Theory, Composition & Performance Books - Page 4

George Winston Piano Solos (Piano Solo)

George Winston

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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!

The Jazz Ear: Conversations over Music

Ben Ratliff

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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 Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Harmonica, 2nd Edition (Complete Idiot's Guide to)

William Melton, Randy Weinstein

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

Idiot's Guide for an Idiot. 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I have a keen interest in music but have no training. I bought the "Idiot's Guide..." hoping to gain some insight into harmonica playing. I was entirely pleased. The authors assume that the reader is intelligent but ignorant of the subject. This book was meant for people like me.

Editorial Review:

With photos, illustrations, and a new audio CD.

The harmonica is one of the most traditional musical instruments in America. Millions are sold each year, but there are few high quality, comprehensive instructional manuals for new harmonica players. This bestselling book has been completely updated, with dozens of new songs and a professionally mastered audio CD.
• Over 100 songs, both traditional and original to this book
• Detailed instructions on playing, including photos to illustrate positions and techniques
• Buying tips and interesting historical facts about famous players
• Authors are professional musicians
• The most comprehensive music lists featuring nearly every style of playing and category of song
• Over 80 riffs and songs performed on the special audio CD
• Comprehensive resource guides

The Long Hard Road Out of Hell

Marilyn Manson, Neil Strauss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 435 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

From the world's most controversial rock star comes his shocking, confessional and revealing life story. In The Long Hard Road Out of Hell, Marilyn Manson candidly and vividly recounts his metamorphosis from a frightened Christian schoolboy into the most feared and revered celebrity in America.

A cross-dressing grandfather, a sexually abusive neighbor, a brainwashing faith healer and a schoolteacher searching for satanic messages in rock songs are only a few of the characters who populate his bizarre childhood.

From backstage to jail cells, from recording studios to emergency rooms, from the pit of despair to the top of the charts, The Long Hard Road Out of Hell chronicles Manson's rise to fame at the price of his humanity and his descent through the circles of Dante's Inferno: Lust, Violence and Treachery.

His story is illustrated with dozens of previously unpublished photographs, and it features a behind-the-scenes account of his headline-grabbing Dead to the World Tour -- vilified, banned and protested by politicans, preachers and parents alike.

In his 29 years, Manson has experienced more than most people have -- or would want to -- in a lifetime.

Chronicles: Volume One (Chronicles)

Bob Dylan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 272 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

"I'd come from a long ways off and had started a long ways down. But now destiny was about to manifest itself. I felt like it was looking right at me and nobody else."

Bob Dylan's Chronicle: Volume One explores the critical junctions in his life and career. Through Dylan's eyes and open mind, we see Greenwich Village, circa 1961, when he first arrives in Manhattan. Dylan's New York is a magical city of possibilities -- smoky, nightlong parties; literary awakenings; transient loves and unbreakable friendships. Elegiac observations are punctuated by jabs of memories, penetrating and tough. With side trips to New Orleans, Woodstock, Minnesota and points west, Chronicles: Volume One is an intimate and intensely personal recollection of extraordinary times.

Revealing, poetical, passionate and witty, Chronicles: Volume One is a mesmerizing window on Bob Dylan's thoughts and influences. Dylan's voice is distinctively American: generous of spirit, engaged, fanciful and rhythmic. Utilizing his unparalleled gifts of storytelling and the exquisite expressiveness that are the hallmarks of his music, Bob Dylan turns Chronicles: Volume One into a poignant reflection on life, and the people and places that helped shape the man and the art.

John Thompson's Modern Course for the Piano - First Grade (Book/GM Disk): First Grade - Book/GM Disk

John Thompson

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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

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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.

The "First Stage" Guitar Chord Chart - Learn How To Play The Most Commonly Played Guitar Chords

Chris Lopez

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Now you can learn the most commonly played guitar chords! The ideal guitar learning chord chart for anyone who would like to quickly learn to play guitar! Includes lots of practice chord combinations! Learn to play guitar to rock 'n roll, country, blues, popular songs, etc., on an electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and 12 string guitar. Clear, simple, and very easy to understand illustrations. This guitar chord chart is for the beginner who wants a simple and direct method to learn how to play chords on the guitar. There is no note reading or complicated theory to deal with. There are study notes and clearly illustrated fingering diagrams to help you on your way to playing chords to your favorite songs and some great exercises to get you going on your own songs. This guitar chord chart is easy to understand and is presented in a clear and methodical fashion with chord grids and logical explanations. Finally!, a learn to play guitar chord chart that offers you so much more! Includes 6 full chart pages of the most commonly played guitar chords!

Even though this is a great handy guitar chord chart, getting both THE "FIRST STAGE" GUITAR BOOK and THE "NEXT STAGE" GUITAR BOOK would be the perfect choice to building a great foundation in establishing the overall skills to learning how to play a guitar without spending a great deal of time in music theory!

Dog Train: A Wild Ride on the Rock-and-Roll Side (Book & CD)

Sandra Boynton

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 66 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Boynton rocks! So does Blues Traveler, who perform a stomping version of the title song, a moody rock journey that Boynton wrote especially for them. And then there’s Alison Krauss with “Evermore.” And Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme—really—who do the “Boring Song.” The Spin Doctors, who channel rock’s rebellious side—with a taste of punk—for “Tantrum”: “No No No, I don’t want to, I don’t want to./No no no, I don’t want to, no no./Leave me alone. Leave me alone./LEAVE ME ALONE.” And the sweetly unexpected pairing of “Weird Al” Yankovic and Kate Winslet (yep, Kate Winslet) as a duet singing “I Need a Nap.”

Full of attitude, full of fun, all lit up with star power, and boasting a variety of Top 40 styles—rock and roll, blues, hip-hop, and power pop—Dog Train is the third book-and-CD production by Sandra Boynton, following the #1 New York Times bestselling, Grammy-nominated Philadelphia Chickens and the recently re-released Rhinoceros Tap. Like Philadelphia Chickens, features all original songs recorded by a mix of big-name acts and great voices, for the pleasure of the parents as much as the kids. Packaged similarly to the previous Boynton & Ford recordings, Dog Train is also a full-color book that features a portion of each song’s lyrics set as a little story, accompanied by Boynton’s irresistible hippos, cows, dogs, and more dogs. Full lyrics appear in the back.

The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

Victor L. Wooten

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Warmed Over New Age Cliche' 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I will state first that my spiritual beliefs are liberal, so I am not giving this book a poor review because it goes against any "dogma" I may have. I agreed with everyone's review who mentioned how great a bass player Victor is.
So why one star? Because this is rehashed, 101, 1960 new age type philosophy (I hate to use the term as this is so elemental a book on music and spiritually). What we need is a complex discussion of the two, and there are examples do a google or Amazon search, of books, thesis and Research studies in the fields of Anthropology, Ethnomusicology, and even in books which discuss practicing an instrument.
I brought this book without really looking at it, since I assumethat Victor's writing would be as interesting and informative as his playing. Wrong.

My recommendation: Read someone else on this topic.

Editorial Review:

From Grammy-winning musical icon and legendary bassist Victor L. Wooten comes The Music Lesson, the story of a struggling young musician who wanted music to be his life, and who wanted his life to be great. Then, from nowhere it seemed, a teacher arrived. Part musical genius, part philosopher, part eccentric wise man, the teacher would guide the young musician on a spiritual journey, and teach him that the gifts we get from music mirror those from life, and every movement, phrase, and chord has its own meaning...All you have to do is find the song inside.