Copyright is a major concern among musicians and teachers. Some teachers falsely assume that use of any and all material is permitted in an educational setting. Copyright violations are frequent in social media. Students need real information, including potential ramifications of copyright violations.
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  • Copyright.gov. The place to file for copyright, which includes a clear FAQ section. www.copyright.gov/


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IMPORTANT!
  • Schools groups can perform music they have purchased legally, but cannot sell or distribute copies of the performance without proper licensing. 
  • Disney music performances posted online are notorious for triggering letters from attorneys. No one wants to get called into that kind of meeting with a principal or supervisor!
  • If you're planning to sell or distribute a performance, license EACH SONG.  Start with the Harry Fox Agency. If they do not hold the rights, you'll need to do a little research then work the phone & email.
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Pro tip: You DO need the rights to print song lyrics in the concert program!

Remember: Photocopying music to avoid purchase is ILLEGAL. 

You must purchase enough copies for your students to rehearse (if the music is memorized).
If students will be using printed music in the performance, you are obligated to buy enough copies for every student.
This might mean purchasing 3 sets of the same piece. That's the law.
(You can also borrow legit copies from another school--totally legal!)