Why to buy sheet music?

[be4stelectrjc]

Why to buy sheet music if the score you want is in public domain on imslp? Advices?

[j_menz]

1) Because it's often not.

2) Because it's sometimes cheaper than printing/binding your own.

3) Because it's a better edition.

4) Because it's easier to find pieces (or so I keep telling myself, evidence to the contrary notwithstanding)

5) Luddites of the world unite! Rise up against the machine!

6) I like the look/feel of a well bound edition.

[mjames]

Not everything's available on IMSLP...

Not to mention there are some obscure composers that people won't even bother to scan. Some scores can only be accessed through public archives in libraries and stuff. Also, there are quite A LOT of composers and desirable editions that are still under copyright.

[visitor]

Because playing from PDF ie copy paper printed scores sucks. 
Because scan quality for lots of things often sucks
Because learning from good high quality books rocks
Because learning from vintage books is sexy
Because if no one buys sheet music eventually no one will be able to buy sheet music ( or it at least becomes harder and harder to do so)
It is easier to save your old work notes from previous learning romps in the actual bound score vs keeping track of loose sheets
It's nice to sometimes have the oversized option ( along w hood quality paper and that groovy off white color paper) and double sided pages to learn long pieces
Etc

[be4stelectrjc]

Not everything's available on IMSLP...

Not to mention there are some obscure composers that people won't even bother to scan. Some scores can only be accessed through public archives in libraries and stuff. Also, there are quite A LOT of composers and desirable editions that are still under copyright.

I know what are you talking about:)
I need a score of Messiaen and no one has it. The problem is that costs 100$.

Because playing from PDF ie copy paper printed scores sucks.  
Because scan quality for lots of things often sucks
Because learning from good high quality books rocks
Because learning from vintage books is sexy
Because if no one buys sheet music eventually no one will be able to buy sheet music ( or it at least becomes harder and harder to do so)
It is easier to save your old work notes from previous learning romps in the actual bound score vs keeping track of loose sheets
It's nice to sometimes have the oversized option ( along w hood quality paper and that groovy off white color paper) and double sided pages to learn long pieces
Etc

1) Because it's often not.

2) Because it's sometimes cheaper than printing/binding your own.

3) Because it's a better edition.

4) Because it's easier to find pieces (or so I keep telling myself, evidence to the contrary notwithstanding)

5) Luddites of the world unite! Rise up against the machine!

6) I like the look/feel of a well bound edition.

I totally agree with you, my grandfather was a concert pianist and i have thousand of scores, but even maniac shopping desires.

[chopinlover01]

Learning from printed out scores is most of the time possible, but with many of the scans on IMSLP being questionable at best, a good edition is often a much better choice. Plus, it's easier to keep track of, less bulky than a binder, and you can actually read the damn things (8 staves to a piece of paper on IMSLP my arse).
Learning from a good edition is also a good experience, as the top editions like Henle Urtext and Paderewski often (but not always) have good fingerings written in that can be helpful, that are simply not there and that you'd have to make up yourself without the help of it being there and saving those hours. That said, there's also a lot to be learned by making your own fingering, so there's that.

[michael_sayers]

I need a score of Messiaen and no one has it. The problem is that costs 100$.

Hi be4stelectrjc,

Why don't you use an interlibrary loan?


Mvh,
Michael

[be4stelectrjc]

Learning from printed out scores is most of the time possible, but with many of the scans on IMSLP being questionable at best, a good edition is often a much better choice. Plus, it's easier to keep track of, less bulky than a binder, and you can actually read the damn things (8 staves to a piece of paper on IMSLP my arse).
Learning from a good edition is also a good experience, as the top editions like Henle Urtext and Paderewski often (but not always) have good fingerings written in that can be helpful, that are simply not there and that you'd have to make up yourself without the help of it being there and saving those hours. That said, there's also a lot to be learned by making your own fingering, so there's that.

There are interesting editions out there, with fingerings by concertists like Hamelin.

Hi be4stelectrjc,

Why don't you use an interlibrary loan?


Mvh,
Michael

How does it work?

[michael_sayers]

Hi be4stelectrjc,

An interlibrary loan might not even be necessary if a library in your area has the score.  To check out a copy, from the library directly or through interlibrary loan, you'll need to be a library member. 

There is the WorldCat catalogue for searches:

https://www.worldcat.org/


Mvh,
Michael

[be4stelectrjc]

Hi be4stelectrjc,

An interlibrary loan might not even be necessary if a library in your area has the score.  To check out a copy, from the library directly or through interlibrary loan, you'll need to be a library member. 

There is the WorldCat catalogue for searches:

https://www.worldcat.org/


Mvh,
Michael

I am not a library member, the score is in the worldcat catalogue. Is my only option ask to my conservatory's library to do a loan for me? Thanks.

[michael_sayers]

I am not a library member, the score is in the worldcat catalogue. Is my only option ask to my conservatory's library to do a loan for me? Thanks.

Hi be4stelectrjc,

The conservatory library should be able to do a loan for you.  I am surprised they would be missing music by a major composer from their collection.

City libraries used to want proof of residence for membership, and country libraries would charge a fee.  However, I've checked things out of university libraries without being a student or a member when these were State universities and I was a resident of that State.  That was in the U.S. many years ago, and I'm not sure what conditions are now.


Mvh,
Michael

[indianajo]

Sheet music is 9" x 12" and copy machines do 8.5" x 11". 
The paper on a good edition is stiff, 25 lb or so.  the copy paper from the machine at the library is 15 lb stock or something vile.  Also the copy paper from the library printer turns yellow in a couple of years. 
One doesn't have to maintain a vile imported computer printer to buy sheet music.  The manufacturers have the life of ink jet printer cartridges engineered down to 6 weeks, if you don't use it every day to keep the ink flowing. A $40 cartridge every 6 weeks, what a rip off. Or you can use a laser printer, which burns 600 w continuously. Those displays you put on a music stand, they have a life limited to how long you can go without dropping it. I suppose all music school graduates are svelt and never bump into things - I'm lucky my piano weighs 350 lb and doesn't fall over if I bump into it.   

[visitor]

Sheet music is 9" x 12" and copy machines do 8.5" x 11". 
The paper on a good edition is stiff, 25 lb or so.  the copy paper from the machine at the library is 15 lb stock or something vile.  Also the copy paper from the library printer turns yellow in a couple of years. 
One doesn't have to maintain a vile imported computer printer to buy sheet music.  The manufacturers have the life of ink jet printer cartridges engineered down to 6 weeks, if you don't use it every day to keep the ink flowing. A $40 cartridge every 6 weeks, what a rip off. Or you can use a laser printer, which burns 600 w continuously. Those displays you put on a music stand, they have a life limited to how long you can go without dropping it. I suppose all music school graduates are svelt and never bump into things - I'm lucky my piano weighs 350 lb and doesn't fall over if I bump into it.   

word.

i heart oversize editions on good heavy stock with clear typset and smart page layout. totally worth the cost.

[michael_sayers]

Sheet music is 9" x 12" and copy machines do 8.5" x 11".

Hi Indianajo,

A professional copy machine includes A4 which is fine for 9" by 12" sheet music though it is a bit fidgety as one loses some of the margin space.


Mvh,
Michael

[imaginatorium]

People have given good reasons for buying music, but here's a positive advantage of printed out PDFs: page turns. I always tape the A4 sheets together in a continuous strip, then I can put whichever range of 2-3-4 pages I'm working on on the music stand. Often (e.g. Cortot's Chopin op25) two-page pieces seem perversely keen to be on opposite sides of a page, and that problem goes away. I also think it's very helpful not to have the sections you practise end up determined by wherever the page turns are.

[michael_sayers]

Here is an alternative:

Mvh,
Michael