Getting Started with WYSIWYP
Without an inventory of paper sheet music in WYSIWYP format at your local music store or online, you will need your music in a digital music file format and a device screen app to display it. The format of those files is MusicXML: file extension .musicxml (uncompressed) or .mxl (compressed). Here's how to get started with all that.
The Simplified Notation app for Sheet Music
The device screen app is SNapp. The musician can place an Android or Apple tablet with this app on the music stand and play using the virtual sheet music displayed. Alternatively the paper sheet music can be saved in PDF format and subsequently printed. In addition:
SNapp provides a variety of options that permit students to adjust the display to their personal preferences. For example, there is the option to set the number of measures per row.
As an internet browser app, SNapp is available on nearly all hand-held as well as desktop screen devices.
SNapp can also be installed as a standalone app on Android, iOS, and Windows platforms. Once installed, the musician need not be connected to the internet.
The source of the actual musical notation comes from a digital input file in MusicXML format. The SNapp Home screen is where you can select a MusicXML file to be converted to the WYSIWYP format. The sheet music is then displayed with WYSIWYP notation on the device's screen.
Selecting "Preferences" opens a side panel with which the display can be customized. The "Measures per row" value also controls the display size of the notation: lowering the number increases the size while increasing the number decreases the size.
Returning to the Home screen, a newly displayed file has been added to the Recent Files list where it can be re-displayed directly from the list. The files in the list are stored in the browser's local storage until removed by the user.
MusicXML files
MusicXML is the most widely used standard for representing sheet music digitally. There are a variety of ways to obtain music in this format.
There are copyright free samples available for download on this web site (opens in a new browser window).
Download MusicXML files both free and for purchase from the internet.
There are various apps that can scan your own paper sheet music and create MusicXML files.
Export MusicXML files from a sheet music editing app such as MuseScore. The difficulty is that the score must be entered in traditional notation format first. Fortunately you don't have to learn traditional notation to copy it into MuseScore.
With any of these sources or others, please be cognizant of applicable copyright laws and abide by them.
What to do next
Step 1: select a file in MusicXML format using one of the sources listed above. The file type can be either .musicxml (uncompressed format) or .mxl (compressed format used for internet downloads).
Step 2: Get a copy of the selected file onto your device.
Step 3: Start the SNapp web browser app (this opens a new browser window).
Step 4: On the SNapp home screen, select "Convert another MusicXML file" and then navigate to the music file on your device. SNapp converts the file to WYSIWYP format and displays it as virtual sheet music.
Click here to see all the details of SNapp including how to install it (optional), what are the Preference options, how it manages files and storage, and also tips on how to use the app.
Here is a sample beginner's piano course using WYSIWYP. This link opens in a new browser window or tab.