How to annotate scores and perform hands-free with OPS Scores on iPad
OPS Scores turns your iPad into a wireless music stand. All the parts assigned to you by the library administrator sync automatically and stay available offline, so you can annotate rehearsals and performances without a Wi-Fi connection. Touch any page with your Apple Pencil to open the annotation toolbar; mark up a part with pen, highlighter or eraser; and turn pages by swiping or with a Bluetooth foot pedal. When you are ready to perform, Concert Mode places your full setlist on screen in order with no menus in the way. This guide covers everything from first launch to walking on stage.
Before you start
- iPad with OPS Scores installed from the App Store
- Apple Pencil (any model supported by your iPad)
- Optional: a Bluetooth HID foot pedal such as an AirTurn or PageFlip model, for hands-free page turns
Steps
Download the app and sync your parts
Download OPS Scores from the App Store and sign in with your OPS account. When you open the app, a banner reads "Checking the stand…" while it downloads your assigned parts and setlists. After that first sync, everything is available offline. Open the app again after a rehearsal to pick up any newly added pieces.
Open a score and choose your annotation tools
Tap any piece in the library or open a setlist to navigate to a score. Tap a page with your Apple Pencil to reveal the annotation toolbar. Choose pen, highlighter or eraser, pick a colour from the palette and adjust the stroke width with the slider before you start drawing.
Draw on the score and control the Pencil mode
Draw directly on the score. By default the Pencil draws and a finger tap or swipe turns the page. To let your finger draw too, tap the hand icon on the annotation toolbar. Your annotations are saved automatically and sync to your account whenever the app connects to the internet.
Pair a Bluetooth pedal for hands-free page turns
To turn pages hands-free during rehearsal or performance, pair a Bluetooth pedal — such as an AirTurn BT200S or a PageFlip Firefly — through iPadOS Settings, then Bluetooth, before opening OPS Scores. The right footswitch advances the page; the left goes back. No further configuration is needed inside the app.
Enable Half Turns for tricky page changes
For page turns that happen mid-phrase, enable "Half Turns" from the annotation toolbar. The screen splits to show the bottom of the current page alongside the top of the next, giving you reading time before each turn. Drag the dividing line to find the position that suits your part.
Adjust Night mode and display settings for the stage
On a dark stage, tap "Night mode" in the toolbar to invert the score to white-on-black. Adjust the brightness and contrast sliders to suit the venue's lighting. These settings are stored per score and are remembered between sessions.
Start Concert Mode for a performance
To perform a full setlist, open it and tap "Start Concert Mode". Every piece in the setlist fills the screen in order with no visible menus. Swipe or press the pedal to advance. Tap "Play from here" in the setlist view to jump directly to any piece mid-performance without leaving the mode.
Manage your annotations and reset the view
Your annotations sync to your OPS account automatically. If the library administrator replaces a PDF with a corrected version, your annotations from the previous file remain saved in the revision history. Tap "Original view" to reset any per-page zoom or rotation you have applied and return the page to its default size and orientation.
Tips
- Set up the Bluetooth pedal at home the first time — pairing takes about 30 seconds and the pedal reconnects automatically at each rehearsal.
- "Half Turns" works in Concert Mode too. Enable it from the toolbar before tapping "Start Concert Mode" so it is active throughout the performance.
- Tap "Metronome" from the toolbar to set a tempo for each piece; it stays active while you read the score.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a way to erase all my annotations at once?
You can erase individual marks with the eraser tool. A one-tap full-page or full-score clear is not currently available; to remove all marks from a page, use the eraser across the areas you have drawn on.
Can other musicians in my organisation see my annotations?
No. Annotations are personal and private to your account. They are visible only on devices signed in with your credentials and are never shared with other users, even when you are all reading the same organisation score.
What should I do if the Bluetooth pedal stops responding?
First check that the pedal battery is charged. If the iPad went to sleep, unlock it and try pressing the pedal again. If it still does not respond, go to iPadOS Settings, then Bluetooth, forget the device and pair it again. Pairing only takes a moment.
Does OPS Scores work on iPhone?
OPS Scores is an iPad-only app. OPS Mobile, the companion app for iPhone, also includes a score viewer for reading your assigned parts on the go.
Can I add scores directly from my iPad?
Yes. Tap the add button in the library to scan paper pages with the iPad camera, import a PDF from Files or your photo library, and save it as a personal piece. Admins can also save it to the organisation library directly from the device.