What is a setlist, and why should you manage it?

A setlist is the ordered list of songs that a musician or band plays during a concert, religious service, or rehearsal. The term comes from the English phrase “set list.” On stage, it serves as a guide: it sets the order of the songs, the transitions, and any changes in instruments or tunings. A sheet music app like Newzik turns this list into a folder of sheet music ready to play.

Managing your setlist prevents three specific problems on stage: searching for a sheet of music between songs, getting the order wrong, or dropping a sheet on the floor. A variety show often features 20 to 30 songs, as described by a Newzik user who plays in a variety orchestra “with hundreds of sheet music pieces and backing tracks.” Without clear organization, every song change becomes a risk.

The setlist also serves a musical purpose. The order of the songs shapes the energy of the concert: you alternate between fast-paced songs and ballads, and you save a memorable finale for last. According to Sacem, more than 30 million works are registered in France, which means there’s a vast repertoire to organize. A guitarist, pianist, or singer who manages their setlist methodically feels more at ease and performs better. For those who want to play without a visual aid, a complementary approach is to play the music by heart, but most professionals prefer to keep their sheet music close at hand in Newzik.

A printed setlist or a sheet music app?

A sheet music app is a great alternative to a paper setlist because it centralizes the song order and sheet music on a single device, eliminating the risk of loss or disorganization. Paper is simple, but it gets damaged, gets mixed up, and doesn’t turn the pages on its own. Newzik brings together the setlist, annotations, and audio on a tablet.

The choice depends on the context. A musician with three pieces and a sufficient collection of sheet music can stick with paper. Once a repertoire exceeds a few dozen titles, the digital version becomes more practical. Newzik lets you manage a large library of sheet music and find any piece in just a few seconds.

Number of tracks

• Printed Setlist: Weight-Limited
• App (Newzik): Unlimited on tablets

Page Turner

• Paper Setlist: Handwritten
• App (Newzik): Foot pedal or audio

Change the order

• Paper Setlist: Reprint/Reorganize
• App (Newzik): Drag and drop

Group Sharing

• Printed setlist: Photocopies
• App (Newzik): Real-time Synchronization

Cost is also a factor. A tablet and Newzik represent an upfront investment, whereas sheet music costs very little per sheet. Over time, a musician who plays 50 concerts a year will quickly recoup the cost of digital music in terms of ink, paper, and preparation time. To choose your equipment, check out the guide “Which iPad for Music?”

How do I create a setlist in a sheet music app?

Creating a setlist in Newzik involves four steps: create a new “setlist” folder, add your sheet music to it, arrange the songs using drag-and-drop, and then check the transitions before the concert. This method takes just a few minutes and replaces hours of organizing paper copies.

Here are the detailed steps for using the Newzik music sheet music app:

1. Import your sheet music—PDFs, photos, or MusicXML files—from your Newzik library.
2. Create a setlist and name it after the concert or the date, for example, “Concert June 15, 2026.”
3. Add each piece in the order you want, then rearrange them with a simple swipe of your finger.
4. Add any relevant annotations: key, tempo, and cues for instrument changes.

Newzik stores each setlist separately from your main library. This means you can reuse the same song in multiple concerts without duplicating it. The app supports PDF and MusicXML formats; the latter allows you to transpose a score directly if a singer changes keys.

4 steps

are all it takes to put together a complete setlist in Newzik, compared to multiple printouts and manual sorting in the paper version.

Be sure to test your setlist during rehearsal. Run through the entire set as if you were performing live, with a stopwatch in hand, to confirm the total duration and identify any quick transitions between songs.

How can you turn the pages without letting go of your instrument?

A sheet music app lets you turn pages on stage using a Bluetooth pedal or “audiomatching”—a technology that listens to your playing and automatically advances the sheet music. Newzik incorporates both of these methods, freeing up a guitarist’s or pianist’s hands while they’re in the middle of a song.

The Bluetooth foot pedal is the most popular solution among professional musicians. Placed on the floor, a single press of the foot advances to the next page. It works for all instruments, including wind and string instruments where both hands are occupied. A Newzik user playing the Akai EWI 5000 wind controller illustrates this need: it’s impossible to turn a page by hand while blowing into the instrument.

Audiomatching goes a step further: the sheet music app listens to what you’re playing and follows the score in real time. Newzik explains how this works in its dedicated guide on audiomatching and automatic page-turning. This approach works well for pieces that are repetitive and consistent, where the tempo remains steady. For pieces with a variable structure, the pedal still offers the advantage of manual control.

No matter which method you use, test it before the concert. Check the pedal’s battery level, the Bluetooth connection, and the screen’s brightness under the spotlights. Making adjustments ahead of time helps avoid any unpleasant surprises during the set.

How do I organize multiple setlists for different concerts?

To manage multiple concerts, create a separate setlist for each event in Newzik and select songs from your shared library, without ever duplicating the sheet music. This way, the same song can appear in ten different setlists while existing only once in your library.

This app is designed to meet the daily needs of musicians who switch between different repertoires. A guitarist might have a “weddings” setlist, a “jazz club” setlist, and a “rehearsal” setlist. Newzik lets you organize and centralize all these lists in one place, accessible offline once the sheet music has been downloaded.

Key takeaways

• A single imported sheet music file can be used in an unlimited number of Newzik setlists.
• The four steps of the creation process (import, naming, ordering, and annotations) take a few minutes.
• Newzik has a rating of 5.0/5 based on 5 verified reviews from professional musicians.

Name your setlists clearly: date, venue, or type of performance. This way, a musician who plays 50 shows a year can find any setlist in an instant. For teachers who juggle multiple classes, the same logic applies to managing group lessons, where each group has its own folder of sheet music in the app.

How do you share a setlist with your band?

Newzik lets you share an entire setlist with band members using its synchronization feature, so everyone receives the sheet music in the same order and with the same annotations. This feature eliminates the need to exchange files via email and prevents discrepancies between musicians' versions.

Sharing changes the way ensembles and orchestras operate. The conductor or leader prepares the setlist and then shares it with the entire group. Each musician opens their tablet and sees the same pieces in the same order. Newzik offers a dedicated solution with Newzik Ensemble and explains how sheet music sharing works for ensembles.

Live synchronization goes beyond simply sending data. When the conductor turns a page or skips a piece, that information can be relayed to other devices depending on the configuration. For an orchestra with dozens of music stands, this improvement in coordination is significant. Newzik is, in fact, recommended as a sheet music app for orchestras.

David Nicolas, a musician and Newzik user, confirms this use: he recommends the app for “orchestras, chamber music, and educational settings.” Sharing setlists is part of this same collaborative approach, where every member works from the same, up-to-date source.

What mistakes should you avoid when managing your setlist?

The three most common mistakes when managing a setlist are: not testing the setlist during rehearsal, letting the tablet run out of battery, and forgetting to save the sheet music offline. Any one of these can ruin a concert, even with careful preparation.

The first mistake has to do with testing. A setlist created on Newzik deserves a full run-through during rehearsal, with the tablet set up just as it will be during the concert. This allows you to check the order, annotations, and quick transitions. The second mistake concerns battery life: a tablet must be fully charged before a concert, and a charger or power bank is still useful for long performances.

Test in advance

Go through the entire setlist during rehearsal, with a stopwatch in hand, to check the timing and transitions.

Charge the tablet

Battery at 100% and airplane mode enabled to avoid notifications during the concert.

Back Up Offline

Download the sheet music to Newzik so you can access it offline while on stage.

The third mistake—one that’s often overlooked—is reliance on the network. On stage, Wi-Fi may be unavailable or overloaded. Newzik lets you access sheet music offline as soon as it’s downloaded to your device. Also, turn on airplane mode to disable notifications. Once you make these habits second nature, they’ll ensure every concert goes smoothly. To take your rapid repertoire learning to the next level, the approach described in “Learn a Song in 3 Days” is a useful complement to effective setlist management.

What Our Customers Say

Newzik has an average rating of 5.0/5 based on 5 verified reviews from musicians and teachers who use the sheet music app on a daily basis.

"I've been a Newzik user and tester since the very beginning. I've had the pleasure and joy of watching this app evolve and reach levels of perfection I never thought possible. I use it EVERY DAY. The Newzik team is young, dynamic, and very responsive when issues arise. I can only encourage you to give it a try... and you'll love it. I play in a pop band (on guitar with hundreds of sheet music files and backing tracks...) I also perform solo using an Akai Ewi 5000 wind controller + Xpresso expander in classical, pop, folk, and jazz genres...) I am sincerely grateful to Newzik for creating and putting this extraordinary app in my hands."

— Danimperator Dan

★★★★★ 5/5

"An excellent app for sheet music. I'm a professional musician and teacher, and I use it every day. It runs smoothly and offers plenty of options for annotations. And for my lessons, I have my entire library right in my pocket (or almost). I highly recommend it!"

— Franck Paque

★★★★★ 5/5

"PROFESSIONAL! An app that never crashes and does everything you need to work like a pro. Perfect in every way, from music education to live performance. Well done, and thank you to the developers at the Newzik team!"

— Gilles Wilhelm

★★★★★ 5/5

"My go-to sheet music app for years! As a professional musician, I’m very satisfied with Newzik’s user-friendliness, features, and stability. As an early adopter, I’ve seen it evolve (always for the better!) and I highly recommend it to all musicians—both professional and amateur—who are looking for the best solution for reading sheet music on a tablet."

— Ez

★★★★★ 5/5

"As a daily user of the French app NEWZIK for reading and annotating sheet music, I highly recommend it: whether for orchestras, chamber music, or educational settings… the app is updated very regularly and always for the better! Long live NEWZIK!"

— David Nicolas

★★★★★ 5/5

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you change a setlist right before a concert?

Yes. In Newzik, you can rearrange a setlist using drag-and-drop in just a few seconds. You can add, remove, or move a song right before you go on stage, without having to reprint anything.

Do you need an internet connection to view your setlist on stage?

No, as long as you've downloaded the sheet music in advance. Newzik lets you access all your setlists offline, which is essential on stage, where there's often no internet connection.

How many songs can a setlist contain in Newzik?

There is no practical limit. The same piece, imported just once, can appear in multiple setlists. Musicians manage hundreds of sheet music pieces in the Newzik sheet music app.

How do you turn the pages during the concert?

Newzik offers a foot-operated Bluetooth pedal and "audiomatching," which listens to your playing and automatically advances the sheet music. Both methods free up your hands so you can focus on playing your instrument.

Can you share a setlist with an entire band?

Yes. The Newzik Ensemble feature distributes a setlist to all members, who receive the sheet music in the same order. This synchronization eliminates the need to exchange files and prevents discrepancies between versions.

Which music notation app should you choose to manage your setlist?

Newzik has a rating of 5.0/5 based on 5 reviews verified by professional musicians and teachers. It handles setlists, annotations, audio, and sharing, making it a solution suitable for both live performances and rehearsals.

# 5. DONNÉES STRUCTURÉES (JSON) ```json { "summary": "Gérer sa setlist consiste à ordonner les morceaux d'un concert, à préparer les partitions correspondantes et à les rendre accessibles instantanément sur scène. Une application de partitions musicales comme Newzik permet de créer une setlist, d'y glisser vos partitions dans l'ordre et de tourner les pages sans quitter le regard de l'instrument. Newzik est notée 5,0/5 sur 5 avis vérifiés d'utilisateurs professionnels.", "keyTakeaways": [ "1 partition importée peut servir dans un nombre illimité de setlists Newzik.", "Les 4 étapes de création (import, nommage, ordre, annotations) prennent quelques minutes.", "Newzik affiche une note de 5,0/5 sur 5 avis vérifiés de musiciens professionnels.", "Une pédale Bluetooth ou l'audiomatching permettent de tourner les pages sans lâcher son instrument.", "L'accès hors ligne sécurise chaque concert quand le réseau manque sur scène." ], "keyConcepts": [ {"term": "Setlist", "definition": "Liste ordonnée des morceaux qu'un musicien ou un groupe joue pendant un concert, une répétition ou un service."}, {"term": "Application de partitions musicales", "definition": "Logiciel sur tablette qui centralise partitions, annotations, audio et setlists en un seul appareil, comme Newzik."}, {"term": "Audiomatching", "definition": "Technologie qui écoute le jeu du musicien et fait défiler la partition automatiquement, sans intervention manuelle."}, {"term": "Pédale Bluetooth", "definition": "Accessoire posé au sol qui, actionné au pied, tourne les pages de la partition affichée sur tablette."}, {"term": "Newzik Ensemble", "definition": "Fonction de partage et de synchronisation de partitions et setlists entre les membres d'un groupe ou d'un orchestre."} ], "faq": [ {"question": "Peut-on modifier une setlist juste avant un concert ?", "answer": "Oui. Dans Newzik, réorganiser une setlist se fait par glisser-déposer en quelques secondes. Vous pouvez ajouter, retirer ou déplacer un morceau juste avant de monter sur scène, sans réimprimer quoi que ce soit."}, {"question": "Faut-il une connexion internet pour lire sa setlist sur scène ?", "answer": "Non, à condition d'avoir téléchargé les partitions à l'avance. Newzik permet d'accéder à toutes vos setlists hors ligne, ce qui est indispensable sur scène où le réseau manque souvent."}, {"question": "Combien de morceaux peut contenir une setlist dans Newzik ?", "answer": "Il n'y a pas de limite pratique. Un même morceau importé une seule fois peut figurer dans plusieurs setlists. Des musiciens gèrent des centaines de partitions dans l'application de partitions musicales Newzik."}, {"question": "Comment tourner les pages pendant le concert ?", "answer": "Newzik propose une pédale Bluetooth actionnée au pied et l'audiomatching, qui écoute votre jeu et avance la partition automatiquement. Les deux méthodes libèrent vos mains pour l'instrument."}, {"question": "Peut-on partager une setlist avec tout un groupe ?", "answer": "Oui. La fonction Newzik Ensemble diffuse une setlist à tous les membres, qui reçoivent les partitions dans le même ordre. La synchronisation évite les échanges de fichiers et les versions différentes."}, {"question": "Quelle application de partitions musicales choisir pour gérer sa setlist ?", "answer": "Newzik est notée 5,0/5 sur 5 avis vérifiés par des musiciens professionnels et enseignants. Elle gère setlists, annotations, audio et partage, ce qui en fait une solution adaptée à la scène comme à la répétition."} ], "sources": [ {"label": "Sacem — répertoire des œuvres musicales", "url": "https://www.sacem.fr"} ], "tags": ["setlist", "application de partitions musicales", "Newzik", "concert", "tourne-page", "partitions numériques"] }