Yes, I would beam them.

I just entered this pattern into BIAB using a 3/4 style, and BIAB beamed them.

There is a general rule that one does not beam over the middle of a bar, but that doesn't apply here. Go ahead and beam them. It looks better, and you said this is for sight-reading, where making the notation look good is half the battle.

For anyone reading who is not in England, a crochet is a quarter note, and a semiquaver is a 16th note.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.