Selecting the right music for your instruments – and for your current stage of development as a musician – is an ongoing challenge. As you work with your teacher to expand your craft and your tone, there may be certain pieces which are ideally suited to your style and sensibility.

By all means, consult with your teacher about your repertoire choices. However, if you would like to research your instrument on your own, there is a wealth of information online that can provide ideas, or at least inspire you toward new sounds.

Sites like SheetMusicPlus.com and Alfred.com feature direct links to purchasing scores, sheet music, music books, and other valuable library items. Whether it’s Disney songbooks, musical theater scores, collections of pop-song melodies, or more traditional classical repertoire, these sites have scores for a variety of skill levels, so be sure you are finding music that is well matched to your reading ability and your skill level as a performer.

YouTube features an array of soloists on your instrument too. You may find a performer whose tone or playing style is particular to your liking. You may also hear compositions that you would like to tackle, and composers whose sound is appealing to you.

Expanding your listening to take in more chamber music and small-ensemble compositions is great, but you may find yourself drawn to orchestral works instead. If that is case, and there are symphonies in which your instrument plays melodies that interest you, then your teacher may be able to find individual parts from those orchestral scores.

This study – digging into part-writing that is ahead of what your performance ensemble currently plays – may prepare you well for any new music your conductor(s) choose for the coming years.

For Cincinnati music lessons at our Sharonville studio, and for help with your repertoire and growth as a musician, contact Toedtman School of Music by calling 513.772.7900, or by filling out our online contact form.