Theory, Composition & Performance Books

Hal Leonard Guitar Method, Complete Edition: Books & CD's 1, 2 and 3

Will Schmid, Greg Koch

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 74 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Not for everyone! 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book based on the overwhelming positive reviews here at Amazon, and was left quite disappointed. The book is ultra-simplistic, and each section has a small bit of information followed by a large chunk of sheet music. If one were browsing in a music store, and picked up this book and casually flipped through it, it would come across primarily as book of sheet music.

The book is heavily focused on learning to read actual music (staffs, notes, clefs, etc), and tablature is almost an afterthought.

As best I can tell, the accompanying CD's are simply the music bits played, with absolutely no verbal instruction.

This book may be fine for many (and apparently is) but it is definitely not the best way to learn guitar for everyone. I downgraded it to 3 stars, not because "it's just not for me", but because I actually find the instructional material to be quite sparse. A large chunk of the print is going to be sheet music, which you can find online for free anyway.

Editorial Review:

The Hal Leonard Guitar Method is designed for anyone just learning to play acoustic or electric guitar. It is based on years of teaching guitar students of all ages, and reflects some of the best teaching ideas from around the world. This super-convenient Complete Edition features the new and improved method books 1, 2 and 3 spiral-bound together, available as a book only (00699040) or book with three CDs (00697342)!

This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession

Daniel J. Levitin

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Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Psychology & Counseling -> Neuropsychology

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 105 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In this groundbreaking union of art and science, rocker-turned-neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin explores the connection between music—its performance, its composition, how we listen to it, why we enjoy it—and the human brain. Drawing on the latest research and on musical examples ranging from Mozart to Duke Ellington to Van Halen, Levitin reveals:
• How composers produce some of the most pleasurable effects of listening to music by exploiting the way our brains make sense of the world
• Why we are so emotionally attached to the music we listened to as teenagers, whether it was Fleetwood Mac, U2, or Dr. Dre
• That practice, rather than talent, is the driving force behind musical expertise
• How those insidious little jingles (called earworms) get stuck in our heads

And, taking on prominent thinkers who argue that music is nothing more than an evolutionary accident, Levitin argues that music is fundamental to our species, perhaps even more so than language. This Is Your Brain on Music is an unprecedented, eye-opening investigation into an obsession at the heart of human nature.

Music: An Appreciation, Brief Edition

Roger Kamien

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Whether from a concert stage or at the front of a classroom, Roger Kamien knows how to reach an audience--blending intelligence and passion to lift music from the page and bring it to life. His unique combination of artistic and teaching skills makes Music: An Appreciation, Brief Edition an invaluable tool for students wanting to learn more about music.

This best-selling textbook introduces students to perceptive listening and provides an engaging introduction to musical elements, forms, and stylistic periods. It is organized chronologically, but individual sections can be addressed in any order, for a variety of teaching approaches. Musical notation is included but is not required to understand the popular listening guides featured in the text, which focus students’ attention on musical events as they unfold.

This edition moves most of the content of the companion multi-media CD-ROM to the Online Learning Center providing open access for all students to the many activities and video instrument demonstrations.

Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain

Oliver Sacks

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 74 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Minds making music 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 8 people found this review helpful.

By now, it's a given that an Oliver Sacks' book is worth your time and close attention. His particular talent lies in making the science interesting without becoming a "pop-science" writer. This is not an easy achievement, but Sacks manages it with facility. He can explain the science in terms of case studies - many of which have claimed his medical attention. He does this while mixing in experiences of his own and some personal reflections which are anything but intrusions. While some of his books are essays on selected individuals ["An Anthropologist on Mars" is an example], this one has a very special focus: the minds that make music unbidden.

Music arising in the mind without prompting may seem a common enough occurence. The advertising industry has demonstated fully music as an uncontrollable meme. The cases Sacks portrays here are of another sort. In some cases the music has taken over - sometimes supplanting other thinking processes and reducing the victim to near helplessness. The chief problem is often a lack of variety. More than the adverts' jingles, particular tunes may emerge from the distant past to occupy the sufferer's waking hours. A well-disciplined mind, such as Doctor P's, may be able to use the uncalled for music in ways that get them through daily tasks. Others don't have that ability and the music proves a terrible distraction. The music renders them "incapable of hearing themselves think".

Therapy for such conditions is in its infancy and may actually be subverted by the deluge of music impinging our ears daily. Sacks notes the proliferation of the iPod devices bringing music to listeners who seem to pass the day in another realm. This, however, is not relieving a condition, but may be generating a new one. Some music therapy has been in use to overcome coordination disorders, but this is limited and selective in effectiveness. Even "classical" music, which is known to "draw the mind" into it is not innocent in causing disorders. One of the more captivating classical pieces, Ravel's "Bolero" may be both the product of "musicophilia" in an aging composer and the source of endless reptition in the mind of the listener. The tendency of the mind to retain music is demonstrated in those with advanced Alzheimer's, who lose other facilities but retain a sense for music. Is music thus something the brain holds on to as something reliable in an otherwise confusing world? Brain scans have demonstrated that professional musicians have certain areas of the brain larger than the rest of us, but as a path to therapy, this situation has offered little up to now.

The author's avoidance of simply presenting a string of clinical studies is a testament to his humanitarian approach to the various conditions he lists here. In a sense, this book is a catalog of distortions the mind may be subject to relating to music. In one case, a lightning strike turns an orthopaedic surgeon into a classical pianist. Another suffers massive brain damage, yet continues a relatively normal life so long as he can arrange things in musical forms. Others may respond positively to prompts of classical themes, while becoming emotionally distraught at modern forms. Listing the cases in such a way leaves the impression that one might as well be perusing a medical journal. In Sacks' hands, nothing could be further from the truth. He is passionate in his relating these conditions, his feelings permeating every page. A book well worth your time, whether you are intersted in music, the mind or how they combine in the minds of people you may know. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Editorial Review:

Amazon Best of the Month, December 2007: Legendary R&B icon Ray Charles claimed that he was "born with music inside me," and neurologist Oliver Sacks believes Ray may have been right. Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain examines the extreme effects of music on the human brain and how lives can be utterly transformed by the simplest of harmonies. With clinical studies covering the tragic (individuals afflicted by an inability to connect with any melody) and triumphant (Alzheimer's patients who find order and comfort through music), Sacks provides an erudite look at the notion that humans are truly a "musical species." --Dave Callanan

Guitar Fretboard Workbook

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Musicians Institute Press Amazon Marketplace: 16 new & used starting at $10.16

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 74 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good book for students to use 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I have some of my advanced students use this book as a way to reinforce the fretboard and music theory.

Get it 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

If you ever wanted to see the neck as one topic, this is the book to have. If learning guitar was like basic training, this book would be your PT shorts.

Best book for me at this stage of my musical knowledge 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I have made it through chapter 8 and I am learning more than I have during the past 20 years of playing. I wish that I had done this sooner but better late than never. This is a great book to go through before attempting to start the Music theory book by Tom Kolb, which I will start next.

Great 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I took lessons for about 5 years, and I have been playing guitar for over 20 years, took a couple year break, and got back into it. I had learned the scales and did a lot of improvisation, but I was never able to easily find the note I was looking for without searching for it by ear. After reading the 1st chapter or 2 and doing the exercises I am easily able to find the notes anywhere on the fretboard, I wish I had read this book about 10 years ago.

Editorial Review:

Navigate the guitar neck better than ever before with this easy-to-use book! Designed from Musicians Institute core curriculum programs, it covers essential concepts for players of every level, acoustic or electric. A hands-on guide to theory, it will help you learn to build any scale or chord on your own and unleash creativity. No music reading is required.

Music Theory for Guitarists: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask

Tom Kolb

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Review by a beginner 5 out of 5 stars.
99 of 100 people found this review helpful.

I should start by stating that I am a beginning guitar student. So please take my review in the appropriate light. The book "Music Theory" is a unique addition to my quickly growing guitar library. It is broken into 13 chapters:

Chapter 1 - a detailed explanation of the fretboard. This was particularly useful for me, because it explained what every note on the fretboard was. Tuning and intonation are also briefly discussed. Everything in the book is also given in TAB as well as sheet music.

Chapter 2 - covers the basics of reading music including the treble clef, musical alphabet (A-G), accidentals (flats, sharps, naturals), rhythm, time signatures, note values, beams, dotted notes, chords (stacks, names, and frames), repeat signs, and tablature.

Chapter 3 - discusses the major/minor scales, key signatures, and the handy circle of fifths.

Chapter 4 - focuses on intervals (distance between two notes).

Chapter 5 - covers the major and minor triads (chords which are a third interval apart).

Chapter 6 - discusses harmonizing the major scale.

Chapter 7 - a study of chord construction - both in theory and on the fretboard, covering major, minor, power, suspended, sixth, six/nine, seventh, extended, altered, slash, and poly chords.

Chapter 8 - discusses harmonizing the minor scale.

Chapter 9 - talks about key centers (something I must admit I haven't quite figured out yet).

Chapter 10 - covers the 12-bar blues progression, the major and minor pentatonic scales, and parallel pentatonic scales.

Chapter 11/12 - discusses modes, modal harmony, other scales, and chord/scale relationships.

Chapter 13 - covers chord substitutions and reharmonization.

My impression of the book is "Wow!" There is a tremendous amount of information in this book. As a beginner, I really benefitted from the first five chapters, but quickly lost my way as I pushed further ahead. But I fully expect that as I gain more experience, I will continue to consult this very valuable resource.

Written by Arthur Bradley, author of "Process of Elimination" - a cool erotic thriller that pits a martial artist against a world-class sniper.

As always, please be kind enough to indicate if reviews are helpful.

Editorial Review:

Guitarists of all levels will find a wealth of practical music knowledge in this special book and CD package. Veteran guitarist and author Tom Kolb dispels the mysteries of music theory using plain and simple terms and diagrams. The accompanying CD provides 94 tracks of music examples, scales, modes, chords, ear training, and much more!

Teaching Little Fingers to Play: A Book for the Earliest Beginner (John Thompsons Modern Course for The Piano)

John Thompson

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

Solidly organized and effective 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Beyond the simple enjoyment of playing a song, learning to play music is a catalyst for discovery and learning in life. Rudiments such as fractions are learned by understanding the key signature. Motor skills are developed in both hands. Processing of symbols into piano keys and then piano keys into musical tones that, when played together, create a song. We often forget this as adults, or never learned it. The key with teaching these things effectively to kids is to make it fun, keep the lessons to a reasonable length and to get involved as a parent or teacher.

Teaching Little Fingers To Play is perfect for introducing children to the joy of playing a piano. It provides short, fun songs that kids can sing along to as they develop their skills playing. My daughter finds so much enjoyment in practicing and can't wait to "figure out" the next song. The skills and knowledge are added little by little in such a way that they build on what is already developed, rather than overwhelming the child. The notes to the teacher are also helpful, particularly when the teacher is simply a parent who isn't a piano virtuoso.

The price is VERY affordable and the book simply works well, particularly for my child. I'd recommend this book for any child under the age of 10. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you buy this book. I certainly wasn't.

Editorial Review:

A series for the early beginner combining rote and note approach. The melodies are written with careful thought and are kept as simple as possible, yet they are refreshingly delightful. All the music lies within the grasp of the child's small hands.

The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature

Daniel J. Levitin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The author of the New York Times bestseller and Los Angeles Times Book Award Finalist This Is Your Brain on Music tunes us in to six evolutionary musical forms that brought about the evolution of human culture.

An unprecedented blend of science and art, Daniel Levitin’s debut, This Is Your Brain on Music, was an extraordinary success. Now in what is being called a tour de force by his peers, he showcases his audacious theory of “six songs,” illuminating how the brain evolved to play and listen to music in six fundamental forms—for friendship, joy, comfort, knowledge, religion, and love.

Blending cutting-edge scientific findings with his own sometimes hilarious experiences as a musician and music-industry professional, Levitin’s sweeping study also incorporates wisdom gleaned from interviews with icons ranging from Sting and Paul Simon to Joni Mitchell and David Byrne, along with classical musicians, poets, anthropologists, and evolutionary biologists.

These six songs enlighten human nature in a way you will never forget.

The Chord Wheel: The Ultimate Tool for All Musicians

Jim Fleser

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

theif?!! 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Mr. Schulz, you invented nothing. This wheel was originally published at least 60 years ago, and probably invented well before that. In music, we all stand on the shoulders of our forebears.

Great Tool 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a concise reference tool for a musician. Once you understand the concept this will save you hours of work !!

Editorial Review:

Master chord theory ... in minutes! The Chord Wheel is a revolutionary device that puts the most essential and practical applications of chord theory into your hands. This tool will help you: Improvise and Solo - Talk about chops! Comprehend key structure like never before; Transpose Keys - Instantly transpose any progression into each and every key; Compose Your Own Music - Watch your songwriting blossom! No music reading is necessary. "This is the kind of device that players of any instrument can use to enhance their musical understanding. Chord and key relationships are inseparable, and learning these relationships is a must in becoming a successful musician." - Alan Remington, Orange Coast College Music Dept.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, 2nd Edition (The Complete Idiot's Guide)

Michael Miller

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 55 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great for both beginners and pros! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I'm in 11th grade and have played the piano for 10 years. I've performed at the Lincoln Center in New York City and have accompanied many musicals. Having said that, I realized that I knew everything about music - except the theory behind it. I began looking on the internet for a music theory book and this is the one I found. I was a little hesitant about buying it because some reviews stated that it was for beginners only. I bought this book anyways and yes, the first third of this book is the basics - tempo, dynamics, time and key signature, ect. But this book has so much more (and the beginning section serves as a great reference when you need to know how to count 9/4 time and stuff like that). This book has everything I wanted and more in it from building chords, writing music, following a lead sheet, and directing music. It is a great resource that I think every musician should have sitting on there bookshelf.
Bravo Mr. Miller

Editorial Review:

A music theory book that hits the high note …

This updated and expanded edition of The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Music Theory breaks down a difficult subject in a simple way—even for those who think they have no rhythm or consider themselves tone deaf. With clear, concise language, it explains everything from bass-clef basics to confusing codas. This new edition includes:
-A brand-new CD
-A comprehensive ear-training section
-Musical examples of intervals, scales, chords, and rhythms
-Aural exercises so readers can test their ear training and transcription skills