diff --git a/mscxyz/score.py b/mscxyz/score.py
index 719320d..7d8d049 100644
--- a/mscxyz/score.py
+++ b/mscxyz/score.py
@@ -283,8 +283,7 @@ def read_as_text(self) -> str:
 
         :return: The content of the MuseScore XML file as text.
         """
-        with open(self.xml_file, "r") as f:
-            return f.read()
+        return utils.read_file(self.xml_file)
 
     def reload(self, save: bool = False) -> Score:
         """
diff --git a/mscxyz/utils.py b/mscxyz/utils.py
index 726409c..4a0f2a3 100644
--- a/mscxyz/utils.py
+++ b/mscxyz/utils.py
@@ -591,3 +591,12 @@ def save(self, dest: str | Path) -> None:
             for file_name in files:
                 zip.write(root / file_name, relpath / file_name)
         zip.close()
+
+
+def read_file(filename: str | Path) -> str:
+    """Read the MuseScore XML file as text.
+
+    :return: The content of the MuseScore XML file as text.
+    """
+    with open(filename, "r") as f:
+        return f.read()
diff --git a/tests/helper.py b/tests/helper.py
index 2db43bf..100a9e8 100644
--- a/tests/helper.py
+++ b/tests/helper.py
@@ -104,13 +104,6 @@ def reload(src: Score | str | Path) -> Score:
     return Score(src.path)
 
 
-def read_file(filename: str | Path) -> str:
-    tmp = open(filename)
-    output = tmp.read()
-    tmp.close()
-    return output
-
-
 def get_file_type(file: str | Path) -> str:
     """Get the type of a file using the `file` command."""
     output: str = subprocess.check_output(
diff --git a/tests/test_meta.py b/tests/test_meta.py
index 8a23493..5cdea2c 100644
--- a/tests/test_meta.py
+++ b/tests/test_meta.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 import mscxyz
 import mscxyz.meta
-from mscxyz import meta, supported_versions
+from mscxyz import meta, supported_versions, utils
 from mscxyz.meta import (
     Interface,
     InterfaceReadOnly,
@@ -1078,13 +1078,13 @@ def test_legacy(self) -> None:
         ).score()
         json = score.json_file
         assert json.exists()
-        assert '"readonly_basename": "meta-all-values"' in helper.read_file(json)
+        assert '"readonly_basename": "meta-all-values"' in utils.read_file(json)
 
     def test_json(self) -> None:
         score = (Cli("--json").append_score("meta-all-values.mscz").execute()).score()
         json = score.json_file
         assert json.exists()
-        assert '"readonly_basename": "meta-all-values"' in helper.read_file(json)
+        assert '"readonly_basename": "meta-all-values"' in utils.read_file(json)
 
 
 class TestClassMeta:
@@ -1114,7 +1114,7 @@ def test_method_export_json(self) -> None:
         result_path: Path = self.meta.export_json()
         assert result_path.exists()
 
-        json: str = helper.read_file(result_path)
+        json: str = utils.read_file(result_path)
         # json = (
         #     '{\n    "combined_composer": "vbox_composer",\n'
         #     '    "combined_lyricist": "vbox_lyricist",\n'
diff --git a/tests/test_score.py b/tests/test_score.py
index e03fdbb..3b79b88 100644
--- a/tests/test_score.py
+++ b/tests/test_score.py
@@ -62,14 +62,12 @@ def test_property_basename(self) -> None:
     def test_method_save(self) -> None:
         score: Score = helper.get_score("simple.mscx")
         score.save()
-        result = helper.read_file(score.path)
-        assert '<metaTag name="arranger"></metaTag>' in result
+        assert '<metaTag name="arranger"></metaTag>' in score.read_as_text()
 
     def test_method_save_new_name(self) -> None:
         score: Score = helper.get_score("simple.mscx")
         score.save(new_dest=str(score.path))
-        result = helper.read_file(score.path)
-        assert '<metaTag name="arranger"></metaTag>' in result
+        assert '<metaTag name="arranger"></metaTag>' in score.read_as_text()
 
     def test_mscz(self) -> None:
         score: Score = helper.get_score("simple.mscz")
diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
index c1d78fd..6066bcd 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ def test_xml_write(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     dest = tmp_path / "test.xml"
     element = lxml.etree.XML("<root><a><b/><c/></a><d><e/></d></root>")
     utils.xml.write(dest, element)
-    result: str = helper.read_file(dest)
+    result: str = utils.read_file(dest)
     print(result)
     assert result == (
         '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>\n'