It's that time of year when backpacks and dorm gear go on sale. There's something fresh and exciting about going back to school. A chance to start anew, make friends, and go to football games. And of course, we've got a list of back-to-school sheet music to get you pepped up. Use the new sheet music coupon below to help you save on your purchase.

Going back to school is also a great time to learn a new instrument. The ukulele is a fun one. It's very compact, and you can stash it almost anywhere. I just got a uke for my birthday, so that's my new instrument of the year. So far, the song I'm learning is Hey Soul Sister. It's fun, upbeat, and our baby loves it.

Of course, if you or your child are joining a band or orchestra, you might opt for a more traditional instrument. I played the flute in band and orchestra. But always loved the cello and the trumpet. Take your pick, and browse the band and orchestra shop. Right now there's an anniversary sale going on through the end of August where you can save up to 88% on instruments.

Free Sheet Music for August

Even though we're starting to think about school again, it's still summer. So download this month's free sheet music, a summery beach song: I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside (piano and guitar). Enjoy!

In our sheet music library, we offer digital, downloadable, and printable sheet music that is instantly accessible. When you access the sheet music for the first time, you will be prompted to install the sheet music reader ActiveX plug-ins. These plug-ins are free software and make the sheet music printable. It will also play along as you read the music. This is a unique feature and very helpful when learning how to play the notes, tabs, or chords.

You can install these plug-ins now, or just install them when you access the tabs. There are 3 different types of plug-ins for the different types of tabs available. They are: Musicnotes Player & Viewer, Sibelius Scorch, and Guitar Guru. You can get a head start and get the free sheet music viewing/printing software now.

1. My Love
   by Sia
2. Hallelujah
   by John Cale, Leonard Cohen, k. d. lang, Justin Timberlake, Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Matt Morris
3. Never Alone
   by Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum, Jim Brickman
4. Better Than a Hallelujah
   by Amy Grant
5. The Prayer
   by Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion
6. Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
   by Chris Tomlin
7. The Lord's Prayer
   by Sister Janet Mead, John Charles Thomas
8. Find Us Faithful
   by Steve Green
9. God On The Mountain
   by Lynda Randle, Bill Gaither
10. Gran Torino
    by Jamie Cullum

Play your favorite songs guitar! Guitar Guru is a guitar course you'll find so interactive and dynamic. You can learn how to play your favorite songs at your own pace. Just load the free and safe Guitar Guru software onto your computer. This guitar course works with the special Guitar Guru sheet music in our sheet music library. When you load the Guitar Guru sheet music into the course software, it will walk you through step by step how to play the song.

You can slow it down or play it at normal speed. One part of the screen shows a guitar where the fingers press down on the frets and where the other hand strums or picks. The other parts of the screen give you more instruction and allow you to control the lesson. It really is like having a virtual instructor!

It's a great combination of learning how to play guitar while playing your favorite songs. It keeps you motivated and interested in what you're learning because you pick your songs, and you learn to play at your own speed. It's audio-visual and technical, for all types of learners.

You've got to try it out if you are interested in learning how to play songs on guitar. And you can continue using this software to learn many, many more new songs as you get more Guitar Guru sheet music to learn and load into the software. Click here to learn more or download the free Guitar Guru software.