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How to Find Out of Print Sheet Music

Out-of-print sheet music attracts individuals for different reasons. In some cases, individuals frame the covers as art. Others seek out a specific composer or stage star such as Irving Berlin, Count Basie and Louis Armstrong or sheet music written for Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers. Alternatively, music lovers might wish to play something from another era for personal enjoyment. The challenge is to find out-of-print sheet music in good condition at a reasonable price. Anyone can enjoy this pursuit with very little investment yet walk away with timeless sheet music.

Instructions

- 1
  Research and define the category of music you wish to find. Optional searches include by instrument type, era, style and historical among other topics. Explore big band, jazz, blues, ragtime and film or stage. Keep a log of single titles that you wish to find.
- 2
  Join the New York Sheet Music Society. Like-minded collectors meet monthly to buy, sell and exchange out-of-print sheet music. Receive a monthly newsletter for updates on events, exhibits and activities revolving around all aspects of the music business, including out-of-print music.
- 3
  Look to The Film Music Society, whose aim is to promote public awareness of past and present film music. Receive the quarterly journal, The Cue Sheet. It informs members of film music news, articles and reviews, among other music-related topics. Go online for membership, purchasing out-of-print music and for resources and links.
- 4
  Contact antique dealers of musical instruments and other musical memorabilia, such as Hawthorn̵7;s Antique Audio in California, which offers sheet music for sale or the option of bidding online through its record auctions for more-uncommon pieces. Music Memorabilia in New York offers out-of-print sheet music and a monthly flea market.
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  Attend estate sales and flea markets as an inexpensive option. It is more hit-or-miss, but a find is a real treasure. Look where books, postcards and cards or miscellaneous items are displayed.
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  Acquire music through rare and out-of-print book shops. Outlets can be found online through AcqWeb's Directory Rare and Antiquarian Book Vendors. Also find rare and antiquarian-related associations and organizations on AcqWeb, which offers insight, references and other searches.
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  Look in the digital media centers or sheet music libraries of institutions such as Duke University; the University of California, Berkeley; and the University of California, Los Angeles. Also explore the Library of Congress American Memory Collection for historic sheet music. Through these sources, individuals may request and order reproductions for personal use. Also check out specific libraries such as the Big Band and Jazz Music Libraries.

Other Collecting