JustSheetMusic

Journal

Notes on the repertoire

The stories behind the scores, and practical guidance for choosing what to play next.

  1. Music Trivia Questions and Answers

    Music trivia is a fun American pastime that tests our knowledge of musicians, their most notable works, and the fascinating lives they led during their active careers.

  2. The Yellow River Cantata

  3. Gerontius, Elgar, and the Task of Setting a Vision to Music

  4. A Brief History of The Piano

    The history of the piano comes from centuries of stringed keyboard designs that were tested over time by well-known composers such as Bach, Liszt, Haydn, and Beethoven.

  5. Harvey Lavan Cliburn Jr., R.I.P

  6. Hector Berlioz: Bearer of Romanticism's Torch: Part I

  7. When Les Bouffons Tipped Off the Enlightenment

  8. IMSLP.org - The Perfect Place for free sheet music

  9. From Cimarosa to Lady Gaga

  10. Operatic History through a Shakespearean Lens

  11. JSM Book notes: Music from Three Points of View

  12. William Alwyn: The Film Composer Who Wrote Five Symphonies

    William Alwyn scored around two hundred films and wrote five symphonies while barely anyone noticed. A guide to his music and what is available to play.

  13. Remembering Bob Fosse

  14. Dave Brubeck: Rest in Peace

  15. Gifts for Musicians That Get Used (2026)

    A guide to buying for a musician without guessing: what is safe to buy, what is not, and why sheet music is the present most people overlook.

  16. Most Famous American Composers of the 21st Century

    There are many famous American composers whose award-winning work has been performed globally and used in mainstream TV shows, films, and festivals.Famous American composers may not be in mainstream media, but many of us have probably heard their music in TV shows, films, festivals, and musical performances.

  17. 4 Simple Steps to Learn How to Sight Read

  18. From Offenbach to 'Weird Al'

  19. The Music and Sound of Doctor Who

    The Doctor Who theme was built from tape, valve oscillators and razor blades before synthesisers existed. How the sound was made, and what of it can be played.

  20. Does Santa Claus Own “Ho, Ho, Ho”?

  21. Two Civil-War Tunes Go Marching On

  22. Ballet as an International Language

  23. How to Choose a Metronome (2026)

    Mechanical, digital, clip-on or wearable — which kind of metronome suits how you actually practise, with current models and what each is genuinely for.

  24. An Appreciation of Aaron Copland

  25. The 1980's Songs - Top 100 Picks

  26. A Composer Who Understands Fractals: Charles Peter Wuorinen

  27. A Brief Performance History of Bach's Goldberg Variations

  28. Brief History of Guitars

  29. The rise of Clint Mansell

  30. The Best Beginner Piano Books to Buy Today

  31. The Birth and Transformation of a Carol

  32. Jazz Vocalist Heleen van den Hombergh

  33. Hector Berlioz: Bearer of Romanticism's Torch: Part II

  34. At The Met: Queen Dido Abandoned Yet Again

  35. How to Write Music Like a Pro

  36. Romanticism and Beethoven: Part One

  37. Friedrich Kuhlau: The Sonatinas Every Pianist Meets

    Kuhlau wrote the sonatinas that half the piano-playing world learns in its fourth year, and a flute repertoire that earned him a nickname. What to buy and where to start.

  38. Piano Practice Tips: How To Get Better

  39. The Different Types of Pianos to Be Aware Of

  40. In The Center of the Semicircle, Part I

  41. Helpful Sight Reading Tips to Read to Improve Your Musical Abilities

  42. Bruno Bartoletti is Gone: William Bolcom Lives On

  43. Rise of the Sound Engineer

  44. 1812 in History and Music

  45. Verdi in Hartford: That Old-Time Religion

  46. The Five Greatest Trojan-War Operas

  47. In the Center of the Semicircle, Part II

  48. JSM Book Notes: Great Quotes and Other Musical Matters

  49. Top 10 most famous composers on the internet

  50. Tips To Play Electric Bass Guitar Better

  51. Coolest Guitars You Have Ever Seen

  52. A Philosopher, Humanitarian, and Musician: Albert Schweitzer

  53. Michael Jackson the Father, Poet Songwriter, Dancer, Superstar

  54. Famous Movie Composers You Didn't Know From Your Favorite Movies

    Discover the influence that famous movie composers had on cinematic history that you may not have known about. Find out more about the composers who wrote the music for your favorite movies.

  55. Investigating Michael Jackson’s Subjectivity

  56. Voi Che Sapete In Performance: A History

  57. Les Misérables - Two Schönberg and Boublil Collaborations

  58. The Music For An Old And Lasting German Legend

  59. Top 15 Songs of 2000's

  60. Learning Guitar: What You Need to Know About Sheet Music

  61. Paul Was Not Dead, and Was Not a Walrus Either

  62. Top 12 String Guitar Songs

  63. Men at Work: R.I.P. Greg Ham

  64. Best Guitar Tips For Beginners

  65. Fishing in the Depths of Benjamin Britten

  66. Three Movies about the World of Ballet

  67. Mozart and Salieri: Not Characters in a Movie

  68. Ken Russell, Rest in Peace

  69. Romanticism and Beethoven: Part Two

  70. Effective Tips - How to Clean Guitar

  71. Songs of the 1990's: Top 20 Picks

  72. Three Recent, and Very Different, Books on Music

  73. What Is a Metronome? Here's What You Should Know.

  74. Thoughts on Louis Armstrong and A Few Words about Miles Davis

  75. Greatest Guitar Solos Of All Time

  76. Ten Great Tunes with Railroad-Themed Lyrics

  77. Anton Rubinstein and Sacred Opera

  78. Johann Sebastian Bach

  79. Tyrants as Music Critics

  80. Tips to Help You Better Read Those Tricky Ledger Lines

  81. Masters of Jazz Trumpet: Stanko, Sobczak, Sandoval

  82. What do we miss about Michael Jackson?

  83. 3 Instruments You Should Learn Today