Let's say you're a musician. A pianist, even. Like most normal, everyday people, you probably have internet access of some kind. Sure, it's tops for keeping in touch, streaming silly videos, and downloading anything that's out there.
But what about getting onto the internet in a better fashion? Doctors use online patient-record systems. Researchers use the global span of hundreds of search engines. Scientists stay abreast in every development in their field. So why should you, talented musician that you are, not have access to the same quality stuff that the rest of them can?
A Niche Market
Because the world of piano transcriptions is quite a niche market, and only useful to a specific number of people, its online presence has flagged.
It's out of date. Just as we're watching movies through our computers now, why should digital piano music be left behind? Shouldn't there at least be a reliable site online for piano transcriptions we can trust?
You Thought DRM Was Bad?
If you thought music copyrighting was backwards, you should see some of the sites selling sheet music.
Some require you to have a 100% working printer, because you will only have one tiny moment to print your music after buying. If something messes up, you're out of luck.
Other sites selling classical music have crazily altering standards when talking about their files. Sometimes you'll get a PDF, other days a set of JPEGs that don't print properly, and sometimes you'll be left with a proprietary file that's of no use to anyone.
Sites With Forums are The Way to Go
The only true way to guarantee the sheet music you're buying is proper is with the testimony of others. If other people are using the site's transcriptions, and insisting they are OK, you can buy with confidence.
One of the leading sheet music portals, PianoStreet.com, has also put into place a huge online forum community around its offerings. To tell the truth, the site came from an earlier forum, named pianoforum.net, so the sale of piano transcriptions was something that came naturally, instead of a straight-up business from the moment of conception.
Don't Go For a Site That Doesn't Give You Audio Versions
Why download and pay for sheet music if you can't hear what they should be like when played? Fine, your piano teacher may play it for you, but if you're in this alone, you'll need to find a legitimate recording to hear how it should sound.
A proper sheet music site should provide extensive mp3 samples of their music, adding reams of value to the actual transcriptions. Online Forums/Businesses like PianoStreet.com have dozens of their most typical easy/intermediate bits online in mp3 format, the exact ones that any fresh musician is desperate to learn.
Subscription Models are The Future
Even though content producers won't budge much, many admit that the future of music online is going to be in subscription models, where you will give a fixed rate and get everything you want.
Companies like PianoStreet.com have taken on this for their business model, providing monthly memberships that permit the user unlimited access to top-shelf sheet music.
Light at the End of the Tunnel
So it's not all terrible. A few choice sites, led by PianoStreet.com's contributions, are advancing the way digital piano music will be sold in the future. Never mind the rest and stick to the best!