How to Make a Choir Songbook for Your Vocal Group

Every choir director knows the chaos: scattered photocopies, singers with wrong versions, pages falling out of folders, and the eternal question — "which page are we on?" A printed, bound choir songbook eliminates all of it.

One book per singer. Same songs, same order, same markings. From first rehearsal to final performance.

Why Your Choir Needs a Printed Songbook

• Everyone is on the same page — literally. When the director says "page 12", everyone is looking at the same thing. No more "I have a different version."
• No more lost sheets. Individual photocopies disappear. A bound book stays together and survives the whole season.
• Professional look. A choir that shows up to a performance with matching books looks prepared. Audiences notice.
• Easy annotations. Singers can pencil in breath marks, dynamics, and pronunciation notes directly in the book. Those notes are still there at the next rehearsal.
• Works for every voice. Whether you give everyone the same book or create part-specific books, a bound format is easier to hold while standing than loose sheets or binders.

What to Include

A good choir songbook contains:

• Scores or lyric sheets — the core content, with melody and/or part notation
• Performance order — songs arranged in concert order, not alphabetical. The book mirrors the program.
• Rehearsal notes — tempo markings, key changes, cues, and any director's notes that apply to the group
• Text and translations — for songs in other languages, include pronunciation guides or translations
• A table of contents — essential for quick navigation during rehearsal

How to Organize Your Choir Songbook

The best structure depends on your group's purpose:

• By concert program: The most common approach. Songs appear in performance order. The director can say "let's run from piece 5 to piece 8" and everyone follows.
• By section/set: For choirs that perform multiple sets or themed blocks. Create chapters: "Opening", "Sacred", "Folk", "Closing."
• By season: If your choir performs year-round, organize by semester or season. Fall repertoire, Christmas concert, spring recital.
• By difficulty: For educational choirs and school ensembles. Start with easy pieces (unison or two-part) and progress to more complex arrangements.

For general tips on structuring a music book, see our guide to organizing sheet music PDFs.

Building the Songbook

1. Collect all scores and lyrics. Gather PDFs for every piece in the repertoire. Scan any paper-only scores.
2. Upload to MakeMySongBook. Drag all PDFs into the builder at once.
3. Create sections. Add chapter dividers for each concert section, season, or theme.
4. Arrange in performance order. Drag songs into the exact sequence your director wants.
5. Add a cover. Include your choir name, season, and year. Something like "Springfield Community Choir — Spring 2026."
6. Export and print copies. A4 format works best for scores with notation. Print one per singer plus spares.

Rehearsal Tips

• Use pencils, not pens. Rehearsal markings change. Pencil lets everyone erase and update as the interpretation evolves.
• Number the measures. If your scores don't have measure numbers, add them by hand in the master copy before printing. "From bar 24" is faster than "from the third line, second measure."
• Print on heavier paper. Choir books get held at chest height for extended periods. 100gsm+ paper holds up better than standard 80gsm.
• Consider spiral binding. Spiral-bound books stay open and lie flat on a music stand. Most print shops offer this for a few dollars per copy.
• Collect books after performances. If you're reusing books next season, collect them after the final concert. Otherwise they vanish. Label each book with a number.

Frequently Asked Questions