The Internet has afforded us a plethora of opportunities that were not available to me when I was a young student. Digital downloads have made recordings affordable and accessible. YouTube videos abound, some with instructions, some with performances, but all free to anyone with Internet access. And we now have digital music publishers and resources that have opened up a world of sheet music to our fingertips. Today, I will share my favorite resources, and explain why they are helpful when studying music.
Amazon Music
Amazon Music is by far my go to for any musical recordings I’m looking for – solo pieces, symphonic pieces, quartets, etc. I often find what I need in the digital music section. Sometimes I buy the CD, but only because I still own a CD player. I have various playlists that I save pieces to, and when I’m looking for inspiration, this is where I start.
YouTube
My second stop when looking to listen to music, YouTube also offers lots of great resources when I’m teaching classes and lessons about different forms of music, composers, and different styles of music. The video element is a great opportunity for students to see instruments they wouldn’t see otherwise.
Several Suzuki teachers have recorded videos for their students, and they are great resources to watch for. Cadenza Strings, in NC, is one of my favorites for this. Videos are available at full speed and slow practice speed.
IMSLP.org
IMSLP.org is a free, online database of music that is in the public domain. Think of it like a Project Gutenberg for sheet music. If you’re a history buff, like I am, you will love this resource. Some pieces even have original manuscripts! So much fun!
I usually start here anytime I’m looking for sheet music. Of course, more modern pieces that are not yet in the public domain would not be found here, but when you’re looking for something from an older composer, start here. It’s fun to just browse the categories, too. I have found new favorite pieces I never knew existed! I’ve even downloaded a copy of Leopold Mozart‘s violin method. The text is in German, but I can still read the musical notation!
Shar Music
Now, for violin, viola, or cello related supplies, and more recently published music, I start at Shar Music. I have always supported small businesses over big corporations, as long as they offer value. And boy do they ever at Shar Music! A family-owned business in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Shar Music has grown over the three decades I have been a customer. But their business model has stayed small, and I feel like part of the family.
Strings, sheet music, method books, rosin, shoulder rests, instrument cases, chin rests, etc. Not only do I often find the best price here, the customer service reps are the most knowledgeable I’ve ever dealt with. Many times, I’ll call to get more information on the item I’m looking for, so I can be sure I’m ordering the right thing. Occasionally I find a better price at Amazon, but more often than not, Shar is the place to go.
Suzuki Association of the Americas
Any time I have questions regarding the Suzuki Method, Suzuki Association of the Americas is my first stop. You don’t have to be a member to get the benefits of hundreds of thousands of teachers, parents, and students putting their heads together in the forums and discussion threads. Great articles and lots of resources about the Suzuki Method can be found here.
Wikipedia
I know, I know – I almost didn’t put this one on the list. But honestly, every search on any topic I do on the Internet includes a Wikipedia article. While I wouldn’t use Wikipedia as my main source for scholarly work, it is a phenomenal starting place on any topic I might want to look into. Use the References section of any article to find out more (if the article doesn’t have one, then obviously take the article with a grain of salt).
Google Books
A lesser known service of Google, Google Books offers a huge collection of public domain books from thousands of libraries across the country. I don’t find a lot of sheet music here, but I have found some fascinating pedagogical works on violin teaching in general, teaching specific works, and preparation for advanced studies – all for free! Always the historian, there are also some really interesting articles to be found in old magazines that are no longer available: Violins and Violinists Magazine, The Etude Magazine, and many more!
The Violin Society of America (VSA)
The Violin Society of America is a great resource to keep up with what’s going on in the violin world today. You can learn about competitions, rising stars, new brands of violins, all kinds of articles on what makes good violins, and new composers.
American Viola Society (AVS)
Like the Violin Society of America above, the American Viola Society is the what’s-what of the viola world. Anything you ever wanted to know about the viola can be found here. Being a violist, this is actually higher up on my personal list.
Violinist.com
Violinist.com is a phenomenal community resource for anything and everything about the violin and viola. Lots of great articles, discussion forums, and a directory of teachers and performers.
Your turn!
What resources are your favorites? Let me know in the comments below. I love checking out new websites!