$75 on books

[c_minor]

Hi everyone,

My uncle gave me $75 and I've decided to spend it on books. I'm thinking of getting sheet music and books on arranging popular music. Do you have any recommendations? Books must be available in amazon.com.

Thanks!

[visitor]

buy used where you can, you can almost double what you can buy over new.

[chopinlover01]

What does your current library consist of?

[quantum]

Absolutely agree with the above.  Buy used.  Amazon is convenient, but when it comes to buying books a bricks and mortar sale can often score gems.  

Look around for sales at universities, libraries, churches and music organizations as these have the potential to have a large concentration of books your are interested in.  You need to choose your booksales wisely though, do some research before hand.  Timing is also very important at these sales: which days you decide to go, and the time you decide to cash out.  Time it well and you can get more books for your money.  Knowing how to negotiate a deal is also a large help - in other words talk to people, don't just hand over your cash.  

I've been able to get quality editions that would have retailed for $20-30 for $1 or even less by going to these sales.  It's a great way to build a library.  Sometimes these old editions are made better than current prints with glued binding that falls apart far to easily.  

[kawai_cs]

I bough some pre-owned sheet music from amazon and it is almost like new.
Not sure what you already have, what you like and are actually looking for. To name just a few examples I think it is nice to have Bach's WTC, Beethoven's complete sonatas, Chopin etudes, Mozart's sonatas, Joplin's ragtime classics.

[briansaddleback]

Be careful on the Beethoven sonatas make sure they are on par w quality of manuscript work of henle at least

[huaidongxi]

since you mentioned books on arranging popular music, that by itself is a big can of worms.  much of what is termed 'the classics' has passed into common domain, and their cost can vary quite a bit not just from new vs. used, but how particular you are about the editions you want in your library.  you will find fewer options for instructional books on arranging from lead sheets or basic sheet music of popular songs, and might wish to narrow those down to what you will really find useful and compatible for the kind of arrangements you want to play.  if you already possess a thorough understanding of harmony and theory, reading through the reviews on amazon might be enough to guide you, but you could easily lose most of your budget into that category.  o.t.o.h., if you really like a wide range of 'classics' (in contrast to having a good selection of three or so favorite composers),you will probably need to be very selective with the popular/arranging works.

[chopinawesome]

In my library, I have a ton of random books. But the ones that mean the most to me are:
Bach French Suites BWV 812-817, Henle
        English Suites BWV 806-811
Mozart Nineteen Sonatas, Complete(Epstein) G.Schirmer
Haydn,Beethoven,Mozart Sonata Album Book I, G.Schirmer
Liszt Consolations and Libestraume,Schirmer
Chopin Favorite Piano Works,Schirmer
          Polonaises,Complete(Mikuli),Schirmer
Schumann Arabeske Op.18,Alfred
               Scenes from Childhood Op.15, Keith Snell
Liszt Valse Oubliee No.1,Schirmer
A bunch of 4-8 page 20/21st century music booklets.

[c_minor]

Thanks to everyone who replied. Yes, I will consider buying used items. Question though: how can I be sure that the items I'm going to buy are in good condition?

What does your current library consist of?

I have some books on playing (Gieseking, Hofmann, etc.. quite a lot to list). For sheet music, I have Clementi Sonatinas, Joplin's works, and some Disney songs.

Not sure what you already have, what you like and are actually looking for.

I'm looking for pieces that are around late beginner level (e.g. Clementi Op. 36 Nos. 1-3). I like Chopin and Brahms, though I think they're going to be difficult for me at the moment.

Currently thinking of getting Grieg's Lyric Pieces and Kuhlau's Sonatinas. Opinions?

[chopinawesome]

Chopin
Get Chopin:An Introduction to his Piano Works(Alfred)


Brahms
Waltzes

Bach
Short Preludes


Kohler:Sonatina Album(a lot of Sonatinas,including kuhlau Opp.20 and 55)

[quantum]

Question though: how can I be sure that the items I'm going to buy are in good condition?

An advantage to going to an actual book sale, as opposed to online, is that you can see the condition of the books.  Also depends on the person: some people like their books pristine, others get annoyed with new spines not staying flat when playing at the piano, so they break them open. 

Sometimes it is just a great deal, even if the book is well used.  You might even luck out on well annotated music with fingering and analysis.