MuseScore MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for MuseScore integration, allowing AI assistants like Claude to interact with MuseScore through MIDI and score manipulation capabilities.

Overview

This MCP server enables AI assistants to:

• Control MuseScore via MIDI integration
• Import and export MIDI files
• Create and modify scores programmatically
• Adjust MIDI parameters (volume, expression, etc.)
• Apply articulations and dynamics
• Manage soundfonts and playback settings

Features

• Score Management: Create, open, edit, and export MuseScore files
• MIDI Integration: Send and receive MIDI messages to/from MuseScore
• Score Editing: Add/edit notes, rests, clefs, time signatures, key signatures
• Playback Control: Play, pause, stop, and navigate through scores
• MIDI Parameter Control: Adjust CC values, program changes, and other MIDI parameters
• Articulation and Dynamic Control: Apply various articulations and dynamics to notes

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v16+)
• MuseScore 4.x installed
• Knowledge of MIDI and music notation concepts

Installation

# Clone this repository
git clone https://github.com/jonbrantingham/musescore-mcp-server.git
cd musescore-mcp-server

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Configure the server (see Configuration section)

Configuration

Before running the server, you need to configure it by creating a config.json file:

{
  "musescorePath": "/path/to/musescore/executable",
  "midiPortOutput": "MuseScore",
  "midiPortInput": "MuseScore",
  "defaultSoundFont": "/path/to/soundfont.sf2",
  "tempDir": "/path/to/temp/directory"
}

• musescorePath: Path to MuseScore executable (required)
• midiPortOutput: Name of the MIDI output port (default: "MuseScore")
• midiPortInput: Name of the MIDI input port (default: "MuseScore")
• defaultSoundFont: Path to default soundfont (optional)
• tempDir: Path to temporary directory for file operations (optional)

Usage

Starting the Server

npm start

Connecting to Claude

To use this server with Claude:

1. Install Claude Desktop
2. Configure Claude to use this MCP server
3. Enable the MCP tools in Claude's interface

API and Tools

This MCP server provides the following tools:

Score Management

• create-score: Create a new score with specified parameters
• open-score: Open an existing score file
• save-score: Save the current score
• export-midi: Export the current score as a MIDI file
• export-pdf: Export the current score as a PDF file

MIDI Integration

• send-midi-message: Send a MIDI message to MuseScore
• set-channel-volume: Set the volume for a specific MIDI channel
• set-channel-expression: Set the expression for a specific MIDI channel
• set-channel-program: Set the program (instrument) for a specific MIDI channel

Score Editing

• add-note: Add a note to the score
• add-rest: Add a rest to the score
• add-time-signature: Add or change a time signature
• add-key-signature: Add or change a key signature
• add-clef: Add or change a clef

Playback Control

• play-score: Start playback
• pause-score: Pause playback
• stop-score: Stop playback
• go-to-position: Navigate to a specific position in the score

Development

Project Structure

musescore-mcp-server/
├── src/
│   ├── index.ts          # Entry point
│   ├── server.ts         # MCP server implementation
│   ├── midi/             # MIDI-related functionality
│   ├── score/            # Score manipulation functionality
│   ├── utils/            # Utility functions
│   └── types/            # TypeScript type definitions
├── config.json           # Server configuration
├── package.json          # Project dependencies
└── tsconfig.json         # TypeScript configuration

Building

npm run build

Limitations

• This server requires MuseScore to be installed on the same machine
• Some advanced score editing features may require additional setup
• Performance may vary depending on the complexity of scores

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

• MuseScore team for their fantastic open-source notation software
• Anthropic for developing the Model Context Protocol
• Contributors to the MuseScore MIDI implementation