Organizing Music 101

Deborah H. How

MTNA Business Digest

Volume 4, Issue 4

July 2025

In the January 2024 Business Digest, more than 125 music teachers responded to the question: “Do you have photos of how you store sheet music and scores? Photos are for an article in the MTNA Business Digest called ‘Show Us Your Shelves!’” View their responses.

This year, as a follow-up, teachers were asked: “How do you organize your music on your shelves and/or in your drawers, bins, baskets, files, etc.? Do you organize alphabetically by composer or by title, or do you first organize by genre? Maybe publication date, color of cover, size of book, a combination of things, or some other way?”

Organizing Music 101 showcases their responses, illustrating the vastly different and creative ways that teachers organize their music on their shelves. Watch Video

Deborah H. How, PhD, MBA is a connection builder/fundraising architect for nonprofit music organizations. She is the owner of Westside Music Conservatory, CEO of Musical Etudes and member of the MTNA Business Resource Network.