Guide to Free Sheet Music on the Web for Music Students & Teachers

Many composers, Wolfgang Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven among them, have no living descendants and therefore their works have been bequeathed to the world, and to you. Why then are poor college students required to purchase volume after volume of expensive music scores for the purpose of learning a few pieces each semester? Surely not for the enlightenment of reading the editors’ introductions and comments (explanations which can be found elsewhere for less cost).

Thanks to the Internet, archives of public domain music are increasingly readily available to music students, teachers, and performers for the mere cost of paper and ink (plus the use of a computer). Some benefits of using public domain music are as follows:

1. It saves money. A ream of paper will cost you less than most music books and usually contains more pages. An ink cartridge is also cheaper than most music books (I nearly purchased a $70 book of sonatas once) and you can save more money by refilling the ink yourself.
2. This resource allows you to try out pieces without purchasing beforehand music that might not suit you.
3. Music teachers that regularly use public domain music do not need to stock up books for resale or send students and parents on quixotic quests for a particular edition.
4. Public domain music is useful for the study of music literature as it is easily collected and organized and can be studied directly off the computer screen.
5. These scores are often early editions (very quaint in appearance) and may be useful for comparisons in research and analytical papers.

The following are a few tips on printing and organizing public domain music: (more…)

I have been a huge fan of libraries since I was in grade school. Being an avid reader, I would have gone bankrupt years ago had I had to purchase every single book I’ve ever read. Whenever we have moved to a new city, the first thing I always looked up even before moving there was the location of the public library, and one of the first things I always do is go and apply for a library card.

A credit card, when used wisely and responsibly, brings you a number of benefits and can save you money. And so does a library card. The public library is one of your most useful resources for saving money. With a library card, which you can obtain for free, you have almost limitless access to a variety of services and materials such as:

• Books - Fiction
  Especially good for people who read a lot but usually only read books once.
• Books - Non-Fiction
  Books on careers and jobs, writing resumes and cover letters, learning computer software and programming, accounting and taxes, starting your own business, etc.
• Foreign Language Books
  Fiction and non-fiction in foreign languages prevalent in your community. Many California libraries carry books in Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Arabic and Vietnamese.
• Audio Books
  Classic, children’s and contemporary literature on CD or Audio, including new releases and popular titles.
• Music
  Classical, contemporary, film soundtracks, international music, etc. CDs that you can check out just like a book.
• Movies
  Most libraries have movies (DVD and VHS) that you can rent for $1 or $2 and let you keep for a week.
• Magazines
  There’s usually a good selection of general and special interest publications to choose from including titles like: People, Time, Newsweek, National Geographic, Better Homes & Gardens, The Family Handyman, and even young adult magazines such as Seventeen. Instead of paying for a subscription, you can read current magazines at the library and some libraries will let you check out back issues to take home to read.
• Newspapers
  Current editions including local and national newspapers such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, etc. can be read in the library.
• Computers
  Free computer access for word processing or internet use. Instead of paying for computer use at Internet Cafes, you are usually allowed 1 hour of free use per day and more if there are not other users waiting.
• Online services
  You can access online databases of periodicals and articles and educational websites from within the library or your home computer. Many libraries offer online access to e-books, audio books, and music that you can download and read or listen to on your computer.

Continue reading for information on other useful services provided by your library and tips for responsible library use.

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