Larger Prints: A4 and B4 Paper
After publishing score and parts in a US letter format (8.5×11″, 216×279 mm), we are switching to different formats: A4 and B4. A4 (8.3×11.7″, 210×297 mm) is a very popular format, very similar to US letter, but still with almost 4% more area to print on. It is easy to find and print, and it works well with scores and some parts. B4 is arguably one of the best formats for conductor scores and string parts for opera. With its larger dimensions (9.8×13.9″, 250×353 mm), it offers a printing area 45% larger than US letter, allowing for larger staves and better readability, reducing page turns and sitting perfectly on a professional music stand.
| Page Format | Dimensions (inches/mm) | Area (squared inches/mm) |
| US letter | 8.5 x 11 / 216 x 279 | 93.5 / 60’264 |
| A4 | 8.3 x 11.7 / 210 x 297 | 97.11 / 62’370 |
| B4 | 9.8 x 13.9 / 250 x 353 | 136.22 / 88’250 |
Larger Staff Sizes in A4 & B4
With a 5.2 mm staff (0.205 in), the standard staff in the A4 score is 2.4% larger than the previous 5.08 mm (0.2 in) in the US letter format. The B4 conductor score allows for a 6 mm (0.236 in) staff, which is ideal for live performances, especially in the orchestra pit, or in a standing position with a lower music stand.
The parts are mostly printed with an 8 mm staff (0.315 in), 14% larger than previous book parts in US letter format. They are very easy to read for all players, including strings players. Both A4 and B4 formats use the same staff size. This means A4 parts need more page turns, and therefore become less convenient for strings in certain operas. The choice between A4 and B4 will depend on the circumstances.
| PROs | CONs | |
| A4 Score | Can be purchased on Amazon, it’s easier to carry. | Smaller staves. |
| B4 Score (Conductor Score) | Larger staves, more convenient for live performance. | Needs to be printed and bound. |
| A4 Parts | Easier and to print out and cheaper. | More page turns. |
| B4 Parts | More staves per page, less page turns. | Needs to be printed out and requires a full professional music stand. |
How to: A4 score and parts
A4 paper can be bought and used in home printers by any musician. The A4 Score can be purchased on Amazon, or printed and bound in any corner shop at a low cost. You can even print it at home and bind it act by act for convenience. A4 Parts can be emailed to musicians and printed separately. Since this page format will allow less staves than the B4, there will be more page turns and possibly some fold-out pages.
How to: B4 score and parts
B4 paper is not as easy to find as A4 and will require a professional printout. The B4 Score is larger and easier to follow, especially in a dark environment, when you have to rely on a music stand light only. It is also easier to read from distance, when the conductor is standing and the music stand is lower. The B4 Parts are the perfect format for a professional music stand. They need to be printed by a larger printer (such as an A3 printer) or by a professional shop, and are therefore more costly than the A4 ones. They allow more staves and less page turns, becoming essential when you have a single string player on the stand without an assistant turning the pages.
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