LJS 109: Pro Tips on Proper Music Notation, Formatting and Phrasing (feat. Brett Pontecorvo)

Welcome to episode 109 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking to professional music notation editor and engraver, Brett Pontecorvo. Brett lays down his best tips and tricks on how to properly notate music, as well as layout great, readable charts. These are valuable skills every musician needs to know how to do. Listen in!
Listen to episode 109







In today's episode, I have a very special guest on the show, Brett Pontecorvo who talks about his best tips for proper music notation and how to set your music charts up for success.
Brett is a professional music editor and engraver, which means his job is to take peoples music, make sure it's properly notated, spaced, easy to read, and amazing to look at.
I hire Brett to do all of my projects including my brand new eBook The Jazz Standards Playbook coming out in April of 2018 (already out for those listening in the future!).
When it comes to making sure I come out with the best jazz education products, it's imperative that I have a professional come in and edit and make sure its a great experience. That's why I pick Brett's brain on this important subject and how you can set your compositions, arrangements, lead sheets, or education materials up for success.
Here are some of the things we go over:
1. Best practices for notating off beat and over the barline phrases.
2. How to label chords with extensions and alterations.
3. How to make your notation easy to read.
4. Use 1st and 2nd endings or just write everything out?
5. Best practices for formatting and spacing notes, measures, and lines.
6. Courtesy accidentals. Good or bad?
This was a great show, and I learned a lot getting the opportunity to ask Brett questions. I know you will too!
If you would like any lessons on using Finale, music notation, or need engraver services, be sure to visit brettpontecorvo.com.
Important Links
Brett's website
The Jazz Standards Playbook
Finale Notation Software
Sibelius Notation Software
Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links and with no additional cost to you, Learn Jazz Standards receives a kickback on the purchase of those products.







Read the Transcript
Brent: Alright, welcome to another episode of the LJS Podcast. My name is Brent. I am the jazz musician behind the website learnjazzstandards.com, which is a blog and a podcast all geared towards helping you become a better jazz musician. I want to thank you so much for listening. Whether this is your first time ever or if you're a returning listener, I really appreciate it.
On today's episode, 109, it has been a while since we've had a guest on the show 'cause we've been doing Jazz Standards Month in the month of March, but now that we're in April I'm excited to invite onto the show Brett Pontecorvo. He's a pianist, he is a professional music editor and engraver.
I'm really excited to have him on because he actually did all of the editing and engraving work for my brand new e-book, "The Jazz Standards Playbook", which is coming out on Sunday, April 8, if you're listening in real time that's this upcoming Sunday, which I'm so excited about. It's a book that goes through 10 in-depth jazz standard studies. These are songs that, if you know these really well, if you go deep into them, you are going to find it so much easier to learn any jazz standard and lea...