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FREE Resources for musicians
If you've exhausted all your current music supplies there are websites that have music you can download. Here's a list we've compiled. Know any more? Let us know and we'll add them!
IMSLP
IMSLP, also known as the International Music Score Library Project or Petrucci Music Library, was started in 2006. It aims to gather all public domain music scores, in addition to the music scores of all contemporary composers (or their estates) who wish to release them to the public free of charge.
You can search by composer, type of work, instrument, or period/style. It's an absolute treasure trove. I was surprised to even find original compositions for toy piano!
IMSLP also hopes to build a growing community of dedicated musicians and music lovers, who can use the site as a platform for enjoying music. They encourage the exchange of musical ideas outside of compositions: for example, the analysis of a particular piece of music. For general discussions, and IMSLP-related questions, score requests, you can use the forums.
Free-scores.com
Free-scores offers contemporary, classical and educational free sheet music for all instruments. Free-scores.com is a free and legal platform for composers, arrangers and publishers. There may be restrictions on the use of the music, which is detailed in the licence page.
It's quite a busy site, with a lot of ads, but is a useful resource - I've found it especially useful when looking for seasonal music.
The Clarinet Institute
While clarinet focussed, the Clarinet Institute has an archive of music that is free to the public. The music has either been written and published with the permission of the composer/arranger, or the copyright has expired. The copyright gives permission to print, play and perform the music, but not sell or distribute the music.
You can find music for solo clarinet, clarinet and piano, chamber music, duets, quartets, quintets, and concertos. Of course those that understand transposition can also make the most of this resource...
YouTube
Obviously there is an ever increasing amount of content on this site. If you want instruction on how to make a reed, learn how to play an instrument, play a specific piece of music, compare mouthpieces/reeds/instruments etc. you're spoiled for choice.
We have our own page where we give details about instruments and demos - do take a look. And if you have any content requests, do send us your suggestions!
There are other sites, where you can browse music and pay a minimal amount for downloads. Music Notes offers arrangements of popular songs, along with abridged classics.
Do you know of more sites where you can find music? Do share your knowledge!
