Supplies and Resources
Sheet Music
Years ago, sheet music was only in a print format. Now we have digital options available as well. Both formats have their benefits and drawbacks. I have listed below the most common sources.
Print Form:
- Hal Leonard: Hal Leonard Publishing is one of the main publishing companies. They do not sell much (if any) print music directly, but they do direct you to where you can purchase it online.
- Amazon: Amazon is a great place to find music and get it quickly (if you subscribe to Amazon Prime). I like to use Hal Leonard online to search for books with the songs needed in them, and then use Amazon to order them.
- Sheet Music Direct and Sheet Music Plus: These are mainly digital format sellers, but they do sell printed music as well. I will discuss these services below in the digital section.
- Local Music Stores: You can usually order music through your local music store. Most do not carry very much printed music due to the dominance of Amazon. In the Salem Area, Willamette Valley Music Company is a great store to buy and rent from
Digital Form:
- Sheet Music Plus: Sheet Music Plus is probably the most used digital music retailer. Hal Leonard points customers to their site, along with Sheet Music Direct, for purchasing online scores. They do sell printed music as well, but probably cannot beat Amazon prices.
- Sheet Music Direct: Sheet Music Direct is the same type of retailer as Sheet Music Plus and is also used by Hal Leonard. They also sell printed music. Compare with Amazon pricing first.
Violin Lesson Supplies
There are a few must-have supplies for studying the violin:
- A violin: It sounds like an obvious supply someone needs for studying violin, but there is a lot to consider when acquiring a violin. Do you rent, or buy? Cheap or expensive? Online or in a store? Click here for more information on how to find the perfect violin for you.
- Extra strings: A violin string doesn’t last forever, and eventually you will need to buy new strings. There are many options available. Here is an article on the various types of strings.
- Cleaning cloth: Violins are not cleaned with any households cleaning products. After each playing session, your violin should be wiped down with a clean dry microfiber cloth.
- Rosin: This is needed to give the bow hair its “grip”. There are many different brands and price ranges. A basic light colored rosin will work fine for beginners. It shouldn’t be expensive – some of the most expensive brands are $30 or more. If your rosin is more than $15-20, it’s way too much. Ask your teacher for recommendations based off of your needs.
- Music stand: A good stand for your music is something that is overlooked more often than one would think. There are many types; collapsable, lightweight, heavy duty, even tabletop and decorative models. I prefer a heavyweight solid-backed stand that can raise to my eye level.
- Tuner and metronome: A tuner that can create a pitch for all four strings is something necessary for a beginner. As you get more advanced, you only need one that just provides the A string. Getting a tuner that has a built in metronome and is also able to tell you if your strings are in tune is ideal.
Online and Digital Learning Aides
I have found a great value in some online and digital resources. While not all are helpful, necessary, or feasible there are a few things I use constantly.
- Appcompanist:
- Audio accompaniment CDs:
- Practice Space App:
- Tonic app: