When looking for printed music on the internet, there are some challenges that can make it a tricky search. Then, when the sought after music is found, how can you tell if it exactly what you want? This guide offers helpful search information and tips on what you can do as the buyer, and what the seller can do for you to make it good buying experience.
Music Search
Music Genres (styles)
What the seller can do for you.
What you as a buyer need to know.
Music for Lessons and Study
Advanced Music
Condition – New and Used Music
Music Search.
The first issue any buyer needs to address is how to find the particular needed or wanted piece of music. Searching the word music alone may bring up a huge number of sites that sell CD’s, cassettes and records. Without much additional information, here are some excellent keywords to start your search.
Sheet Music
Songbook
Your song title or songbook title with one of the above.
The genre (style) of music for which you are looking Title
Composer
I also suggest using the advanced search function. On this page there are options that allow you to search with more details successfully.
Music Genres (styles)
Knowledge of general music styles can aid in your search. Here is a basic, but not complete list of genres.
Popular (including Jazz, Rag or Ragtime, Blues, Pop, Rock’nRoll, or decade)
Classical (including instrumental, vocal, chamber, orchestral, opera, art song, ensemble)
Classical eras (Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist, 20-th century)
Sacred (Religious, Christian, Sacred)
Music for Lessons and Study
Buying unfamiliar music for students or yourself sight unseen and without previous familiarity can may for a wary buyer. Asking the seller to send scans or pictures of the actual music is illegal and forbidden by eBay. I suggest purchasing from sellers that have a good return policy should the music not work out for you. What cannot be returned to a retail store is popular music, and the internet seller may also follow this policy. When reviewing descriptions, here is what is reasonable to know. If the information is not in the listing, you may wish to contact the seller and ask.
Level of difficulty: Teachers use the following terms – Beginner, Early Elementary, Elementary, Late Elementary, Early Intermediate, Intermediate, Late Intermediate, Early Advanced, Advanced, Difficult
What key the music is in – how many flats or sharps
Piano/Keyboard Music: hand position – In the easier music levels hand position is important. For example, five-finger position means that each finger plays only one key, no moving. Including the sixth means that the fingers will each play one key and the outer fingers stretch to the next key.
Song titles, words, and pictures – children are very influenced by these. Does the music have words – children like to sing along. Imaginative titles and pictures create a visual image from which to create a beautiful sound.
Length – How many pages is the piece? Young children especially need to play shorter songs.
Advanced Music
Generally, when a buyer is looking for music at the advanced level, enough skill has been achieved that some of the above information may not be necessary. Musicians that have done advanced study in all probability will be looking more for the edition, editor or translator among other particulars. Again, purchasing from a seller with a good return policy will allow you to preview music and return it if it not suitable for your purpose.
Condition – New and Used Music
New Music – New music may be in pristine perfect condition. The more specialized music can be new and show up to moderate outside-of-score wear because of the length of time after printing and before purchase. New music should have no markings on the printed pages.
Used Music – Many terms used to describe books are good terms for printed music. Ruffled pages from liquid or page turning, tears, yellowed or tanned paper, and soil should all be taken into consideration. Any markings should be noted – pencil marks erased or not, pencil marks erased and still visible, and marks made in ink.
An owner’s written name is really of no consequence in music if you are going to use it yourself. Markings of ink may or may not make a difference to the individual buyer. What is the least preferable is music with non-removeable marks on the actual music. Depending upon availability and the cost of a new copy the buyer needs to take into consideration what he or she is willing to accept.
Buying music for pleasure, performance or teaching through the internet can be a great savings and convenience. Having some knowledge from which to start will make a good experience from start to finish.
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