Have you ever thought of collecting vintage sheet music as a hobby? While the collection value will never match that of other antique items it can still be a fun and rewarding hobby to take on. During the 1890's there was a push to produce sheet music that prominently featured favorite stage songs. As the entertainment industry bloomed and grew so did the drive to produce more sheet music. Radio shows and movies both helped to spur the popularity of sheet music. One of the most common factors for each of the various covers for the sheet music was the presence of the performers who were associated with the original songs. This is the main draw for many collectors today.
At their height of popularity sheet music printings sold a vast number of copies when they were first issued. There are many sources that agree that such hits as Down By the Old Mill Stream and A Bird in a Gilded Cage sold copies that numbered in the millions. It was almost guaranteed that if you were to look in the piano bench of any professional or even amateur musician of that time period you would find stacks and stacks of sheet music such as this. In the early 20th century many people were drawn to the sheet music by the faces of personalities such as Eddie Cantor or Al Jolson who were featured on the covers.
As the years went on other stars like such as Jimmy Dorsey, Rosemary Clooney and more appeared on the cover of sheet music as well. There are many stars that as still sought after today including more recent ones such as Journey or the Beatles. As a rule of thumb, the more popular the artist on the cover is then the more the sheet music will be worth.
Some collectors today are drawn to the artwork itself. Some of the more colorful pieces can look very fetching when framed and placed on a wall. They can look just as nice as any gallery pieces and cost only a fraction of the price. Other collectors may be interested in the sheet music due to the subject of the music itself such as those who collect militaria will be interested in sheet music that is military themed such as a composition that was sung by the Andrew Sisters. The great Irving Berlin may be a huge draw for this group as well as for those interested in the Broadway musicals of that era.
No matter what your reasons for wanting to collect a piece of history you will soon find that it is more affordable than you might have thought. With many pieces going for much less than other antiques from the same era you can soon have a vintage sheet music collection that you will treasure for many years to come.The best way to get started with your collection is by stopping at yard sales or estate sales.
Many times you might find someone who is trying to get rid of old sheet music that one of their parents or grandparents may have left them. This will get you started on your collection. Next check out online sources such as Internet auctions or webstores. You will have that collection much sooner than you may realize.
Here are a few tips on how to choose great Christmas Sheet Music;
1. Make sure it’s original. The last thing you want, when choosing Christmas sheet music, is the same old arrangements that everyone else is playing. Find yourself some lesser known arrangements that are more creative than your standard arrangements. That is sure to impress your audience.
2. When downloading Christmas sheet music look for a sample recording of the arrangement. That way, you will know by the recording whether it’s something that has a difficulty level that you can handle and whether it’s an arrangement you like.
3. If possible, make sure the sheet music has good chord symbols. When you get comfortable with the written arrangement you will want to try different chord voicings.
4. Price is important. For good sheet music you should expect to pay anywhere from 5 to 10 dollars.
5. Free is not always better. Many people search for Free Christmas Sheet Music hoping to save money. However, you should know that you get what you pay for. The music that you will get for free is generally old worn out standard arrangements that will not impress anyone.
6. If possible, purchase sheet music that you can get right away. That means that you will be able to download it in PDF format as soon as you pay for it.
When should you be looking for Christmas Sheet Music? If you’re smart you’ll start looking around the beginning of October. This will give you enough time to practice the arrangement and even memorize it.
Because most people don’t start thinking about Christmas until Thanksgiving, that is much too late to find yourself some great sheet music, unless of course you’re looking to buy gifts for the musician in the family.
Christmas sheet music does a great gift so, if you are shopping for a gift, it’s very important that you pay close attention to the above tips on choosing the right music. The last thing you want is to buy a piece of sheet music that the recipient is not interested in.
What are some of the Christmas sheet music classics that make great gifts? Here’s a few suggestions; Carol of the Bells, Jingle Bells, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Sleigh Bells, Deck the Halls, The Christmas Song and even Silent Night.
Finally, a word of caution; there are so many websites now that sell Christmas Sheet Music. Therefore, try to narrow your search by choosing the exact songs you’re interested in. For example; type the following into a Google search box: “Carol of the Bells Downloadable Sheet Music."
It will save you a lot of time if you know exactly what you’re looking for and knowing the name of the song is part of that strategy.
Both Victor Epand & Paul Tobey are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Victor Epand has sinced written about articles on various topics from Shopping, Trucks and Interest. Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, keyboards, sheet music, guitar tab, and home theater audio. You can find the best marketplace at these sites for