Hi - where do you go in London to buy sheet music?

I recently visited Chappells, to look for music for viola, piano accomp to a particular violin book, violin and viola duets and trumpet. I was really disappointed in the lack of viola music (my local, very small music shop had more), couldn't find any duet music, they didn't have the accomp book and they didn't have any of the trumpet music I wanted (which were books with exam pieces in). They did seem to have masses of piano music, though!

Was I looking in the wrong place? Where would I find a better selection, especially of string and trumpet music?

Many thanks

Not too clued up on string matters, but for brass, the place to go is Phil Parker, who are in Crawford Street, not far from Baker Street tube.

I'm the same as barri-clarri, I don't play any stringed instruments, so wouldn't know about any shops for that. But for any flautists, I do know a VERY good flute shop- for instruments, sheet music and advice in general. It's in London, and is called Topwind.

Sorry, I haven't been very helpful for this thread. Hope you get some other good answers

Hi - I knew they sold instruments - got my son's new mouth piece from there - didn't realise they had a good selection of music though.




Actually it's more helpful than you realise as my son (the trumpet player) is considering taking up the flute.

I recently went to Chappells with a long list (14 items) of music for piano, 2 piano, flute, tenor/baritone voice duet and tenor voice (the latter 3 with piano accompaniment), some of it moderately obscure. I gave the list to the man behind the counter and he found it all for me within 5 minutes. I suspect the flute music range may be slightly better at both Topwind and All Flutes, and it is moderately likely that any specialist will have a wider range within the specialty but for overall range (and piano music in particular) it was fantastic.

I'm not surprised you didn't like Chappell's, because although they have plently of stock, it isn't organised very easily and is quite discouraging to search for something that you know you want, which is a shame really as I've discovered that they actually have lots of good music.

Aside from that though, there is:

Foyles (recently increased the store to include a huge music section all very well organised in beautiful drawers. It really is surprising the amount that they have there!) - Charing Cross Road
Chimes - Barbican Centre, Royal Academy of Music and South Kensington
Dots Music Shop - Camden
Schott Music (aka Bauer & Hieber) - Great Marlborough Street
Rose Morris - Denmark street
Musicroom - (the physical outlet for the musicroom website) Denmark Street

This used to be called Argents. As the mother of a viola player I have had no trouble getting all her music from either Chappels or musicroom in those stores or online.

If you look at the map, you can walk to Chappells now in Wardour St, Foyles on Charing Cross Rd, there is an alleyway that connects those two, over to musicroom Denmark St or up to Schott in Grt Marlborough st as they are all near each other. Stopping off for a sandwich in M&S! Add to these is Hobgoblins in at 24 Rathbone Place, London, north of Oxford St near the Tottenham Ct Rd end for unusual music, useful to know if you are out doing the "soho" circuit looking for sheet music.

Please do remember to ask the shop assistants. I have spent ages looking for an exam piece, not being able to find it, whereupon when asking the assistant they can put their hands on it immediately.

Musicroom has an excellent online service. I have never had to wait more than 3 days max for an order. I totally gave up on my local music shop for this reason, as I figured they could also order it in 3 days ! Yet I would wait for literally weeks for them to get a delivery. Shame... but there it is.

Thanks for this list - it's very helpful.

If I know what I need I either see if the local shop has it, or I order it online. On this occasion I wanted a good browse through some music (as well as buying specific stuff) as I didn't know exactly what I was looking for. Online isn't much good for that!

I feel a shopping spree coming on!

for my music I go to Northcote Road music store. It is off Battersea Rise and is one bus ride away from Clapham Junction station. They can order stuff in if they do not stock it.

I also go to the store on Denmark street, the musicroom one. They have an impressive collection.

What I find is that Chappels are great for instruments, especally yamaha violins. However when it comes to sheet music itis best to go to you local music retailer like Musicroom(Argents) or Northcote road/Brittens etc...

Foyles is still quite an amazing place and they are so much more better organised than they used to be.

We've had a couple of threads on this in the past here and here. A number of us have found these recommendations very useful.

You can add Foyles onto this walk as well - it's quite near Musicroom. I wnet there towards the end of last year and thought it was brilliant for a browes - just take out one of the draws for your instrument and go through it, then move on to the next one. It's all nicely arranges so easy to find specific stuff too. Which I have found is not the case at Music room. I haven't been to the other shops mentioned (yet) as my local shop is very good and I try to support them, but I feel a post exam London shopping trip coming on in June!

What about Boosey and Hawkes? I haven't been there in person for years now, but I find their online shop very good and fast.

The shop closed down last year, I'm afraid...

I forgot to say that there is also a veritable warren of a second hand bookshop in Hampstead that has a beautiful selection/collection of old scores and manuscripts.

Its all very disorganised and arranged haphazardly in an old cabinet with drawers and you will most definitely find Handel choral works and trumpet pieces in the drawer marked "Chopin", but for me that is what makes it so wonderful and I have unearthed some lovely old copies of music. (including a book of Chopin's Etudes Op.25 with Alfred Cortot's annotations!)

Aside from the fact that the owner has no idea what is there and sometimes makes up the shamefully low prices when you get to the till (prices are written on the music, but then he tends to round the prices down if you buy a couple of things. If you're getting a lot, he's quite happy to bargain with you), there is actually quite a lot of good music there and many of the scores are standard works.

It's on Flask Walk just as you turn left out of Hampstead tube station. Its actually a second hand bookshop and you will notice alll the books laid out on a table outside and then you will have to trip your way through piles of book stacked up at your feet as you try to walk through the store.

Well worth a rummage.

There are 2 Foyles??

Ooh thanks for these because whenever i go to London I'm always tryig to find one. There is Dress Circle in Covent Garden but that specialises in musicals-excellent though.