Topic #36: Styles and templates in MuseScore

In this MuseTube lesson, we focus on one of the most important aspects for professionals and anyone who wants their scores to look and feel unique: formatting and customization in MuseScore. You’ll learn how to adjust page layout, create custom styles and templates, modify the workspace, manage palettes, set shortcuts, change colors, install plugins, and more. A powerful video to help you tailor MuseScore to your exact needs.

📄 Page setup

Go to “Format > Page Settings” to adjust paper size (A4, A5…), orientation (portrait or landscape), scaling (SP = MuseScore’s internal unit), and margins. You can apply these settings to all parts in the score with one click.

📐 Layout palette tools

The “Layout” palette offers tools like:

• System and page breaks
• Section breaks
• Vertical spacers
• Keep measures together

These tools help you organize your score visually and optimize content distribution across pages.

🎨 Custom styles

Under “Format > Style”, you can edit any visual element: title size, fonts, spacing, alignment, color, etc. Everything is measured in SP units. Once you’re happy with your setup, save it via “Format > Save Style” and reuse it in future projects.

📁 Score templates

If you often work with the same instrumentation (e.g. oboe + piano), save your file as a template via “File > Save As” in the Documents/MuseScore4/templates folder. It will then appear in the score creation wizard.

Key difference:

• Style: Saves font, size, colors, layout…
• Template: Saves style + instrument setup

🧰 Custom workspaces

From “View > Workspaces”, you can create different configurations for different types of projects — for example, one for piano, another for harp, etc. Each workspace can show different palettes and interface elements. You can switch between them easily or delete unused ones.

📦 Custom palettes

Create your own palettes from “Add Palettes > Create Custom Palette”. Add your most-used elements (key signatures, time signatures, dynamics, etc.) for quicker access and more efficient editing.

⚙️ General preferences

Under “Edit > Preferences”, you can configure:

• Interface language
• Light or dark theme
• Background and paper colors
• UI font and style
• Keyboard shortcuts
• MIDI input assignments

This lets you fully adapt MuseScore to your workflow and preferences.

🔌 Plugin management

Plugins expand MuseScore’s capabilities. You can:

• Manage them from “Plugins > Plugin Manager”
• Download new ones from the official website
• Install them in Documents/MuseScore4/Plugins
• Activate and run them via the “Plugins” menu

Recommended plugins include: Batch Convert, Remove Empty Staves, Color Notes, and more.

With all these tools, MuseScore becomes a fully customized workspace, both visually and functionally, to suit your personal or professional music notation needs.