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Piano Resources
About the Music Collection
The Music Collection of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) is one of the outstanding public library music collections in the United States, with close to 80,000 books and scores; 28,000 recordings; 400 periodical, newsletter and serial titles; an expansive video and DVD collection; music scores in CD-ROM and online versions; online databases for research and listening to music; and numerous special files and indexes that cover all aspects of music, including material related to music in the Pittsburgh area.
About the Piano Collection
- Over 15,000 piano music scores for classical and popular (jazz, popular songs) styles. Classical works include pieces for harpsichord. Scores include CDROM collections of individual composer's works.
- Over 900 classical (solo) piano CDs.
- Over 400 piano instructional books, videos and DVDs.
- Thousands more CDs, videos and DVDs of classical (e.g. concertos, chamber music), jazz, rock, ragtime, blues, new age and world music performances.
- Plus a digital piano to preview scores after you have browsed our shelves for the music you need.
Return to the topBrowse the Shelves!
Music Scores
Music scores are available as Printed Scores, on CD-ROM or as Music Scores Online.
Printed Scores
Library of Congress Call Numbers ("q" indicates an oversized book)
| (q) M20 - 22 | Solo piano (miscellaneous collections, works of one composer or two composers) |
| (q) M23 | Piano sonatas |
| (q) M24-31 | Suites, individual works, pieces for one hand, variations, marches, dances |
| (q) M32-39.6 | Solo piano arrangements (e.g. opera, choral, jazz, easy piano) |
| (q) M200-212 | Piano music 4 hands (includes original works and arrangements) |
| (q) M214-216 | Two or more pianos, three or more performers |
| (q) M217-285.6 | Piano and one instrument |
| (q) M310-344 | Piano and two instruments |
| (q) M410-449 | Piano and three instruments (e.g. piano quartets) |
| (q) M510-549 | Piano and four instruments |
| (q) M610-649 | Piano and five instruments |
| (q) M710, M810, M910 | Piano and seven, eight, nine instruments |
| (q) M1010-1011 | Piano with orchestra (includes full and reduced scores, cadenzas) |
| (q) M1110-1111 | Piano with string orchestra |
| (q) M1378-1380 | Piano music for children (easy/beginner pieces) |
| (q) M1627-1998 | Piano/vocal scores of songs (popular and topical) |
Dewey Decimal Call Numbers
(Dewey books and scores, with or without an "M," are interfiled)
| (q) (M)786.4-786.46 | Solo piano works (e.g. 786.41 Sonatas) |
| (q) (M)786.49 | Arrangements |
| (q) (M)786.4901 | Two-piano music |
| (q) (M)786.4902 | Music for one piano, 4 hands |
Please note that the range of Dewey call numbers indicates solo scores for this instrument. If looking for other works, please ask a librarian for assistance.
Music Score CD-ROMs
CD-ROM music scores can be found on the shelf in the "CD-ROM Collection." CD-ROM scores appear in the catalog as a Music Score with the words "electronic resource" after the title. To search in the catalog, use "Advanced Keyword." Enter the composer name and the words "electronic resource." Then limit the material type to Music Scores.
Music Scores Online
See Music Scores Online under Databases.
Instruction Books
Library of Congress Call Numbers ("q" indicates an oversized book)
| (q) MT220-258 | Piano instruction, studies, and methods |
Dewey Decimal Call Numbers
(Dewey books and scores, with or without an "M," are interfiled)
| (q) (M) 786.3 | Instruction |
Instruction DVDs and Videos
Older DVDs and videos are in Music, Art and Dance--Mus I Pia
Newer DVDs and videos are in Nonfiction Video--MT 220 - 258
Other Books
Library of Congress Call Numbers ("q" indicates an oversized book)
| (q) ML650-747 | Piano history and criticism, construction, repair (includes books about harpsichords and clavichords; see ML549 for other early keyboard information) |
Dewey Decimal Call Numbers
(Dewey books and scores, with or without an "M," are interfiled
| (q) (M) 786.1 | Piano history |
| (q) (M) 786.2 | Manufacture, tuning, temperament |
Sound Recordings
Sound recordings are available as CDs or to Listen online. Some historical recordings can also be found on LP and other formats.
CDs
Some piano-related CD categories (see "Browsing for CDs" for details):
| Bl | Blues Music |
| Cm | Chamber Music |
| Co | Concertos |
| Jz | Jazz |
| La | Latin Music |
| Na | New Age |
| Pf | Piano (classical) |
| Po | Pop Music |
| Rg | Ragtime |
| Ro | Rock Music |
Listen online
See Listen online under Databases
Search the Catalog
Below are examples of useful subject headings for searching in "The Catalog." See "Catalog Tips for Music" for further help on searching.
Scores and sound recordings
(Scores and sound recordings use similar subject headings)
piano music
piano music arranged
piano music 4 hands
piano music jazz
piano music ragtime (and so on)
piano music pianos 2 and
piano music pianos 2 arranged (for two pianos)
piano ensembles (for three or more pianos)
piano music Russia
piano music France (works for anthologies… more results by composer search)
flute and piano music OR
flute and piano music scores and parts
violin and piano music OR
violin and piano music scores and parts (and so on)
To find scores for popular songs, use "Advanced Keyword," type "piano" and the name of the song in quotes.
Instruction Books
piano instruction and study
blues music instruction and study
piano methods
piano methods self instruction
piano methods juvenile
piano methods jazz (and so on)
Other Books
piano bibliography
piano construction
piano history
piano makers
piano maintenance and repair
piano music bibliography
piano music history and criticism
piano music discography
piano music interpretation
piano performance
piano tuning
pianists
pianists biography
pianists interviews
Periodicals
The Carnegie Library subscribes to the following piano periodicals. These can only be used in the library.
Clavier (U.S., 1962 to date)
Monthly (except June and August). Profiles and interviews of classical players, teachers and composers. Articles on teaching methods, artists of the past, and other topics. Reviews of newly published works and educational materials. Some issues include discussions of a composer and analysis of one or more of his works.
Keyboard (U.S., 1985 to date)
Monthly. Focus of magazine is mostly on electronic keyboards and the artists, but pianists are also featured. Emphasis on styles other than classical. Articles on artists and products. Reviews of recordings, instruments, and equipment. Features on technique, how-to-play a particular solo/work.
Musi Key Keyboard (U.S., 1998 to date)
Annual publication. Provides information about keyboard music-in-print, excluding songs with printed lyrics. Searchable by title, composer/arranger and arrangement. Ask a librarian at our reference desk.
Databases
Music History and Indexes
| Index to Printed Music | Main Library Access Only | NO Remote Access | ||
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Citations for individual pieces of classical music printed in standard scholarly editions.
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| JSTOR | Library Access Only | NO Remote Access | ||
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Full-text archives of many core scholarly journals, particularly in the humanities, social sciences & music.
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| Music in Print | Main Library Access Only | NO Remote Access | ||
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lists currently available printed music.
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| Music Index | Library Access |
Remote access
(CLP Card) | ||
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Citations to articles appearing in music periodicals back to 1979.
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| Oxford Music Online | Library Access | Remote Access | ||
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Includes The Oxford Dictionary of Music, Grove Music Online (includes the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Grove Dictionary of Jazz and Grove Dictionary of Opera) and The Oxford Companion to Music.
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Listen Online: Streaming Music
| African American Song | Library Access |
Remote access
(CLP Card) | ||
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Historical Recordings of African American music
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| American Song | Library Access |
Remote access
(CLP Card) | ||
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This site contains over 12,000 tracks (with more added regularly) that illustrate our country’s history through music. Songs by and about American Indians, miners, immigrants, slaves, children and many others are included. Of particular interest is the index by historical event.
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| Classical Music Online | Library Access |
Remote access
(CLP Card) | ||
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Listen to classical music online
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| Contemporary World Music | Library Access |
Remote access
(CLP Card) | ||
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A new addition, this site aims to be one that “delivers the sounds of all regions from every continent.” Currently this constantly growing site features over 8,000 tracks of music from around the world.
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DRAM Online
Digital Recordings of American Music | Library Access | NO Remote Access | ||
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A scholarly resource of recordings, including liner notes and essays, from New World Records, Composers Recordings (CRI) and other labels such as Albany, Frog Peak, Mode, and XI.
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| Naxos Music Library | Library Access |
Remote access
(CLP Card) | ||
|
Listen to classical, jazz and world music online.
You must use the log out button when exiting this database, or future log-ins may be unsuccessful.
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| Naxos Music Library Jazz | Library Access |
Remote access
(CLP Card) | ||
|
Listen to streaming audio of jazz music.
You must use the log out button when exiting this database, or future log-ins may be unsuccessful.
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| Smithsonian Global Sound | Library Access |
Remote access
(CLP Card) | ||
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Listen to world, folk and traditional music online.
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Music Scores Online
| Naxos Music Library Sheet Music |
LIMITED*
Library Access |
Remote Access
(CLP Card) | ||
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View and download classical and jazz sheet music.
This database requires the Freehand Solero Viewer plugin to download and view sheet music.
You must use the log out button when exiting this database, or future log-ins may be unsuccessful.
* ONLY accessible in Music, Film and Audio, Main Library, Oakland
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Web Resources
National Piano Foundation
http://www.pianonet.com/
Website is educational in its content. Provides facts about the history of the piano, a list of piano manufacturers and a link to the piano teacher directory of The Music Teachers National Association.
Piano World
http://www.pianoworld.com/
Links to over 1,000 pages of piano-related information.
The Steinway Society of Western Pennsylvania
http://www.steinwaysoc-wpa.org/
Pittsburgh-based piano society has concert series, young artists' recitals, juried competitions and other special events.
Hours/Contact Us
Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 8 PM
Friday-Saturday 9 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday 12 -5 PM
Music/Film & Audio, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
4400 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-622-3105
musicdept@carnegielibrary.org
