Frequently Asked Questions
Why is your sheet music sold as digital downloads rather than paper copies?
Advantages to the digital publishing format include:
immediate access to your purchase - no waiting for hard copies to arrive by mail.
no shipping costs.
consistent, predictable pricing regardless of ensemble size.
flexibility in ensemble size - print or share only the number of copies you need, eliminating overpurchasing, re-purchasing for additional members, or feeling guilty about making illegal copies to accommodate last-minute membership changes.
reduction of paper waste - share the file with members of your ensemble who might prefer to perform from an electronic device. (Please see “Can I share a digital file after purchasing it?“ for more information on sharing purchased files.)
How does digital publishing work?
Upon purchase, you will receive a secure link to download a digital copy (pdf) of the work. The link will remain valid for 24 hours.
Since reproduction of copyrighted works is a violation of law, the purchase of works for ensemble (for example, choir) also includes a use license which broadens the limits of your use. In general terms, a use license will allow printing and file sharing for the membership of a single ensemble. Your use license will be sent to the email address you provide at checkout. (See also “Can I share a digital file after purchasing it?”)
Solo works (ie purchases from the instrumental or vocal catalogues) may not be shared, and therefore do not include a use license.
Can I purchase paper copies instead?
Physical product (paper) purchases are not available via web checkout at this time. If you need to purchase paper copies due to unique circumstances feel free to contact us.
Can I share a digital file after purchasing it?
Solo works (ie instrumental or vocal works from the instrumental or vocal catalogues) are designed for use by individuals, and therefore may not be shared.
Ensemble works (ie purchases from the choir catalogue) may be shared only within the membership of the ensemble indicated on the use license. You may not share the digital file with any other ensemble or individual, as this is a violation of copyright. (See also “Can I share physical copies once I’ve printed them?”)
The person transacting the purchase may retain one copy of the digital file, if desired, for future use by the ensemble indicated on the use licence. Ensemble members may not retain a digital file after performance - any shared copies of the digital file must be deleted after the performance.
Can I share physical copies once I’ve printed them?
No - the use license granted upon purchase is only valid for the ensemble designated therein. Use by another individual or ensemble constitutes a violation of copyright, unless/until that individual or ensemble also secures a use license by purchasing the work in question.
There is a copyright notice on the music - how will others know I purchased it for legal use when I print my own copies?
A use license, which includes physical reproduction and digital file sharing rights for the single ensemble you designate, will be emailed to you after checkout. This license defines and verifies the legality of your use.
Can I keep the digital file after purchasing?
Yes - the person transacting the purchase may retain a single copy of the digital file (pdf), but the file may not be shared beyond the limits defined by the use license. (See “How does digital publishing work,” and “Can I share a digital file after purchasing it?”) If ensemble members use a digital device for performance rather than paper, these additional files must be deleted after the performance.
Can I preview sheet music before purchasing?
Yes - we strive to include a preview video demonstrating the complete sheet music, lyrics (if applicable), and audio of each work in our catalogue so you can decide if it’s right for you before purchasing.
These preview videos are accessible in the details page of each piece, or as browsable collections at the Robert Davis Music YouTube channel. Please freely share these videos with your accompanist, choir members, church music leaders, and others. Remember that once purchased, the digital file and hard copies of the sheet music may only be used by the ensemble designated in the use license.
How can I obtain a use license to perform a work from your catalogue?
Upon purchase of any ensemble work from robertdavismusic.com, a use license will be emailed to the address you provide at checkout. There is no additional fee for a use license - it is included in the purchase price.
If you obtained a digital file (.pdf) or hard copy of any work by unauthorized sharing, you may procure a use license for yourself or your ensemble and utilize the work legally by purchasing that work from the catalogue at robertdavismusic.com.
Purchase of solo works is dependent upon an agreement limiting use to the purchasing individual only. Solo works may not be shared, thus no use license is provided for them.
What levels of musical difficulty and complexity do you offer?
We strive to provide music accessible to a wide range of ability levels, but our choral music caters especially to smaller ensembles with limited experience and rehearsal time.
Note that choral works can be sorted by level of difficulty via the Easy - Moderate - Difficult buttons found in the Full Catalogue list.
I’m a new choir director - do you provide any materials to help me?
Yes - most works in our choral catalogue include a preview video with complete sheet music, audio, and lyrics displayed. (See “Can I preview sheet music before purchasing?”)
Rehearsal recordings for choir (tracks individualized by part/s) are also offered, which can help your members prepare in advance and maximize the efficiency of your rehearsals.
Direct your choir members to the product page of any choral work at robertdavismusic.com in order to study and practice with the rehearsal audio materials, and/or the full performance preview video.
What is your return / refund policy?
All sales are final, we do not offer returns or refunds. Please contact us if you have any trouble with a purchase.
How can I learn about the release of future publications?
Please join our mailing list by clicking the “Subscribe” button found at the bottom of any page on robertdavismusic.com.
You can also subscribe to the Robert Davis Music YouTube channel for notifications on the release of future preview videos.
Is my purchase and contact information secure?
We respect your privacy. No personal information collected here will be shared with any outside party without your written consent.
Purchases are handled through Stripe secure card processing - here is the Stripe privacy policy.
Do you ever have sales or special offers?
Yes - please join our mailing list to learn about special offers and the release of future publications. Click the “Subscribe” button found at the bottom of any page on robertdavismusic.com.
What is the format (page size) for your publications?
All sheet music is formatted to 8.5 x 11.