Exercises Books

Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises - Complete: Piano Technique

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

A mustn't have! 1 out of 5 stars.
6 of 8 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.

Fretboard Logic SE: The Reasoning Behind the Guitar's Unique Tuning + Chords Scales and Arpeggios Complete (The Fretboard Logic Guitar Method Volumes I and II) (Fretboard Logic Guitar Method Ser)

Bill Edwards

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 97 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Fretboard Patterns not theory. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is not a music theory book.
Fretboard Logic describes the Fretboard patterns that are a direct result of the guitar's unique tuning. The patterns discussed are essentially scales and chords covering the entire fretboard.
There is some occasional theory necessary to teach the subject and no more.
It may be too much for many beginners to grasp the importance of what the author is teaching but, that certainly does not mean you can't benefit by learning something new such as pentatonic scales and full bar chords (that's the first 27 pages.)
I could not play full bar chords when I bought the book. You know what you do to cure that? Practice playing them 10 minutes a day and then go onto something else.
I was thrilled when I bought HOB Blues DVD #1 and recognized the scale patterns and realized I could start APPLYING what I learned from this book. No, you will not be a better guitar player after reading this book just because you know some chords and scales. But you will have a solid foundation that will help you APPLY the information in this book as you learn music theory and it will all be a little easier.
I can't say it as a fact since I don't play with others often but, I really doubt this book would do anything but help you when playing with other guitarists and instruments regardless of their knowledge and how they learned it.
I would recommend a yellow Gripmaster (to help warm up and increase hand strength) and a metronome to go along this book.

Editorial Review:

The Special Edition is the first two volumes of the Fretboard Logic guitar series combined with a special discount. Part One deals with the pattern organization of the fretboard which results from the guitar's unique tuning system. Part Two teaches the tone groups of music - Chords, Scales and Arpeggios - by building them in the context of this pattern organization, and thereby eliminating the usual guesswork and rote memorization associated with these areas of a guitarist's education. This alone can take years off the learning curve. Combined, the two parts form a solid foundation by which a guitarist can intelligently pursue the music styles of their own choosing, and play them on the guitar types which they prefer.

Solo Guitar Playing/Book 1 with CD (Classical Guitar)

Frederick M. Noad

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 36 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

I've owned a copy of this book for 30 years! 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I stumbled onto this book as a teenager trying to teach myself to play the guitar. I found it both easy to understand and rewarding. Eventually I went on to minor in jazz guitar in college and spent several years as a union musician. A few years ago I returned to this book (I finally replaced my old copy with a new version) when I wanted to venture into classical guitar. Almost thirty years later I found it equally as captivating and rewarding as it was in my first encounter.

Recently I decided to learn to play the English concertina, but found that there were no quality tutorials readily available, so I turned, once again, to Mr. Noad. The exercises presented in the book have been very helpful and have allowed me to feel an increasing sense of aptitude on the concertina as I step through the lessons!

Solo Guitar Playing is built on a clear, accessible methodology and a well-paced progressive learning system that stands the test of time! If you could only have one guitar instruction book, this would be the one to consider.

Editorial Review:

For years, the most popular classical guitar method ever published! There are exercises, practice studies, and self-tests, a survey of the guitar repertoire and numerous solo and ensemble compositions. Generously illustrated with photos, diagrams, and musical examples. Instruction, including graded exercises, practice studies, and a survey of the guitar repertoire. With CD.

The Complete Book of Scales, Chords, Arpeggios and Cadences: Includes All the Major, Minor (Natural, Harmonic, Melodic) & Chromatic Scales - Plus Additional Instructions on Music Fundamentals

Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus, Amanda Vick Lethco

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Must have for any budding pianist 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Alfred's Books have always been some of the best learning materials available. This book is no different. The book has all the scales every student should master as well as some informative information regarding music fundamentals. The book is of high quality with bright big text and is very easy on the eyes. They used quality paper and ink for this book. The paper stock is thick and sturdy so it can stand up to some abuse. The one thing I wish was included was a spiral binding. Once you get into these types of books, it becomes difficult to lay flat on the piano desk without the pages closing. Minor gripe, you can take it to Fedex office to get it binded for around $6 if it becomes too bothersome to you.

Music book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I checked many online sources, but this was the best price. It arrived in just 6 days.

Editorial Review:

Piano Music. Includes all the major, minor (natural, harmonic, melodic)&chromatic scales -- plus additional instrucitons on music fundamentals.

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.

Practice Books For The Flute: Omnibus Edition (Books 1-5)

Trevor Wye

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

really useful 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This book covers almost everything there is when it comes to developing tone, technique and skill. I'm really enjoying it. I think it is a must for beginners, and also really useful for the developing-intermediate flutist that needs a little more to get to the advanced level. my tone is better allready...

A helpful resource on Flute Method 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I purchased the omnibus version after buying the single publication on tone. The Omnibus edition comes spiral bound and the pages can be sometimes unruly...slipping out of the slots of spiral binding and giving an untidy look to your sacred sheets of flute wisdom(which is rather annoying to this already disorganized musician).

I refer to the information in the tone section more than any other. The other 'books' in the omnibus were a bit sparse in terms of content. I am glad I spent under 30.00usd on the omnibus instead of buying each book individually.

For those musicians with a sense of humor, the writing style of the author is quite fun to read. His discussions are loaded with flute-specific musings, puns, and other subtle rhetoric. His writing style is ingenious...and a relief from the monotoned, sedate style we usually encouter in method publications.

Editorial Review:

Trevor Wye's famous Practice books for the flute are invaluable to players of every grade, and have received world wide acclaim. This omnibus edition contains practice books 1-5, which includes Tone; Technique; Articulation; Intonation and Vibrato; Breathing and Scales. Each book concentrates on individual areas of flute technique in concise detail. Together, the series forms a complete reference to the technical difficulties of the instrument and how to practise. Trevor Wye studied with Geoffrey Gilbert, and most notably the celebrated Marcel Moyse.

100 Graded Classical Guitar Studies (Classical Guitar)

Frederick Noad

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

All You Really Need 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

This is a really one of a kind great collection of classical guitar studies.
Some reviewers have complained unreasonably:
1. "It lacks a spiral binding" Most guitar collections lack this. So what? Go to Kinkos and get it bound for 4 bucks if it's an issue. It's no harder to use than any other book. Geeze.
2. "It lacks fingerings." This is not true. It has the fingerings the composers wrote with the piece. If a composer didn't write fingerings, it doesn't add them. This is a collection of the great guitar studies AS THEY WERE WRITTEN. Usually the fingering is obvious anyway.
3."Lacks Chord diagrams." Hello! This is classical guitar, not a rock fake book!

DO NOT heed these complaints. This is a great book and you will improve immeasurably as a guitarist by playing them in order. I did.

Could use a little updating, but still very good.. 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I've noticed that since Noad produced this book, about 20 years ago now, a lot of the Sor studies in it have appeared in facsimile via Tecla or other sources, and some of the tempos are not the same as the originals..this is also true of Segovia's famous 20 Sor studies, but generally this is not a major issue. Noad's selections are very good, and his editorial fingerings can be helpful. He does add right-hand fingerings for clarification in some cases too, but of course this is editorial advice, not necessarily the way Sor or Giuliani might have played a particular piece. 19th century guitarists tended to use the thumb more than most classical guitarists do now, for instance. Noad also does the student the favor of pointing out the basic purpose of each study to concentrate your efforts, something the composers didn't always do.

Editorial Review:

The works of Sor, Guiliani, and Carcassi have been selected to provide the student with an invaluable guide for developing both left-and-right hand skills.

Jazz Guitar Single Note Soloing, Volume 2

Ted Green

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The best teacher ever 5 out of 5 stars.
13 of 13 people found this review helpful.

I studied with Ted Greene in the early 70's at the age of eighteen. At the time I was also taking lessons with George Van Eps and shared my lesson materials with Ted while he worked on Chord Chemistry, the first of his books which was originally published in the 70's and revised later. Any electric guitarist should have all of his books period! These are not fancy riffs or solos but the most creative and best organized series of works on jazz guitar ever written. Most think of Ted as a finger style jazz player. However, when I jammed with him there was no one faster or smoother with a single note flat pick. He simply didn't go in for flash. Also, he could outplay anyone in any style, rock, folk, country, and yes classical music. In fact, when I knew him he always carried a copy of the Bach Chorales around which he studied to perfect his chord voicing system. If you are serious about the guitar and play at the intermediate or better level you have to learn this material.

Editorial Review:

Ted Greenes Jazz Guitar Single Note Soloing method is one of the most respected approaches to playing jazz guitar ever written. Continuing where Volume 1 left off, this book ties all the tools together, with special emphasis on playing through chord changes and developing rich melody lines.

The Oxford American Book of Great Music Writing

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Editorial Review:

Not only have a breathtaking array of musical giants come from the South--think Elvis Presley, Robert Johnson, Louis Armstrong, Jimmie Rodgers, to name just obvious examples--but so have a breathtaking array of America music genres. From blues to rock & roll to jazz to country to bluegrass--and areas in between--it all started in the American South. Since its debut in 1996, The Oxford American's more-or-less annual Southern Music Issue has become legendary for its passionate and wide-ranging approach to music and for working with some of America's greatest writers. These writers--from Peter Guralnick to Nick Tosches to Susan Straight to William Gay--probe the lives and legacies of Southern musicians you may or may not yet be familiar with, but whom you'll loving being introduced, or reintroduced, to. In one creative, fresh way or another, these writers also uncover the essence of music--and why music has such power over us.

To celebrate ten years of Southern Music Issues, most of which are sold-out or very hard to find, the fifty-five essays collected in this dynamic, wide-ranging, and vast anthology appeal to both music fans and fans of great writing.

The BEAD Method of Fretboard Mastery

Robert, Luther Dietz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

I recommend this for any guitar player, new or established 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I have been reading through this book for a few months now, and i can say that my guitar playing has improved quite a bit. I've been playing for well over 10 years mostly self taught. I've tried to look at a few books but none really helped me learn the notes or chords as much as i wanted to. But after reviewing this i can now easily figure out my notes and placements on the fretboard. thanks for the great book man!

Editorial Review:

The BEAD Method(TM) is a revolutionary new way to understand the logic behind the guitar fretboard. There are many methods that rely on patterns of the guitar but BEAD Guitar(TM) relies on the unique tuning pattern of the guitar neck itself. In contrast you are provided with a true roadmap of the entire guitar neck. This book provides a unifying theory for understanding fret-notes, scales, modes and chords. By using this method you will be enabled to quickly find any note, chord or scale from any position on the fretboard. This perfect bound edition is fully annotated and illustrated making this a great reference book for any guitarist's library.