A major challenge with online music leading is how to store and share files, be it sheet music, learning tracks or video. Regardless of what happens with physical distancing restrictions, the days of printing out reams of music and handing them out to your groups are most likely behind us.  The software below aims to make storing and sharing files easy and has usable free versions and paid versions that allow for more storage and features.

Popular file storage and sharing software

• Google Drive:  15GB free storage before you have to upgrade to a paid account. Works on any device and platform. Integrates well with other google products (Gmail, Google Calendar, etc.) very easy to use as a leader and as a participant. You can share one folder and participants can access all the files within it. See CMVic’s Google Drive for Music Leaders resource for details.

• Dropbox: 2GB free storage before you have to upgrade to a paid account. Important to remove files you’re not using so you don’t overload participants' Dropbox accounts (e.g. if you share a 1GB folder with your group members, then each of their Dropbox accounts counts that 1GB towards their quota).

• Wetransfer: free file transfer for files up to 2GB. It creates a unique link that you can share via email to participants who then download the file.

• ListenTo - free software to send audio from your Digital Audio Workstation. It creates a unique link that you can share via email to participants who then download the file.

Go to: Index Page; Leading Community Music Online;  Choosing the Right Programs for Online Leading; Virtual Rooms for Meeting Up; Hosting and Running Zoom Sessions; Project-based Apps for Making, Performing and Learning; Audio and Video: Home Studio on a Budget