working, look to ensure the program name at the top left of the window is an Adobe product such as Reader or Acrobat, not some rogue party PDF reader. If some other PDF program has asserted itself, uninstall the program and try again. Watch this video to learn how to uninstall a program from your Windows 10 PC.

    2. The password has been entered wrong. Always COPY the provided password and PASTE it into the PDF password field (don't type it in). Ensure there is are no SPACES after the last character of the password when you copy and paste it.

     

  • Do I need to enter the password each time I open the PDF?

    Yes

  • Is there a limit on how many copies I can print from the PDF?

    No

  • Is there a time limit or expiration date on the PDF file?

    No

  • When I double-click the PDF I am stuck at an error message stating my program does not support passwords.

    You have a non-standard, but crippled 3rd party PDF reader installed that doesn't support password-protected files. Luckily, you can open our PDFs files by using Adobe Reader instead.

     

    1. Save our PDF file to your desktop

    2. Open Adobe Reader directly if you have it installed. If you don't have it or are not sure, install it from here. We recommend that you do NOT install the extra McAfee software, so you should UNCHECK that box before you download Adobe Reader.

    3. Run Adobe Acrobat, choose File>Open and then navigate to the PDF on your desktop.

    4. Enter the password we provided separately when prompted. The file will open and you can now print.

  • The music looks scrambled or corrupted on my screen and/or when I go to print.

    If you are a Mac user, open the PDF with Adobe Reader not the built-in Apple Preview PDF reader and try again. You can download Adobe Acrobat reader here. We recommend that you do NOT install the extra McAfee software, so you should UNCHECK that box before you download Adobe Reader.

     

    If this does not help or you are a Windows user reboot the computer/printer and try again.

     

    If this doesn't work try another computer/printer combination to see if that works. If so, update the print driver/Adobe software on the set of equipment not working.

  • Does each PDF have the same password?

    No, each PDF has a unique password.

  • Can I print 8.5x11" (US Letter) size PDF pages side by side on 11x17" (Tabloid) paper?

    Yes, you can. Using Adobe Reader, select Print and then in the Print Dialog box select Page Size & Handling>Booklet. Ensure the printer selected is set for Tabloid size paper.

  • Can I split your PDFs into separate files?

    The PDFs are designed to be printed by the purchaser, not to be split and/or emailed to others.

  • How do I remove the password from the PDF file you've provided?

    The files are designed to have the password. You can rename the PDF file, but the password stays in place and is the one provided by us in the zip file you downloaded, not the account password used to log into our website.

  • Rights/Permissions

  • Can I make photocopies of the parts and scores I've purchased?

    Yes! You can make backup copies. Information on our parts policy can be found here.

  • Do I need permission to perform the pieces I've purchased?

    You don't need permission from us or anyone else to privately or publicly perform any of our works, it is implicit. However, some of our composers belong to ASCAP and BMI, and receive compensation from those organizations (not the music purchaser) when the works are played. If you see rights organization notification text (such as ASCAP) at the bottom of your part or score, these composers would be obliged if you could take 1 minute to fill in the online notification form to indicate the details of your performance.

  • Do I need permission to record the pieces I've bought, even if I plan to give them away from the recordings for free?

    Yes, you do. You require what is known as a mechanical license. Please contact us BEFORE you record and distribute any of our works. We will need to know the name of the piece, duration and number of copies to be distributed via physical media (e.g. CD) and/or digital media (e.g. MP3).

     

    We use the industry-standard rates for granting mechanical rights

    The current statutory mechanical royalty rate for physical recordings (such as CDs) and permanent digital downloads is 9.1¢ for recordings of a song 5 minutes or less, and 1.75¢ per minute or fraction thereof for those over 5 minutes. 

     

    Multiply the rates times the total quantity of physical copies you intend to make (for CDs) + estimate of those to be sold via download (for MP3 sales) and the duration and it will spit out the amount. You would then pay us the amount using this product page. After receiving payment we'll send you a written release to produce the recording that you will need to sign and we will countersign afterward.

  • Do I need permission to stream a video of a performance (live or prerecorded), make a video or DVD of my group playing one of the pieces of sheet music I've bought, even if I plan not to charge viewers to watch?

    Yes, you do. You require what is known as a synchronization license. Please contact us BEFORE you start any video/streaming project utilizing any of our works. In order to provide the requested synchronization license quote, we'll need the following information:

    • * Title/instrumentation/composer/arranger of work
    • * Ensemble Name
    • * Are any DVDs going to be produced? How many?
    • * Will there be any television/cable network broadcasts (or rebroadcasts) with dates and names of networks
    • * Will the performance be live or pre-recorded
    • * Will there be an Internet live streaming, on what video platforms and what date/time
    • * Will the video be available for on-demand playback after any premiere. On what video platforms and for what time period (streaming start date and streaming end date)
    • * Name, address, phone and email address of the person who would sign the synchronization agreement
  • Other Topics

  • Can I use my phone or tablet to buy and download music?

    Yes! Our website has been optimized to provide a great experience and look/feel no matter the type or size of your device. Purchased sheet music can be downloaded and opened on a computer, tablet or phone. See the "Open/Print PDFs" section of this Help file for more information.

     

  • I believe I have found a notational error in the sheet music I bought. What should I do?

    Please email us to report it! If we verify the mistake we will send you (and everyone who ever bought it ) an email with a list of all corrections, and if you bought the PDF version, you'll get a brand new PDF with all of the fixes incorporated. In addition, as a special thanks you'll get a 10% discount on sheet music on your next order.

     

  • The Boulder Brass website says you are carrying their arrangements now. I see many posted on your site but not the one I need. What should I do?

    We are in the process of loading the entire Boulder Brass catalog (about 300 pieces), including adding ScoreFlipper playback with sound. Not every piece has been loaded yet, but we do prioritize requests we get from customers, and these are usually loaded within about a week from the request. Please go to our contact page and send us the name of the piece you are looking for and its instrumentation (Brass Ensemble or Brass Quintet).

     

  • I've lost the PDF and/or password to open it. Can you help?

    Email us or send us a note via our contact form with your email address and order number and we'll get you fixed up in no time!

     

  • Is my information secure with you?

    Yes, we use SSL encryption to ensure a secure transaction. Also, our employees never see your credit card information"that information is sent directly to the financial institution for processing. Lastly, your login credentials to access our website are stored in an encrypted format.

  • Can I generate an invoice for purchased items?

    ○ Log into your account

    ○ Click "My Account" on the top right of the screen

    ○ Click "View" button next to the order you need an invoice for

    After the page changes, right-click on the page and choose "Print". From there you can print a hard copy or to a PDF driver.

  • Why are some works available as PDF, some as Ship to Me and some as both?

    This really has to do with the format of the score and/or licensing limitations imposed by the copyright owners. Our aim to have as many works available in both formats as possible. Gig-Ready Libraries are offered in PDF format only because they print the size of a phone book and have an exorbitant shipping cost. If you order a Gig-Ready Library but don't want to print it yourself, you can print it locally and economically at places like Staples or FedEx Office.

  • What is your refund policy?

    Information on our refund policy can be found here.

  • Why do some ScoreFlipper pages have no sound?

    We don't have access to sound files for every work we sell, so these are posted as "silent" scores. You'll notice the playback slider below the title is missing for these, as there is no sound to play.

  • I am a composer/arranger. How do I submit my works to you for consideration?

    We are quite busy supporting our existing staff of composers and arrangers and are not looking for more at this time.

  • How can I learn more about your ScoreFlipper technology?

    More information on ScoreFlipper can be found here.

  • Do you offer music "on approval"?

    As all of our music can be seen and heard on our website, we do not send music on approval, consignment or trial.

  • If I order a PDF of a brass quintet piece, what parts are provided?

    The answer varies by product. If instrumentation is not explicitly called out in the product description page, it comes with:

     

    ○ 2 Trumpets in B♭

    ○ Horn in F

    ○ Trombone (C Bass Clef)

    ○ Tuba (C Bass Clef)

     

    Other product descriptions explicitly describe that it comes with "World Parts"

     

    Part 1 - B♭ Trumpet (alt. C Trumpet)

    Part 2 - B♭ Trumpet (alt. C Trumpet)

    Part 3 - F Horn (alt. E♭ Horn, B♭ Baritone T.C.)

    Part 4 - Trombone B.C. (alt. B♭ Trombone T.C.)

    Part 5 - Tuba B.C. (alt. E♭ Bass T.C., B♭ Bass T.C)

     

    That said, we offer a free transposition service that can provide any PDF parts you need at no extra cost. To take advantage of this, start by purchasing the standard product in PDF or Ship to Me format, and type in a list of the alternate parts needed in the "Comment" box at the time of checkout, or email us after purchase. For single purchases, we'll email the parts as PDFs within 1-2 business days. We transpose the entire part once for the requested instrument, we don't re-arrange the piece in any way, so the notes are the notes. Assuming the transposition is correct, the player would need to move to adjust octaves as needed for sections or notes out of the tessitura.

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