Theory, Composition & Performance Books - Page 2

The Jazz Ear: Conversations over Music

Ben Ratliff

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Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> General
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Subjects -> Entertainment -> Music -> Musical Genres -> Jazz

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

An intimate exploration into the musical genius of fifteen living jazz legends, from the longtime New York Times jazz critic

Jazz is conducted almost wordlessly: John Coltrane rarely told his quartet what to do, and Miles Davis famously gave his group only the barest instructions before recording his masterpiece “Kind of Blue.” Musicians are often loath to discuss their craft for fear of destroying its improvisational essence, rendering jazz among the most ephemeral and least transparent of the performing arts.

In The Jazz Ear, the acclaimed music critic Ben Ratliff sits down with jazz greats to discuss recordings by the musicians who most influenced them. In the process, he skillfully coaxes out a profound understanding of the men and women themselves, the context of their work, and how jazz—from horn blare to drum riff—is created conceptually. Expanding on his popular interviews for The New York Times, Ratliff speaks with Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman, Branford Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Wayne Shorter, Joshua Redman, and others about the subtle variations in generation, training, and attitude that define their music.

Playful and keenly insightful, The Jazz Ear is a revelatory exploration of a unique way of making and hearing music.

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

Daniel J. Levitin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.0 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, delighted readers with an exuberant guide to the neural impulses behind those songs that make our heart swell. Now he showcases his daring theory of "six songs," illuminating how the brain evolved to play and listen to music in six fundamental forms—for knowledge, friendship, religion, joy, comfort, and love. Preserving the emotional history of our lives and of our species, from its very beginning music was also allied to dance, as the structure of the brain confirms; developing this neurological observation, Levitin shows how music and dance enabled the social bonding and friendship necessary for human culture and society to evolve.

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 and conductors, historians, anthropologists, and evolutionary biologists. The result is a brilliant revelation of the prehistoric yet elegant systems at play when we sing and dance at a wedding or cheer at a concert—or tune out quietly with an iPod.

Eagles: Hell Freezes over (Authentic Guitar-Tab)

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Alfred Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $12.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 307 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

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

For some reason I was never a big big fan of Eagles back in the 70's. Recently I started listening to them again and absolutely cannot stop playing this video. I have it on in between listening to CNN/MSNBC on the elections. It is a great reprieve from that. Love, love, love it.

A Cult 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This DVD is a cult and I buied it for a friend of mine.
He went to this Concert in 1994. A beautiful surprise for him.

Goooooooooooo!!!

Classic Must Have DVD 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The Eagles - Hell Freezes Over

If you like the Eagles at all then you must purchase this DVD. The sound and quality are excellent. Closest thing to being there in person.
You will not be disappointed with this purchase. If you have surround sound even better. Enjoy!

Editorial Review:

This album-matching folio features all 15 songs as performed for the live MTV reunion concert. Songs include: Get Over It * Tequila Sunrise * Hotel California * I Can't Tell You Why * Take It Easy * Life in the Fast Lane * Desperado and more.

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

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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.

The Beatles Complete Chord Songbook

The Beatles

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 73 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Most Satisfactory 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Definitely worth buying if you are a Beatles fan and looking to play your favorite music.

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

Thanks so much for having this available for purchase. My son has learned so many songs already from this book.. It has been most helpful.

The best beatles chord book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

eazy to read , in the right key, this is the book you want for struming along to beatle songs

A Cool Book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

this book is really good if you play along with the chords. the only thing is it doesnt have all the little licks they play, just the chords.

Excellent Book 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is a must-have for any Beatles fan that plays an instrument. It has the lyrics to almost every Beatles song with the chords and chord charts as well. Doesn't have cluttering tabs (which could also be a negative, I guess). The main trouble I've had is that it's sometimes hard to get the book to stay open without the help of some sort of weight. If it was bound in better format, I would give it 5 stars - the content is great.

Editorial Review:

This great collection features all 194 songs written and sung by The Beatles, specially transcribed here for strumming guitarists, from the actual recordings, in the original keys. Each song includes chord symbols, guitar chord boxes and complete lyrics. Also features a helpful playing guide and a full discography.

Piano Adventures: Technique And Artistry Book Level 1

Nancy & Randall Faber

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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:

Gives students the tools for expressive performance.

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

Willard A. Palmer

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Subjects -> Entertainment -> Music -> Theory, Composition & Performance -> Techniques

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."

Guitar For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback))

Mark Phillips, Jon Chappell

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 81 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Have you always wanted to play guitar? Who wouldn't? Think of Jimi Hendrix wailing away on his Stratocaster. . . Chuck Berry duck-walking across the stage to "Johnny B. Goode". . .B.B. King making his "Lucille" cry the blues. No doubt about it—guitars are cool.

Guitar For Dummies 2nd Edition tells you everything a beginning or intermediate guitarist needs to know: from buying a guitar to tuning it, playing it, and caring for it, this book has it all—and you don't even need to know how to read music. Full of photo-illustrated exercises and songs you can play to practice the techniques discussed in each section, this step-by-step guide will take you through the basics and beyond before you can say "Eric Clapton." You'll learn how to:

• Match yourself with the guitar and equipment that fits your needs and budget
• Select the right accessories: amps, picks, pedals, capos, cases, and other goodies
• Pick and strum to produce a clean, clear, buzz-free tone
• Know whether you're really in tune
• Play melodies without reading music
• Perform basic guitar maintenance and repairs
• Build strength and dexterity while playing
• Play in different styles, including rock, blues, folk, jazz, and classical
• Make your guitar talk with bends and slides!

Fully revised and updated, with an all new interactive CD that allows readers to listen, learn, tune, and play along, Guitar For Dummies 2nd Edition is the perfect introductory guide for any novice acoustic or electric guitar player. 

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

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: 61 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I haven't read the whole book, but so far, its very easy to read and understandable. I play piano, so I am familiar with a lot of terms, however, I do not have a strong foundation of theory. This book is a great supplement for me and has made my understanding of theory a lot more enjoyable and interesting.

Well worth the money 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I have to admit I was reluctant to buy this book, because of its title. Never mind the title--it's well written. You don't have to be a complete idiot to understand this book; in fact, you shouldn't be. The author assumes you can think, but that you're coming in pretty close to the ground floor on knowing anything about the topic. I'm almost finished with the book, and I'm very happy I bought it.

By the way, I'm a musician, but with little or no theory background except what I've absorbed accidentally. This book has been really helpful in filling in the large gaps in my musical education.

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

Philadelphia Chickens

Sandra Boynton

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Workman Publishing Company Amazon Marketplace: 151 new & used starting at $0.01

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Arts & Music -> Music -> Songbooks

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 142 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

What an event! What a show! It's catchy and quirky. Tuneful and toe-tapping. Exuberant, unexpected, and utterly endearing. It's what happens when you take America's beloved illustrator and children's author and combine her buoyant genius with some of the most talented people on the stage—presenting Philadelphia Chickens!

Created by Sandra Boynton, Philadelphia Chickens is a family musical in a book, bringing together a full-color songbook of 17 1/2 illustrated story-poems with a full-length, fully orchestrated CD of original songs performed by the likes of Patti LuPone, Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, The Bacon Brothers, and Laura Linney, who pleads "Please, Can I Keep It?"—it followed me home. / What exactly it is/ I don't know. Also joining in are Eric Stoltz, Natasha Richardson, Scott Bakula, and two Boyntons, including daughter Caitlin McEwan, who performs a piece that every little listener will relate to—a love song to the chocolate chip cookies that are just out of reach. With the collaboration of composer Michael Ford (known to Boynton fans from Rhinoceros Tap), Philadelphia Chickens is that rarest of kids' musical discs—one whose inimitable lyrics and music make it as sing-along, dance-along, cluck-along for parents as it is for their children.