Help & Support

Downloading your sheet music

A short guide for opening, saving, and printing the PDFs you’ve purchased.

If you’ve never downloaded a PDF before, don’t worry — this is the most common question I get. The steps below walk you through it on whatever device you’re using. If anything here doesn’t match what you’re seeing, just reply to your order email and I’ll help you through it.

Right after you click “Download PDF →”

One of two things will happen, depending on your device and browser:

  • The PDF opens in a new tab or window. You’ll see the sheet music right there on screen. From here you can save it (next section) or print it.
  • The PDF starts downloading automatically. Look in your Downloads folder, or your browser’s download bar at the top or bottom of the window.

Either is fine. The important next step is to save the file somewhere you’ll find it again, which is what the next two sections cover.

Saving the file on a Mac or Windows computer

  1. Click the Download PDF → button in your email. The PDF opens in your browser (or downloads to your Downloads folder).
  2. If it opened in the browser, choose File → Save As from the menu — or press Cmd + S on a Mac, Ctrl + S on Windows.
  3. Pick a folder you’ll remember. Desktop is the easiest. Or make a new folder inside Documents called Sheet Music and save it there.
  4. Keep the filename as it is — that way the title of the piece stays attached.
  5. Click Save. That’s it.

The file lives on your computer now. You can open it, print it, or email it to yourself any time — even when the original download link has expired.

Saving and using it on an iPad

This is the question I get most often, so don’t worry if it feels fiddly the first time. After you do it once, it gets quick.

  1. Open the email I sent you (in the Mail app, or in any browser). Tap the Download PDF → button.
  2. Safari opens the PDF on screen.
  3. Tap the share icon — the little square with an arrow pointing up out of it, usually at the top or bottom of the screen.
  4. In the menu that pops up, tap Save to Files.
  5. Choose where to save it: iCloud Drive (so it shows up on your other Apple devices) or On My iPad. Pick a folder, or make a new one called Sheet Music. Tap Save.
  6. To find it again later, open the Files app (the blue folder icon) and look in the folder you chose.

Optional: open it in forScore

If you read music from your iPad, the app most pianists use is forScore. It’s a one-time purchase from the App Store and it’s well worth it — you can mark up the score, turn pages with a foot pedal, and keep all your music in one tidy library. Once you have it installed:

  1. Open the Files app and find the PDF you just saved.
  2. Press and hold your finger on the file until a menu appears.
  3. Tap Share, then choose forScore from the list of apps. (You may need to scroll sideways or tap More the first time.)
  4. forScore opens and adds the piece to your library. You’re ready to play.

How to print it

The PDFs are laid out for standard letter-size paper (8.5×11 inches) — the same paper you probably already have in your printer.

  • On a Mac or Windows computer: open the PDF and choose File → Print (or press Cmd + P / Ctrl + P). Pick your printer and click Print.
  • On an iPad: open the PDF (in Files or forScore), tap the share icon, then choose Print. Your iPad will find any printer that’s on the same Wi-Fi network.

If your printer asks about scaling, choose 100% or Actual Size — not “fit to page” — so the music keeps its proper dimensions.

The link expired, or says “limit reached”

Each download link is valid for 48 hours and works for up to 3 downloads. After that it stops working — this isn’t a problem, it’s just how the system protects your purchase from being accidentally shared around.

If you need a fresh link, just reply to the email I sent you and say “I need a new link, please.” I’ll reset it and send a new one. You don’t need to buy it again.

The very best way to avoid running into this is to save the PDF to your computer or iPad the first time you open it (see the sections above). Once it’s saved, it’s yours forever — the expiring link only controls the download, not the file itself.

I can’t find the email

  1. The download email usually arrives within a minute or two of your purchase. Give it about 15 minutes to be safe.
  2. Check your spam or junk folder — that’s where it lands most often.
  3. Search your inbox for Pam Asberry or sheet music.
  4. If it’s still not there, email me directly at pam@pamasberry.com and tell me the name you ordered under. I’ll find your order and resend.

Can I share the PDF with my student, friend, or studio?

Thank you for asking — that means a lot. The short answer is: please don’t share the file itself. Each PDF is licensed for your personal and studio use, which means you can play it, teach from it, and print copies for your own working purposes.

What it doesn’t cover is sending the file to another teacher, posting it online, or making copies for a group of students to take home. If a student or friend loves the piece, the kindest thing is to send them to my shop so they can buy their own copy — that’s how I keep being able to write new music.

If you teach a studio and need multiple copies for your students, email me at pam@pamasberry.com and tell me a little about your studio. I’m happy to work out a fair multi-student license with you.