diff --git a/client/src/__generated__/graphql.ts b/client/src/__generated__/graphql.ts
index 0d248505..093dced7 100644
--- a/client/src/__generated__/graphql.ts
+++ b/client/src/__generated__/graphql.ts
@@ -811,7 +811,7 @@ export type InstrumentNode = Node & {
   __typename?: 'InstrumentNode';
   bookmarks?: Maybe<Array<Maybe<InstrumentBookmarkNode>>>;
   contents?: Maybe<Scalars['GenericStreamFieldType']['output']>;
-  highlights?: Maybe<Array<Maybe<HighlightNode>>>;
+  highlights: Array<HighlightNode>;
   /** The ID of the object */
   id: Scalars['ID']['output'];
   intro: Scalars['String']['output'];
@@ -2773,7 +2773,7 @@ export type AddContentHighlightMutation = { __typename?: 'Mutation', addContentH
       & { ' $fragmentRefs'?: { 'HighlightPartsFragment': HighlightPartsFragment } }
     ) | null } | null };
 
-export type InstrumentHighlightsWithIdOnlyFragmentFragment = { __typename?: 'InstrumentNode', highlights?: Array<{ __typename?: 'HighlightNode', id: string } | null> | null } & { ' $fragmentName'?: 'InstrumentHighlightsWithIdOnlyFragmentFragment' };
+export type InstrumentHighlightsWithIdOnlyFragmentFragment = { __typename?: 'InstrumentNode', highlights: Array<{ __typename?: 'HighlightNode', id: string }> } & { ' $fragmentName'?: 'InstrumentHighlightsWithIdOnlyFragmentFragment' };
 
 export type ContentBlockHighlightsWithIdOnlyFragmentFragment = { __typename?: 'ContentBlockNode', highlights?: Array<{ __typename?: 'HighlightNode', id: string } | null> | null } & { ' $fragmentName'?: 'ContentBlockHighlightsWithIdOnlyFragmentFragment' };
 
@@ -2794,10 +2794,10 @@ export type UpdateContentBookmarkMutation = { __typename?: 'Mutation', updateCon
 export type MyActivitiesQueryQueryVariables = Exact<{ [key: string]: never; }>;
 
 
-export type MyActivitiesQueryQuery = { __typename?: 'Query', myActivities?: { __typename?: 'ActivityNode', instruments: Array<{ __typename?: 'InstrumentNode', id: string, slug: string, title: string, path: string, highlights?: Array<(
+export type MyActivitiesQueryQuery = { __typename?: 'Query', myActivities?: { __typename?: 'ActivityNode', instruments: Array<{ __typename?: 'InstrumentNode', id: string, slug: string, title: string, path: string, highlights: Array<(
         { __typename?: 'HighlightNode' }
         & { ' $fragmentRefs'?: { 'HighlightPartsFragment': HighlightPartsFragment } }
-      ) | null> | null, bookmarks?: Array<{ __typename?: 'InstrumentBookmarkNode', path: string } | null> | null }>, topics: Array<{ __typename?: 'TopicNode', id: string, title: string, modules?: Array<{ __typename?: 'ModuleNode', id: string, slug: string, title: string, metaTitle: string, myHighlights: Array<(
+      )>, bookmarks?: Array<{ __typename?: 'InstrumentBookmarkNode', path: string } | null> | null }>, topics: Array<{ __typename?: 'TopicNode', id: string, title: string, modules?: Array<{ __typename?: 'ModuleNode', id: string, slug: string, title: string, metaTitle: string, myHighlights: Array<(
           { __typename?: 'HighlightNode' }
           & { ' $fragmentRefs'?: { 'HighlightPartsFragment': HighlightPartsFragment } }
         )>, myBookmarks?: Array<{ __typename?: 'ChapterBookmarkNode', path?: string | null, chapter: { __typename?: 'ChapterNode', path?: string | null }, note?: { __typename?: 'NoteNode', id: string, text: string } | null } | { __typename?: 'ContentBlockBookmarkNode', id: string, uuid?: any | null, path?: string | null, contentBlock: { __typename?: 'ContentBlockNode', id: string, path?: string | null }, note?: { __typename?: 'NoteNode', id: string, text: string } | null } | { __typename?: 'InstrumentBookmarkNode' } | { __typename?: 'ModuleBookmarkNode', path?: string | null, note?: { __typename?: 'NoteNode', id: string, text: string } | null } | null> | null, mySubmissions?: Array<{ __typename?: 'StudentSubmissionNode', id: string, text: string, assignment: { __typename?: 'AssignmentNode', id: string, title: string, path: string, module: { __typename?: 'ModuleNode', slug: string } } } | null> | null, myAnswers?: Array<{ __typename?: 'AnswerNode', id: string, survey: { __typename?: 'SurveyNode', path: string, id: string, title: string } } | null> | null }> | null }> } | null };
@@ -2816,10 +2816,10 @@ export type ContentBlockQueryQueryVariables = Exact<{
 
 export type ContentBlockQueryQuery = { __typename?: 'Query', contentBlock?: { __typename?: 'ContentBlockNode', path?: string | null } | null };
 
-export type InstrumentPartsFragment = { __typename?: 'InstrumentNode', id: string, title: string, intro: string, slug: string, language?: string | null, contents?: any | null, bookmarks?: Array<{ __typename?: 'InstrumentBookmarkNode', uuid?: any | null, note?: { __typename?: 'NoteNode', id: string, text: string } | null } | null> | null, type?: { __typename?: 'InstrumentTypeNode', id: string, name: string, type: string, category?: { __typename?: 'InstrumentCategoryNode', id: string, name: string, foreground: string, background: string } | null } | null, highlights?: Array<(
+export type InstrumentPartsFragment = { __typename?: 'InstrumentNode', id: string, title: string, intro: string, slug: string, language?: string | null, contents?: any | null, bookmarks?: Array<{ __typename?: 'InstrumentBookmarkNode', uuid?: any | null, note?: { __typename?: 'NoteNode', id: string, text: string } | null } | null> | null, type?: { __typename?: 'InstrumentTypeNode', id: string, name: string, type: string, category?: { __typename?: 'InstrumentCategoryNode', id: string, name: string, foreground: string, background: string } | null } | null, highlights: Array<(
     { __typename?: 'HighlightNode' }
     & { ' $fragmentRefs'?: { 'HighlightPartsFragment': HighlightPartsFragment } }
-  ) | null> | null } & { ' $fragmentName'?: 'InstrumentPartsFragment' };
+  )> } & { ' $fragmentName'?: 'InstrumentPartsFragment' };
 
 export type InstrumentQueryQueryVariables = Exact<{
   slug: Scalars['String']['input'];
@@ -2831,10 +2831,10 @@ export type InstrumentQueryQuery = { __typename?: 'Query', instrument?: (
     & { ' $fragmentRefs'?: { 'InstrumentPartsFragment': InstrumentPartsFragment } }
   ) | null };
 
-export type InstrumentHighlightsFragmentFragment = { __typename: 'InstrumentNode', id: string, slug: string, highlights?: Array<(
+export type InstrumentHighlightsFragmentFragment = { __typename: 'InstrumentNode', id: string, slug: string, highlights: Array<(
     { __typename?: 'HighlightNode' }
     & { ' $fragmentRefs'?: { 'HighlightPartsFragment': HighlightPartsFragment } }
-  ) | null> | null } & { ' $fragmentName'?: 'InstrumentHighlightsFragmentFragment' };
+  )> } & { ' $fragmentName'?: 'InstrumentHighlightsFragmentFragment' };
 
 export type MeLanguageQueryVariables = Exact<{ [key: string]: never; }>;
 
diff --git a/client/src/helpers/highlight.ts b/client/src/helpers/highlight.ts
index cfc6bf71..de6aefdf 100644
--- a/client/src/helpers/highlight.ts
+++ b/client/src/helpers/highlight.ts
@@ -384,7 +384,6 @@ export const deleteHighlightCurry = (highlight: HighlightNode) => () => {
         if (success) {
           const page = highlight.page;
           let fragment: DocumentNode, id;
-          console.log(page?.__typename);
           if (page?.__typename === 'InstrumentNode') {
             fragment = graphql(`
               fragment InstrumentHighlightsWithIdOnlyFragment on InstrumentNode {
diff --git a/client/src/pages/instrument.vue b/client/src/pages/instrument.vue
index 977a5b2b..e49b2f73 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/instrument.vue
+++ b/client/src/pages/instrument.vue
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
     <div
       class="instrument__intro intro"
       data-cy="instrument-intro"
+      ref="highlightIntro"
       v-html="instrument.intro"
     />
 
@@ -32,17 +33,24 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { defineAsyncComponent, onUnmounted, ref } from 'vue';
+import { defineAsyncComponent, nextTick, onUnmounted, ref } from 'vue';
 import { useRoute } from 'vue-router';
 import { graphql } from '@/__generated__';
 import { useQuery } from '@vue/apollo-composable';
 import { computed } from '@vue/reactivity';
-import { AddHighlightArgument, InstrumentNode } from '@/__generated__/graphql';
-import { createHighlightCurry, getSelectionHandler, SelectionHandlerOptions } from '@/helpers/highlight';
+import { AddHighlightArgument, HighlightNode, InstrumentNode } from '@/__generated__/graphql';
+import {
+  createHighlightCurry,
+  getSelectionHandler,
+  markHighlight,
+  SelectionHandlerOptions,
+  SelectionHandlerType,
+} from '@/helpers/highlight';
 import { doUpdateHighlight } from '@/graphql/mutations';
 import highlightSidebar from '@/helpers/highlight-sidebar';
 
 const instrumentDiv = ref<HTMLElement | null>(null);
+const highlightIntro = ref<HTMLElement | null>(null);
 
 const ContentComponent = defineAsyncComponent(() => import('@/components/content-blocks/ContentComponent.vue'));
 
@@ -106,46 +114,86 @@ const instrumentHighlightsFragment = graphql(`
   }
 `);
 
-let selectionHandler;
-onResult(() => {
+const markHighlights = (highlights: HighlightNode[], element: HTMLElement) => {
+  for (const highlight of highlights) {
+    markHighlight(highlight, element, element);
+  }
+};
+
+let contentSelectionHandler: SelectionHandlerType, introSelectionHandler: SelectionHandlerType;
+onResult(async () => {
   const element = instrumentDiv.value;
-  const createHighlight = createHighlightCurry({
-    fragment: instrumentHighlightsFragment,
-    fragmentName: 'instrumentHighlightsFragment',
-    cacheSignature: {
-      slug: instrument.value.slug, // this value is only known onResult
-      __typename: 'InstrumentNode',
-    },
+  const intro = highlightIntro.value;
+  const fragment = instrumentHighlightsFragment;
+  const fragmentName = 'instrumentHighlightsFragment';
+  const cacheSignature = {
+    slug: instrument.value.slug, // this value is only known onResult
+    __typename: 'InstrumentNode',
+  };
+  const createContentHighlight = createHighlightCurry({
+    fragment,
+    fragmentName,
+    cacheSignature,
     isContentHighlight: true,
   });
+  const createIntroHighlight = createHighlightCurry({
+    fragment,
+    fragmentName,
+    cacheSignature,
+    isContentHighlight: false,
+  });
+  const openSidebar = (highlight: HighlightNode) => {
+    highlightSidebar.open({
+      highlight,
+      onUpdateText: (text: string) => {
+        doUpdateHighlight({
+          input: {
+            note: text,
+            id: highlight.id,
+          },
+        });
+      },
+    });
+  };
 
   if (element !== null) {
-    const options: SelectionHandlerOptions = {
-      el: element,
-      page: instrument.value,
+    const el = element;
+    const page = instrument.value;
+    const introOptions: SelectionHandlerOptions = {
+      el,
+      page,
       onChangeColor: (newHighlight: AddHighlightArgument) => {
-        createHighlight(newHighlight);
+        createIntroHighlight(newHighlight);
       },
       onCreateNote: (newHighlight: AddHighlightArgument) => {
         // todo: the same as the other one in ContentBlock.vue, possible to merge
         // we also open the sidebar when clicking on the note icon
-        createHighlight(newHighlight).then((highlight) => {
-          highlightSidebar.open({
-            highlight,
-            onUpdateText: (text: string) => {
-              doUpdateHighlight({
-                input: {
-                  note: text,
-                  id: highlight.id,
-                },
-              });
-            },
-          });
-        });
+        createIntroHighlight(newHighlight).then(openSidebar);
+      },
+      parentSelector: 'intro',
+    };
+    const contentOptions: SelectionHandlerOptions = {
+      el,
+      page,
+      onChangeColor: (newHighlight: AddHighlightArgument) => {
+        createContentHighlight(newHighlight);
+      },
+      onCreateNote: (newHighlight: AddHighlightArgument) => {
+        // todo: the same as the other one in ContentBlock.vue, possible to merge
+        // we also open the sidebar when clicking on the note icon
+        createContentHighlight(newHighlight).then(openSidebar);
       },
     };
-    selectionHandler = getSelectionHandler(options);
-    element.addEventListener('mouseup', selectionHandler);
+    contentSelectionHandler = getSelectionHandler(contentOptions);
+    introSelectionHandler = getSelectionHandler(introOptions);
+    element.addEventListener('mouseup', contentSelectionHandler);
+    element.addEventListener('mouseup', introSelectionHandler);
+  }
+
+  if (intro !== null) {
+    const introHighlights = instrument.value.highlights.filter((h) => h.contentUuid === null);
+    await nextTick();
+    markHighlights(introHighlights, intro);
   }
 });
 
@@ -153,7 +201,8 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
   const element = instrumentDiv.value;
 
   if (element !== null) {
-    element.removeEventListener('mouseup', selectionHandler);
+    element.removeEventListener('mouseup', contentSelectionHandler);
+    element.removeEventListener('mouseup', introSelectionHandler);
   }
 });
 </script>
@@ -164,6 +213,10 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
 .instrument {
   padding-top: 2 * $large-spacing;
 
+  &__intro {
+    position: relative;
+  }
+
   &__title {
     font-size: toRem(35px);
     margin-bottom: $large-spacing;
diff --git a/server/basicknowledge/queries.py b/server/basicknowledge/queries.py
index 3cef4a98..56287e71 100644
--- a/server/basicknowledge/queries.py
+++ b/server/basicknowledge/queries.py
@@ -44,7 +44,9 @@ class InstrumentNode(DjangoObjectType):
     type = graphene.Field(InstrumentTypeNode)
     contents = GenericStreamFieldType()
     language = graphene.String()
-    highlights = graphene.List("notes.schema.HighlightNode")
+    highlights = graphene.List(
+        graphene.NonNull("notes.schema.HighlightNode"), required=True
+    )
     path = graphene.String(required=True)
 
     class Meta:
diff --git a/server/schema.graphql b/server/schema.graphql
index 6e3ec22e..8d0af943 100644
--- a/server/schema.graphql
+++ b/server/schema.graphql
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ type InstrumentNode implements Node {
   bookmarks: [InstrumentBookmarkNode]
   type: InstrumentTypeNode
   language: String
-  highlights: [HighlightNode]
+  highlights: [HighlightNode!]!
   path: String!
 }