​Andy Scott gave the world premiere performance of Solitudinal. His playing brings out the piece’s fluidity and sense of exploration.

​Joshua Hyde gives a clean and expressive performance of Etude No. 1. It shows how naturally the music flows when played with attention to phrasing and control.

​Edited by Alison Stephens, whose lasting influence on mandolin pedagogy and performance remains deeply appreciated, this 16-page edition is aimed at intermediate players (approximately grades 3–5). It brings together solos originally written for mandolin alongside carefully adapted works for violin, cello, or flute, preserving the character of each piece while ensuring playability on the mandolin. The selection includes Telemann’s spirited Allegro and lyrical Soave from his fantasias, Bach’s elegant Bourrées from the cello suites, Sauli’s Preludio and Corrente, Lecce’s Partitas in C and G, Gervasio’s Allemande en Rondeau, and Denis’s De La Reine de Golconde. Where necessary, pieces have been presented in slightly simplified forms, with some ornamentation adjusted or removed to support smooth learning and confident performance.

Detailed performance notes accompany the music, offering guidance on dynamics, tone production, plectrum technique, and fingerings—practical advice designed to help players achieve clarity and musical expression. Priced at £15, the collection is available both as a printed score and as an instant PDF download, making it easy for mandolinists anywhere in the world to begin exploring this sophisticated yet approachable repertoire without delay.

This historical focus is complemented by The Mandolin Companion (am514-25), a thorough 77-page technique resource co-authored by Alison Stephens and Chris Acquavella. Drawing on more than 25 years of teaching experience, the book provides structured exercises covering daily warm-ups, scales, tremolo development, dexterity work, arpeggio patterns, and solutions to common technical difficulties. It is equally valuable for beginners establishing solid foundations and for more experienced players seeking to refine their technique across classical, folk, or contemporary styles. Priced at £20, it is offered in print or as a convenient PDF download.

For players building confidence in solo repertoire, Signposts (am514-08) by Hugh Boyde offers an engaging 12-page collection of eight pieces suited to advanced beginners and lower-intermediate levels. It features original works such as the lively “Rise and Shine” and “Study in G,” together with arrangements of familiar pieces including Jeremiah Clarke’s “Trumpet Voluntary,” Fernando Sor’s “Fernando’s Study,” a homage to John Dowland in “Mr Dowland’s Mandolin,” a traditional “Gaelic Air,” “Calypso,” and “Scarborough Fair.” The collection supports technical growth while introducing a range of musical styles and encouraging players to experiment with their own arrangements. At £8, it is available as a printed score or instant PDF download.

These publications sit within our broader mandolin sheet music catalogue, which includes beginner tutors and studies, solo pieces, duets (mandolin with guitar, harp, mandola, or piano), trios, ensembles, and mandolin orchestra material. The selection spans classical traditions, folk influences, and modern compositions, ensuring there is suitable material for every level and interest. Nearly all titles are offered as instant PDF downloads in addition to printed editions, allowing mandolinists worldwide to access professional-quality music quickly and conveniently.

We welcome mandolin players everywhere to explore our range—whether you are drawn to the elegance of 18th-century solos, the structure of technical exercises, or the variety of intermediate repertoire.​

Many performances of ‘Three Letter Word’ can be found online from musicians all over the world, including the performance shown above featuring Kenta Saito & Aki Matsumoto, and below featuring Chad Lilley & Liz Ames. 
The piece features on the album ‘Westland’ a collaboration between Andy Scott, Timothy McAllister & Liz Ames. Visit astute-music.com to pick up your hard copy or PDF copy of the score for ‘Three Letter Word’ as well as the recorded version on the album ‘Westland’.

Nothing beats hard copy scores, especially when working with students and performing/gigging live: making notes on the fly and building up a personal library and repertoire over years is extremely rewarding. However, with the rise of instant downloads, PDF music definitely has an array of benefits. For the travelling and working musician, having an entire library of scores available on a tablet, phone, laptop or iPad can be extremely useful for any quick set changes as well as studying pieces and making notes remotely or on the go. Many of the pieces available at Astute music also include live band backing tracks, soundbites and QR codes to compliment the studies, so using an iPad/laptop would absolutely enhance that experience and bridge the gap between paper and technology. In addition to these benefits of quick, remote note taking and having an abundance of sheet music at your fingertips, going paperless is a great eco friendly alternative to paper copies, especially when learning a piece for a one off performance or quick study. 

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PDF’s can also be a great enhancer to any hardcopy pieces of music, especially for longer term study or preparing for an exam: having a digital copy of the music with you wherever you go can be extremely beneficial for quick reading or note taking/ annotations on the go, which can easily be erased or adapted so you can keep your hard copy clean of notes to be passed onto other musicians or students. In Addition, helpful notes can be shared remotely through email or airdrop style transfers without the need of a scanner, perfect for sharing quick notes with students in our out of lesson time!  

You can find downloadable/printable PDF versions of our publications on our website on the product page, and downloading a digital copy will also save you 25% off the hard copy price! 

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