Do I make black royal icing the same way as buttercream, starting with making it brown then adding black? I did that with buttercream and it still as not a rich black color. I am making music notes cookiees and need them to be a rich shiny black.

Yes, just like adding it to BC icing.

You can try using Americolor super black gel color - you can start from white RI, no need to get it brown first.

I just made a really dark black for my paisley cake (look in my pics). I started with moss green then brown mix each well then add black worked out nice. Used the same idea on some buttercream and the adults couldn't believe how balck they were.
Dawn