How to Collect Old Sheet Music

Music is the only universal language. Two people could be from different ends of the earth and if they know how to read music, they could stand next to each other and sing beautifully together. In that same spirit, collecting old sheet music in various languages and from various styles of music is a great way to tap into the soul of the rest the world. Here are some tips on how to do it.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Define your collection. By deciding the focus of your collection, you'll be able to establish some impressive pieces, while making it interesting for those people with whom you are sharing. For instance if you are a Beatles fan, collect their sheet music published in the 1960s and 1970s. If you dig Broadway, make it a point to collect the score from the show that won the Tony every single year.

2. Place an ad on a community site like craigslist.com. Something like old sheet music is an item people will have stored in their attic, stuffed in their piano bench or otherwise lying around in a box. The point being, they may be more than happy just to give it to you. Place an ad with what you are looking for and let the sheet music come to you. Offer to pay for postage. This will entice people to send it to you.

3. Write to the artist to see if they will provide you with sheet music. As artists and entertainers get older, their popularity usually wanes. By contacting them, you have a great shot of getting a response. Most of these people have appeared in a movie or TV show. Therefore, they have an agent. And according to the Screen Actor's Guild, that agent must be listed. Call the guild at [phone].

4. Browse flea markets in your area. Sites like fleamarketguide.com take all the guesswork out of where the next flea market in your area will be. Instruments and sheet music are always a popular item. They are light to carry and profitable. Just be sure to barter, they expect it.

5. Preserve your old sheet music. Don't just stack it in the closet. Take the time to place it in plastic sheets and cover it in a hard three ring binder. This will keep the paper out of the sunlight and preserve the quality of the music, therefore keeping the value in tact.

6. Insure your collection. This is a step many people forget. But if you truly start to amass something that has a residual value, be sure you get coverage for it. It may cost you a few hundred bucks a year depending on the value, but it will be well worth it in case of fire or flood. While you'll never be able to collect every single piece again, you'll at least have the capital to begin the collection again.

Tips & Warnings

• Form a club for people who want to collect old sheet music as well. Advertise it in your local paper or community site like craigslist.com. Then everyone can share their collection at a monthly meeting.

Resources

• This site will buy, sell and trade old sheet music.
• This is another great place to collect old sheet music.