Staff Picks: June 2026

Welcome to Schott Staff Picks, a monthly roundup where our ragtag team of musicians, music lovers, and afficionados pick out their favourite sheet music titles, both old and new. Whether it's beloved classics, contemporary soundtracks from our film fans, jazz standards from icons, or folk tunes from all sorts of composers and artists, our selection aims to cover every style, instrument, and difficult level.

So have a look at our picks for June 2026 below, and expect our honest, personal takes, including anecdotes, historical context, tips, and whatever else we think of as we recommend whatever might be piquing our interest!

RECOMMENDED BY ALISON

 

The Musical Vegetable Patch

Kristina Arakelyan

My choice this month is The Musical Vegetable Patch by Kristina Arakelyan from Stainer & Bell.  A more charming book I have never come across!

Meet Mr and Mrs Muschumann, Master Mozartichoke and Señor Avantcado… composers animated in their vegetable form!  Little piano pieces introducing early-grade pianists to the style of each era.  The compositions capture the spirit of each era very musically and the general animation of the book is fun and elegant.  It is a very easy book to enjoy as the performer, teacher or audience.

View in store

 

RECOMMENDED BY SAM

Music from Minecraft

Daniel Rosenfeld

I won’t always necessarily opt for the nerdy picks (I am classically trained believe it or not!), but I’ve just been really enjoying this soundtrack recently in all of its calmness and creativity. The nostalgia of Minecraft music never leaves for those of us that grew up playing it, and there’s something really special about being able to bring that to life on the piano yourself.

Video game music publications are still few and far between, but I think this is a piano album that makes a lot of sense to exist with just how intimate the Minecraft music is.

View in store

RECOMMENDED BY ELLE

 

Rêverie

Angela Morley

There's just something about that 'old Hollywood' sound that oozes with emotion, that knows just how to pull at your heartstrings. This short, gorgeous piece by film composer and orchestrator Angela Morley emulates those sounds perfectly through her unique but easily 'hummable' melodies.

You may not know her name but she has worked with the likes of John Williams on some iconic pieces of cinema: from Star Wars and Superman, to Home Alone and Watership Down. In 1974, Morley became the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a prestigious Academy Award. It took me years to find out that Morley actually composed (uncredited) the music for my favourite musical of all time, The Slipper and the Rose. You can really feel her cinematic influences shine through this Rêverie beautifully.

View in store

 

RECOMMENDED BY NATAN

How to Train Your Dragon

John Powell

By 2010, I was already well past my fascination with animated films, holding on to the favourites like Shrek and The Emperor's New Groove, but with littly interest in what was to come from Disney or Dreamworks. Lo and behold, 2010 rolls around, How to Train Your Dragon is released and, needless to say, I was completely floored by the fun of its world-building, the sincerity of its story, and most of all the absolutely fantastic score!

Chockfull of memorable themes, special mention is due to "Test Drive", which might be among the most stirring pieces of music put to screen, complete with the bagpipes and dulcimers straight out of composer John Powell's own Scottish heritage. OMNI Music Publishing's orchestral study score for How to Train Your Dragon really is essential reading for fans of the soundtrack.

View in store