Forwoods ScoreStore

Forwoods ScoreStore: specialist sheet music retail since 1946

Forwoods ScoreStore is a UK-based sheet music retailer that describes itself as a specialist in the field and dates its activity to 1946. Its catalogue is organised around the needs of musicians preparing for exams, teaching, studying or performing, with separate sections for piano, keyboard, organ, strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, voice, choir, ensemble, orchestral and band music, as well as theory and aural resources.

The company presents itself as a supplier to students, teachers and schools, and states that it is trusted by UK schools and choirs. It also offers a dedicated service for schools, choirs and libraries that includes bulk orders and account support.

Exam-focused catalogue

A significant part of the offer is built around official exam material. The site lists resources for ABRSM, Trinity College London, LCM and Rockschool exams, covering practical and theory syllabuses. For piano alone, the catalogue includes ABRSM, Trinity College and ABRSM Jazz exams, plus graded series such as Best of Grade, Classics to Moderns, Core Classics, Grade by Grade, Keyboard Anthology, Making the Grade, More Romantic Pieces, Romantic Sketchbook, Short Romantic Pieces, Upgrade Series and What Else Can I Play?.

Exam resources extend across instruments: violin, viola, cello and double bass have ABRSM, Trinity and LCM material; woodwind, brass and percussion sections include ABRSM and Trinity exam publications; and vocal exam publications cover ABRSM, Trinity and LCM. Theory and aural resources include ABRSM past papers and workbooks, Trinity past papers and workbooks, theory tutors and workbooks, the Ng Theory Workbooks, the How to Blitz! series, aural survival guides, specimen aural tests and aural training materials.

The site also provides an Exam Music Finder that allows users to select an exam board (ABRSM or Trinity College London) and a syllabus grade to locate relevant publications.

Methods, studies and teaching materials

For piano, the catalogue lists tutor methods from publishers including Alfred, Bastien, Chester, Hal Leonard, John Thompson, Michael Aaron, Piano Adventures, Piano Safari, Piano Time, Piano Trainer, Schaum and Waterman and Harewood, alongside studies such as A Dozen A Day and Improve Your Sight-Reading. Similar tutor and study sections appear for other instruments, including strings, woodwind, brass and percussion.

Teaching resources are grouped under a schools section that includes Rhinegold resources, educational resources, youth choral resources, warm-ups and exercises, school cantatas, school musicals and Christmas cantatas and musicals.

Repertoire and collections

Beyond exam and teaching material, the store stocks performance scores and albums. The piano section includes classical albums, easy albums, pop and movie albums, popular collections, pieces by composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy and Mozart, easier repertoire, piano duet compilations, duets by composer, piano concertos and pieces for six or eight hands. Seasonal Christmas music is listed for piano and keyboard.

For strings, woodwind and brass, the catalogue includes pieces by composer, classical and popular collections, playalong albums, studies and ensemble music. Choral music is organised by voice combination, from two sopranos (SS) and soprano and alto (SA) through SSA, SSAA, SAB, SATB, SSATB, double choir (SSAATTBB), soprano, alto and men (SA/Men), two-part choral (2pt) and men's voices (TTBB), with choral anthologies, vocal scores and singles.

Film and TV music, Disney songbooks, musical theatre vocal scores and selections, opera vocal scores, jazz standards and popular voice albums are also part of the range.

Ensemble and orchestral music

The ensemble section covers string ensembles (duets, trios, quartets, quintets and other combinations), woodwind ensembles (flute choir, clarinet choir, saxophone ensemble, oboe and bassoon ensemble, recorder ensembles and mixed ensemble), brass ensembles (trumpet, horn and trombone ensembles and mixed ensemble) and percussion. For larger groups, the site lists full orchestra, chamber music, concert band, jazz ensemble, flexible ensemble and study scores.

Accessories and gifts

Instrument-specific accessories are available for strings (violin, viola, cello and double bass), woodwind (clarinet, flute and saxophone), guitar and ukulele, and brass, as well as metronomes and tuners, music stands and cases. The catalogue also includes practice notebooks and manuscript paper.

Publishers and promotions

The store stocks publications from a wide range of publishers, including Faber, Peters Edition, Hal Leonard, OUP, Novello, Walton, Carl Fischer, Stainer & Bell, Ricordi, RSCM, Boosey & Hawkes, Schott, Wiener Urtext and Clifton. At the time of writing, the site advertised a 20% discount on Universal Edition and Edition Peters music for a limited time, and a clearance section with up to 50% off selected stock while stocks last.

Ordering and delivery

Forwoods ScoreStore offers free UK delivery on orders over £30. The company states that it can supply thousands of titles beyond those listed online and invites customers to get in touch for help sourcing music, choosing the correct edition or placing a larger order.