If you want to make copies for any reason not covered by the code of fair practice the publisher may well grant you permission to do so. You need to contact the publisher directly – an internet search of the publishers name and ‘permissions’ will normally help get your started. There could be a fee and conditions attached (e.g. limited to a certain performance, marking and destroying copies).
If you’ve hired a work and are likely to play it again in the future then a single copy of each of the scored string parts may be made in order to retain a record of the bowing and fingering marks used by your group. Each copy should be marked ‘copy made to record markings only’ and must not be used for reproduction or performance.
If you have bought a full set of parts and you need more than is included in the set for your group, you may copy up to an extra quarter set if the publisher has stated that parts are not sold individually. A quarter set is defined as one quarter of the number of parts included in the original set. Each copy made should be marked ‘copy made with permission.’
Students and teachers, whether in an educational establishment or not, may make copies of short excerpts of musical works for study use only. Copying whole works or movements is forbidden under this permission.
If your group includes musicians with any kind of cognitive impairment or condition which diminishes their ability to read music or text as conventionally printed, you may make it available to them in a format which enables them to more easily read and participate. Each copy must be marked with ‘Copy made with permission’.
If there is a difficult page turn that is obstructing performance then making a copy of the one relevant page is allowable. The copy made must be returned with the other hired material after the performance.
If music you need for a concert or event is lost or damaged when it is too late to replace it either by purchase or hire then a copy can be made. The copy should be marked ‘Emergency copy. Destroy after use.’ If the original music was hired or borrowed, the emergency copy should be sent back to the library or publisher with the rest of the set.
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