diff --git a/basic_format_and_style_settings.ly b/basic_format_and_style_settings.ly
index cefd417..765e251 100644
--- a/basic_format_and_style_settings.ly
+++ b/basic_format_and_style_settings.ly
@@ -215,4 +215,7 @@ dottedExtender = {
                (cons (car x-ext) 0)
                (cons (cdr x-ext) 0))
              grob))))
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+melisOff = \set ignoreMelismata = ##t
+melisOn = \unset ignoreMelismata
\ No newline at end of file