The top sheet music stores in Toronto are diverse in nature. Many of the top musical instrument stores in Toronto carry a sizable selection of sheet music, with some stores having a particular focus such as classical or by instrument (ukulele users can get songs via Corktown or Scarborough uke jams). As Steve's Music store says, "Now that you've purchased your instrument, you'll need to learn how to play it." And yes, if you're serious that involves reading staves.

Space and customer demand can limit in-store availability, so retailers often purchase online from publishers and order-in sale items for patrons. Though a lot of material is online for "free" download, arrangements can be wrong (assembled by amateurs) or illegal to download in the first place. It's worth noting the Toronto Public Library also has sheet music in their stacks.

As NYC's last classical sheet music store shutters (RIP), here are my picks for the top stores for buying sheet music in Toronto.

The Remenyi House of Music
Remenyi has a reputation for piano sales and restorations, as well as being one of Canada's largest print music stores. They maintain thousands of stock of classical, pop, folk, and jazz for all levels of musicians and educators. Remenyi boasts 10,000 choral music samples on display, and have access to music publishers worldwide.

Song & Script
You'll find Song & Script in the Cumberland Terrace walkway, not upstairs on Bloor Street as the address suggests. Co-owner Dane Taylor is knowledgeable, helpful, and keeps a blog of new releases. S&S sells CDs and has a solid selection of songbooks in the Broadway, jazz, piano, guitar, classical, and children's genres in-store and online.

Long & McQuade
Along with instrument sales and rentals, L&M carries sheet music in many categories, in-store and for order. Musicians and instructors will find books from beginner guitar and piano to advanced solo, plus bagpipes, mandolin, woodwind, percussion, orchestral strings, and more. Price ranges vary from inexpensive to higher for digital download.

Cosmo Music
In Richmond Hill, Cosmo has instrument sales/rentals, audio gear, and a concert hall - plus a solid selection of sheet music, music theory books, and teaching materials (CDs, DVDs, flashcards, digital downloads). Cosmo carries song books for all levels for piano, guitar, strings, brass, woodwind, and other instruments.

The Sound Post
The Grenville St. store The Sound Post specializes in sales of and servicing violins and other stringed instruments. Students, soloists, symphony players, folk, jazz, classical musicians and instructors can shop in-store and online, and watch out for clearance sales.

Ten Editions
Where would you look to find sheet music nowadays? Try one of Toronto's best bookstores, Ten Editions. The store is at the border of U of T and has rolling ladders to traverse the various finds. You'll find a nice sheet music collection at Ten Editions. Trivia: The name comes from the owner's ten children.

Merriam Music
Mostly a piano sales and school, Merriam Books is their separate music book section The selection is not as large as some other music stores, but the choices do include Fakebooks (think Coles Notes for minimum learning requirements) for pop, rock, and jazz. They also have sheet music for play-alongs, and movie soundtracks and musicals.

Steve's Music Store
The selection of available sheet music and learning books isn't as large as the other stores of comparable size, but Steve's still recognizes that once you have your favourite instrument in hand, you'll need to learn how to play it. They carry beginner's books, with a leaning to modern pop, rock, and country artist song books.

Scarboro Music
Independently owned and operated in the Beaches for over 40 years, Scarboro Music is a full instrument retailer and music school. They claim to carry the largest music book inventory east of Yonge St. Included are RCM books, and Hal Leonard, and Faber & Faber books. Items can be ordered in-store as well.

Chapter's-Indigo
Browsers' paradise Chapters-Indigo carries many popular, musical, band-oriented, and classical sheet music bestsellers in-store (often previously browsed). Online selection is larger and direct to home or in-store delivered.

What did I miss? Leave your top stores for buying sheet music in Toronto in the comments.

See also

Toronto's best musical instrument stores in Toronto

Photo by Opal in the rough via Flickr