In CMoS, see 3.5: Text Figures and Plates, which notes that musical examples frequently appear as "examples" instead of "figures."
At the Jacobs School of Music, doctoral document formatting instructions include the following:
- Use a high-resolution scan, or use music notation software to create your own example.
- Each example must have both a number and a caption.
- You can handle the numbering in simple fashion "Example 1, Example 2, Example 3," or, go by chapter (Example 2.1, Example 2.2, Example 2.3).
- The caption template is: Composer name, Title of composition, place (movement and measure numbers). If your document concerns only one composer, you can omit the composer name.
- Center the music example on the page. In Chicago style, the caption goes above the example with left-side justification. The Jacobs School will also allow the caption to appear under the example, but centered.
- Spell out keys (G Major, not g). Don't italicize common musical terms. Don't capitalize sections, such as introduction or finale, etc. In a range of measures numbers, insert an en dash (not a short regular dash). Example: mm. 180–181, not mm. 181-181.
