Sonya guides music enthusiasts through the Music Collections at City Library.

“Where words fail, music speaks” - Hans Christian Andersen 

Have you ever wanted to play a musical instrument but didn’t know where to start?  The City Library is here to help you on your way to busting out some epic riffs – or plucking gentle lullabies on the harp (yes, we have harp manuscripts!). 

Where to start?  Let’s start at the very beginning, shall we? (Because Julie Andrews was onto something!) 

Begin your journey on Floor 2 of the library, with our magazines.  The library has subscriptions to Guitar Player and Guitarist, which are ideal for helping budding rockers select the right instrument.  There are other magazines for music-lovers too, like MOJO, BBC Music magazine, and Rolling Stone, to give you inspiration.  

Next, make your way to Floor 1.  We have a wide variety of scores, displayed against the wall near the science books, from Ukelele: The World’s Friendliest Instrument to Beethoven’s Complete Piano Sonatas (or Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course for soon-to-be Mozarts!).  There are guitar TAB books too, like Bob Dylan for Guitar TAB and Simple Fingerstyle Guitar Songs.  We have music for piano, guitar, ukelele, violin, the drums, recorder, vocals, flute, saxophone, vibraphone, xylophone, organ... and many more! (And of course, yes, the harp!)  There are also duets and other ensemble scores too. 

Whilst on Floor 1, check out the 785–788s in the main non-fiction collection.  There are a range of “how to” music books here, many aimed at beginners, such as Hal Leonard Guitar Method – Complete Edition, and Simply Drums.  And if you’re after a little logic, music theory books are found in the 781s. 

Last, but by no means least, if you know a child (or are a child at heart!), the Children’s Collection on the ground floor has some wonderful music books too, such as My First Recorder Music and Easy Piano Tunes. 

Let the music begin!