Code Of Fair Practice

Agreed between composers, publishers and users of printed music, this document was drawn up by the Music Publishers Association with the support of the following organisations, who have agreed to accept its contents, and recommend its observance by all music users:

  • ABRSM
  • Association of British Choral Directors
  • Association of British Orchestras British Dyslexia
  • Ivors Academy (formally BASCA) 
  • British Association of Symphonic Bands & Wind Ensembles
  • British & International Federation of Festivals for Music
  • Dance & Speech Conservatoires UK
  • Incorporated Society of Musicians
  • International Association of Music Libraries (the UK and Ireland Branch)
  • Making Music
  • Music Publishers Association Ltd (representing those publishers in Appendix B and on the MPA website)
  • Musicians’ Union
  • Music Mark
  • The UK Association of Music Education
  • National Association of Choirs
  • National Operatic & Dramatic Association
  • Royal Air Force Music Services Training Cell
  • Royal College of Organists Royal Marines Band Service
  • Royal Military School of Music,
  • Kneller Hall Royal School of Church Music Schools
  • Music Association Sing for Pleasure
  • Trinity College London
  • Tŷ Cerdd/Music Centre Wales (formerly the Welsh Amateur Music Federation)

Guidelines For Amateur Music Hire

These Guidelines for Amateur Music Hire are designed to help those using materials held by music publishers’ hire libraries for non-professional rehearsal or performance.

Guidance On Photocopying Sheet Music

Agreed between composers, music publishers and users of printed music – this recognises the balance between the needs of musicians & students to have access to music, and for composers and publishers to be properly compensated when their works are copied.

Find A Piece Of Printed Music

Your first port of call should be your local music shop where staff have the expertise to track down what you are looking for.  Many printed music retailers have access to the MPA Catalogue of Printed Music and can help to track down and order a piece of printed music for you. The MPA Catalogue of Printed Music is a database of all the printed music available in the UK. Many printed music retailers have access to the Catalogue and can help to track down and order a piece of printed music for you.

Alternatively, a number of music publishers make their catalogues available online and some offer the opportunity to purchase and download printed music from their websites.

If you have been unable to locate a particular piece of printed music, as a last resort, the MPA will try to direct you to the copyright owner of the work who is responsible for determining whether or not a piece of music is to be made available in print.

The fact that a work has been publicly performed or recorded does not guarantee that the music is available in print and sometimes music is only available on hire from the publisher. Please email [email protected] to find a piece of printed music.

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