Piano Books

My First Book of Christmas Songs: 20 Favorite Songs in Easy Piano Arrangements

Amazon Price: $5.95 List Price: $5.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Dover Publications Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $3.04

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Subjects -> Entertainment -> Music -> Musical Genres -> Classical -> General
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Music -> Musical Genres -> Religious & Sacred Music -> Christian

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A couple of sour notes, but overall...good. 4 out of 5 stars.
20 of 21 people found this review helpful.

Having purchased this for my kids to use and practice in time for Christmas 2005, I pretested all the music and found it to be a nice starter set of Christmas music for the piano student in their first or second year of training. The arrangements tend to be minimalistic. Caveat: there are at least two obviously wrong notes in The First Nowell and Jingle Bells, so you'd be well advised to correct them once you find them; hopefully they'll fix them by the time a second edition rolls out. Nice features: Each song can be played without turning pages. A charming black-and-white illustration accompanies each song. There's also a list of the songs in order of difficulty for those who want to learn the songs that way.

Editorial Review:

Beginning pianists will love playing these beloved favorites in musically attractive, easy arrangements: Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, Joy to the World, Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Little Town of Bethlehem, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, 12 more. Includes illustrations.

Piano Adventures: Lesson Book Level 1

Nancy Faber; Randall Faber

Amazon Price: $6.95 List Price: $6.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: FJH Music Company, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 36 new & used starting at $2.37

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> General AAS
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great 1st learning piano Book 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This is a clear and easy to understand book for very beginners of piano. It makes learning fun and enjoyable.

Editorial Review:

Contents include: Alarm Clock; Au Clair de la Lune; Bongo Drummers; Boogie on Broadway; Boy on a Bicycle; The Bubble; C Chord March; Chords in G; Classic Dance; Dinosaur Stomp; Ferris Wheel; Firefly; Forest Drums; Girl on a Bicycle; Grumpy Old Troll; Half-Time Show; The Haunted Mouse; Jazzy Joe; The Juggler; Jumbo's Lullaby; Kite in the Sky; Legato Skips; Legato Steps; Lightly Row; Li'l Liza Jane; The Lonely Pine; Magnetic March; Merlin the Wizard; Mexican Jumping Beans; My Pony; No Moon Tonight; Paper Airplane; Party Song; Playful Porpoise; Rain Forest; Row, Row, Row Your Boat; Runaway Rabbit; Russian Sailor Dance; Sailing in the Sun; Scarf Dance; Shepherd's Song; Skipping in Space; Sneaking Past the Sleeping Dog; Soaring Eagle; Song for a Scarecrow; The Super Secret Agent; The Talking Tuba; Tap Dancing; Two-Note March; Warm-Up in G; When the Saints Go Marching In; Young Hunter.

Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Lesson Book, Level One

Willard A. Palmer

Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $9.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Alfred Publishing Company Amazon Marketplace: 73 new & used starting at $4.96

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 43 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

This is an amazing course 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I have never played piano before and I'm halfway through book 1. I'm taking my time, but its been about 3 weeks. The stuff coming from my fingers sounds like real music and I'm using both hands to play complex music. I never felt overly intimidated though, each new song is a challenge, but never too much of one. The first few songs take minutes, then a couple sessions. I try to practice in tiny chunks (I have a 5 year old son), of about 15 minutes and the length of the songs in this book are great for that. I can't recommend this highly enough.

Alfred's Piano 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought the book AND the CD from Barnes & Noble. I don't know why Amazon doesn't stock them both together. I found the book very good, but the CD has a really cheesy soundtrack which sometimes drowns out the piano examples. The pages are clear and precise, the diagrams easy to see, and the concepts clear. Overall I would say that this is a good book for the beginner and you really should buy it WITH the CD, just try and forget the awful din coming from your speakers; just listen to the piano examples to see what it should sound like.

Editorial Review:

A beginning course for adults who prefer a chord approach. It teaches chords for both hands so that the student can play more than single note melodies. It contains outstanding songs such as "The Entertainer," "Scarborough Fair," "Greensleeves" and "Amazing Grace."

The Piano Handbook: A Complete Guide for Mastering Piano

Carl Humphries

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Backbeat Books Amazon Marketplace: 52 new & used starting at $18.34

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 60 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

previous piano experience required! 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This should be called the "piano review" workbook. The problem with experienced teachers and authors is they don't understand the mind of the beginner. They assume we already know things, or gloss over important details, or leave them out all together.

I think the author should have spend more time proofing the materials being taught, rather than babbling on with history lessons about people that have no relevance to the topics and techniques being taught.

The total glossing over the major and minor scales is horrible. To many "see if you can figure out...." without any followup explanation to check our work. To many new concepts found in the musical examples with no explanations as to their meanings.

This is not a book for beginners. It is good for picking up a tip here and there if you already have experience.

Very disappointed.

Editorial Review:

With clear and easy-to-understand exercises, The Piano Handbook is perfect for anyone interested in learning the piano or improving their skills. It provides fresh material and techniques in styles ranging from classical to jazz, rock, bebop and fusion, and gives new players everything they need to learn and enjoy the piano. This book's innovative tutorial approach covers classical and contemporary music styles in an integrated way, and the companion CD brings the playing techniques and concepts to life. A full-color photo gallery illustrates the history of the piano and its essential recordings. This hardcover, deluxe edition also features semi-concealed spiral binding so the book stays open on the piano. The Piano Handbook prepares you not just to play, but to perform - and not just as a pianist, but as a complete musician.

Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises - Complete: Piano Technique

Amazon Price: $6.95 List Price: $6.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: G. Schirmer, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 52 new & used starting at $3.41

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Subjects -> Entertainment -> Music -> Theory, Composition & Performance -> Instruction & Study

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 54 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A mustn't have! 1 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Going against the grain here I would say DO NOT buy this book! I am a piano teacher and yes, I had to use this book in my younger days. Recent research, however, has shown that using this can potentially give you wrist problems such as RSI. Finger strength is not really a priority when learning the piano. Good technique and understanding of the music is.

Ask yourself: How many times do I repeat patterns such as those in Hanon over and over again when I am playing a piece of music? The answer is never! So why train your fingers to do that? The only thing playing Hanon makes you better at is playing Hanon!

If you want to improve the technique and musicality of your playing find a Mozart (or Haydn, Corelli, Kabalevsky or any other composer) piano piece that you enjoy and that is within your ability or will stretch you just a little and learn it. Practise it slowly and play each phrase with the correct notes and fingering every time. This gives you a piece of music you can perform as well.

In short, if you were an athlete would you train using physical techniques from the early 1900s? Our knowledge of physiology has moved on and even some elements of the piano action have been improved to make actions lighter and more responsive.

If you are looking to improve your piano technique I suggest you read:
Lhevinne: Basic Principles in Pianoforte Playing
Gieseking & Leimer: Piano Technique (Paperback)
Sandor: On piano playing

They aren't necessarily the easiest books to read, but playing the piano isn't easy! I use other books as well (e.g. 20 Lessons in keyboard choreography), Czerny for certain things, but never Hanon!

Editorial Review:

This collection of exercises has been a "Must Have" for many years. Designed to build independence and dexterity.

Adult All-In-One Course: Lesson-Theory-Technic: Level 1

Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus, Amanda Vick Lethco

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Alfred Publishing Company Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $10.31

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Accompaniment CD is not flawed, in fact it can be very useful if used correctly. Read carefully 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Some reviews here say the CD is flawed because the recordings are not solo piano demonstrations and can be confusing for the learner. I do not agree with those reviews. Here is why;
On each piece, the background accompaniment instruments are heard on the left channel of the recording. The piano part is demonstrated on the right channel. On many sound systems, balance between the left and right channels may be changed, either by adjusting a single "left/right balance control", or by adjusting the volume of the left and right speakers individually. These adjustments allow isolation of either the accompaniment instruments or the demonstration piano part, or modification of the blend between the two.
Alternatively you can convert the each recording to MP3 (or other) formats and get a good media player where you can have a control over left/right volume channels.

Editorial Review:

Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Course is designed for the beginner looking for a truly complete piano course that includes lesson, theory, technic and popular repertoire in one convenient, all-in-one book. This course has a number of features that make it particularly successful in achieving this goal, among them are smooth progression between concepts, the thorough explanation of chords and outstanding song material. At the completion of this course, the student will have learned to play some of the most popular music ever written and will have gained a thorough understanding of the basic concepts of music.

George Winston Piano Solos (Piano Solo)

George Winston

Amazon Price: $12.21 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HAL LEONARD CORPORATION Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $11.23

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very enjoyable! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

As some reviewers wrote, some transcriptions are not same as the recording. Regardless, this book is very enjoyable. Who doesn't enjoy playing George Winston's beautiful music? I think any player can enjoy this book because it is not very hard technically. I would have been even much happier if this book had included more blues, like "Miles City Train".

Editorial Review:

The All Music Guide says that pianist and composer George Winston is "among the earliest and most successful proponents of contemporary instrumental music." Here is the first songbook ever notating his beloved piano pieces. Winston himself chose the songs and cover art, wrote the preface, and approved every note. Features 20 of his most-requested favorites: The Black Stallion * Joy * Longing * Prelude/Carol of the Bells * Thanksgiving * Variations on the Kanon by Pachelbel * and more. Includes a biography, discography, and discussion of chords. First Fully Authorized Songbook Featuring Winston's Esteemed Compositions and Arrangements!

A Christmas Carol (Easy Piano Picture Book)

Kenneth Lillington

List Price: $9.95 By: Faber & Faber Amazon Marketplace: 8 new & used starting at $2.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 159 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The closest adaptation to the novel yet written for stage! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I saw this script produced at the Castle Museum in York during its first run. It's the most faithful adaptation I have ever seen of A Christmas Carol, which is one of my favourite novels.

Highly recommended.

Without equal 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Everyone has their favorite version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Make this dramatic retelling yours. At about 2 hours, its perfect for listening in the car while running around during the holidays or on your MP3 player while putting up Christmas lights. I plan on listening to it every year from now on. Patrick Stewart gives voice to every character, including the narration, and gives the kind of performance which I have come to expect from an actor of his immense talents.

I ordered 30 copies! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I ordered 30 copies of this Dover Thrift Edition of A Christmas Carol and used them as stocking stuffers at work.

This is a great item for the price, lower than some greeting cards, and I suspect appreciated a tad more than the usual overflow of candy around at holiday time!

Editorial Review:

An abridgment of the classic story with all the characters depicted as animals.

John Thompson's Modern Course for the Piano

John Thompson

By: International Music Publications Amazon Marketplace: 1 new & used starting at $96.62

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

An interesting book, the pieces are fun, the CD recordings are horrible 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I purchased this book as well as "The Piano Handbook". I don't feel this book is technically "bad" (It's actually pretty decent on what is played), the book - and CD seem to try a little too hard to sell itself as being "fun" at the expense of information and accuracy.

To highlight the main problem I had with this book - the CD. I listened to the CD and the piano parts were not alone but also included bells, a metronome, and a few other sounds as well - outside just the piano. I purchased the book to learn the piano, by hearing the piano piece only being played so I could study it. What did I get? Sounded more like a small band playing the music to keep kids interested. Maybe the book is just aimed for kids more than adults.

Outside the lousy CD, the songs seem to drop the person into the middle-end of the pool right off the bat. How so? Playing with two hands at the same time. I'm pretty sure this is the beginning of the series, and if I'm wrong then I apologize, but I don't think I am.

The songs felt a little too difficult at first, with almost no instruction about how to properly play. This diminishes how well it'd work for learning on one's own.

Do I feel it's an OK buy? Quite honestly, yes I do under a few circumstances:
1. Buy another book too. Personally I got "The Piano Handbook" ([...]) which I find much more helpful for the beginning stuff.
2. Try to find a teacher - especially if #1 isn't met.
3. Be prepared to work through with little use of the CD to gauge your progress. I wish I could say more positive on the CD.

I'm a beginning piano player, only playing for a very short time. If you have some knowledge already, this book may be OK for you then.

Editorial Review:

The Modern Course series provides a clear and complete foundation in the study of the piano that enables the student to think and feel musically. It may be preceded by the Teaching Little Fingers to Play series.

My First Book of Classical Music: 29 Themes by Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Other Great Composers in Easy Piano Arrangements

Bergerac

Amazon Price: $4.95 List Price: $4.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Dover Publications Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $2.22

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Bringing Classics Into My Home 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Even the right hand only player, can enjoy classics from these simple arrangements. The left hand is coming along with practice. This book makes learning the classics less intimidating. I would pay more for a spiral bound version.

Not thrilled. 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book for my beginning piano students but am not thrilled with the arrangements. Keep looking.

My first book of classical music 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

It is excellent for melody but many of the songs are in the wrong key. Taht is the only reason for 4 stars. I will by it again.

One of the best piano books ever ! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

When I bought "My First Book of Classical Music..." I was and still am amazed by how great this piano book has turned out to be. It has 29 themes by the true masters of Classical music. The songs are beginner level but the author Bergerac has to be commended for his great work to these classical piano songs !!! in bringing out the very best in each song. You will be playing each page from start to finish and loving each classical piece of music. I can't recommend this book enough - 5 stars *****

Editorial Review:

Fun-to-play, pedagogically sound piano arrangements include themes from Beethoven's "Pathétique" Sonata and Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony, along with such favorites as Schumann's Träumerei, Brahms's Lullaby, Chopin's Prelude, Tchaikovsky's Marche Slave, Moussorgsky's Promenade (from Pictures at an Exhibition), and many more. Includes 20 piano arrangements.