Wite-Out / white pencil, etc. to block out markings

[omccreary]

I'm reading from a photocopy of a score with someone else's markings (fingerings, accents, etc.). In some cases I want to ignore the fingerings and use my own.

I can't erase fingerings that are in the existing photocopy, of course.

Is there any way to block out existing markings in a photocopy? I've tried Wite-out, and it works in principle, but it's sometimes hard to wipe out exactly what I want to without also wiping out existing markings. For example, if a fingering is on top of a staff or on top of a bar line, it's hard to efface the fingering but leave the lines intact.

Is there any other option? Is there such a thing as a white-colored pencil that will work for this purpose?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[1piano4joe]

Hi omccreary,

I just finished several hours of heavy editing with wite out. I know exactly how you feel. I will share some of my tips for your consideration.

1. It helps to have a brand new wite out. When it starts to dry out and gets crusty it's harder to control where it goes.

2. Shake the bottle often.

3. Wipe the brush after every dip and/or clean the tip of the applicator frequently. Think of painting a room in your house.

4. I have a blotter ready to reduce excessive application. This is just inevitable so it pays to be prepared.

5. I have a supply of black ink pens. It really helps if you have a steady hand.

6. I have drawn the lines back in. I have filled out partially wited out notes.

7. Articulations can be the most problematic. If I need to put in a phrase mark or edit one, YIKES!

8. I often wite out a fingering. It's a perfectly good fingering, it's just in the way so I wite it out and then I do what needs to be done and then put it back (usually larger since I have bad eyes) in a more convenient location.

In my opinion this is just another skill that you will get better at with practice, Joe.

 

[hardy_practice]

I write the fingering I want over top.

[omccreary]

Thanks for the suggestions.

hardy_practice: That's the normal thing to do, of course, and it works fine for practicing. But for a performance score that I'll be reading quickly while performing, the extra markings can be distracting and confusing. That's why I'm trying to figure out a neater way.

[visitor]

I'm reading from a photocopy of a score with someone else's markings (fingerings, accents, etc.). In some cases I want to ignore the fingerings and use my own.

I can't erase fingerings that are in the existing photocopy, of course.



Is there any other option?

Thanks for any suggestions.

yes. buy a new score.
request an inter library loan of a clean copy then image those you need for yourself to use until you purchase a new score.
purchase clean used/new old stock score.