Are you looking for some new flute sheet music? Whether you prefer to shop in person or online, there’s an option for you. I’ve found sheet music in tons of places, and I want to share some of them.
Before you go out and look for sheet music, consider the following places. Then, you can have access to the biggest possible selection of sheet music.
But first, this post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Online
Ordering flute sheet music online can be a great option. You can find sheet music on Amazon, music retailers, and flute retailers. Some businesses only operate online, while others also have brick-and-mortar locations.
Consider some of the specific online places to find flute sheet music in more detail.
Amazon
I know a lot of people hate Amazon, and I’m not the biggest fan of it. However, it is a good place to find certain pieces of sheet music. They don’t have the biggest selection of music, so that’s something to think about.
It’s a great option if you want to receive sheet music quickly. If you have an Amazon Prime account, you can get free two-day shipping on a lot of things, including flute sheet music.
You don’t have to wait days or weeks, so it’s nice if you have an upcoming performance or if you just don’t want to wait. And you don’t need to set up another account (assuming you already use Amazon).
Sheet Music Plus
Another excellent option online is Sheet Music Plus. If you don’t want to support Amazon or if you just want a massive selection of flute sheet music, SMP is the way to go.
Not only can you find sheet music from traditional publishers, but individual composers and arranges can self-publish. If you buy from someone like that, you can even get the sheet music as a digital download.
Then, you don’t have to wait at all to get your music. So if you need a piece for that day or the next day, it’s great. And Sheet Music Plus has the ArrangeMe program, so composers can arrange certain pieces under copyright, and you can buy those arrangements.
MusicaNeo
MusicaNeo is a lesser-known website that has tons of flute sheet music available for free or a small fee. It’s also a great place to connect with smaller composers and arrangers.
I started publishing sheet music on there a few years ago, and I have started adding more pieces to my MusicaNeo catalogue. You can search for pieces to see if they have them available, and it’s great for original music and arrangements.
There’s also a great community on there. If you want a specific arrangement, you can connect with a composer. Then, you can work together to create the piece you want.
WWBW
A more traditional music retailer, Woodwind & Brasswind (WWBW) is a great place to shop for flute sheet music. You can find some music books, sheet music, and even notation paper.
If you also need to buy some accessories, like care supplies, you can get those and some sheet music in one place. That can make shopping online a lot easier, and you can get everything sent to your home.
It’s not specific to the flute, but it is a music-specific site. That means you don’t have to worry about filtering through random stuff like you would on Amazon.
Publisher Websites
Music publishers may not want to split sales and profits with retailers. So they can set up a shopping cart system on their website. Theodore Presser has done this, and you can shop for a lot of their pieces.
They even have some of their titles available for digital download. However, you will only be able to use the digital file in forScore or Newzik. You won’t get a PDF, so you can’t print it out if you want to.
But they can ship their physical copies pretty quickly. It may not be as fast as Amazon, but it’s still nice. Then, you can scan the music into your iPad, and you can have the best of both worlds.
Composer Websites
The growth of the internet has made it easier for composers to start publishing their own music. You don’t have to go through a traditional publisher and take a small commission.
If a composer self-publishes, they will probably have their sheet music available on their site (like I do). Or they might have you email them to place your order. That can be a great way to develop a relationship with a composer.
You can then work with them to make sure you express their ideas in your performance. And you may decide to commission a future piece from them.
Marketplaces
If you’re looking to find used flute sheet music, check out marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Market. Of course, your selection is limited to what’s available at that time.
However, these marketplaces can be a great way to get a piece you need at a discount. As long as you don’t need the music to be in perfect condition, it can be worth shopping around.
You can order the music and have the seller ship it to you. Or you can narrow your search to the local area, so you can meet the seller in person to see what the piece looks like before you buy it.
Free Sites
If you don’t want to pay for flute sheet music, check out some free sites. I’ve used IMSLP, FluteTunes.com, and 8Notes.com. The different sites have different pieces, but they have similar structures.
You can search based on instrumentation, playing level, and other factors. Then, you’ll be able to find a lot of music that you can download and start playing right away.
It’s a great way to find music in the public domain. And on IMSLP, some living composers will upload their music for free. Then, you can play music from tons of eras and styles.
Other
There are also plenty of flute-specific sites, like FluteWorld, Flute Specialists, and more. You can go to the websites for those stores to see what music they have in stock.
And if you live near a flute store, you can even go in person. Then, you can check out the music first. Because that is a big con of buying online: you can’t view the layout to prepare for page turns.
Some editors and publishers don’t take much care into the layout. I’ve seen plenty of pieces where each movement is two or four pages. Instead of the first page being on the left, it’s on the right. So the two pages are back to back.
Music Stores
If you live near a music store, whether it’s a flute shop or a more general retailer, you can look for sheet music in person. There used to be an amazing sheet music store near me in the Kansas City area.
Unfortunately, the shop moved and readjusted their focus to clarinets and clarinet music. But when the store did exist, it was amazing to go shop for music.
I found tons of great new pieces that I wouldn’t have explored otherwise. And I could make sure the piece was easy to read and that the notes weren’t too small.
Libraries
If you’re in college or even if you’re not, you can check out a library to look for sheet music. College libraries have a good selection of flute sheet music, so you can check out the piece you want to learn.
While I haven’t found flute sheet music at a public library, they’re also worth visiting. You may be able to find sheet music either there or through an interlibrary loan program.
Going to a library is great if you need to borrow a piece and don’t want to pay anything. However, it’s not ideal if you want to grow your music library and want to buy music to keep.
Book Sales
You should consider if your city ever has a book sale event. A few years ago, my county’s library had a book sale to get rid of some of their inventory. I lucked into finding a copy of the Maquarre Daily Exercises for like $3.
If your local library or a school or organization has a book sale, go and see if they have sheet music. You can also check out used book stores, like Half Price Books, which has a small music section.
Not only can you find music, but you can save money. Now, you do need to be willing to deal with marks on the music. However, you may find the music you want or need, and you don’t have to order it anywhere else.
Where Do You Get Flute Sheet Music?
Finding flute sheet music can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you want to get some free music or buy, you have tons of options.
If you don’t want to wait, you can find a website with digital downloads. Or you can wait a few days and order from another site. Lastly, you can look at a music store near you.