5 comments about I Can Read Music: A Note Reading Book for Violin Students (Volume 1) (For Violin).

1. This book has been a great help to my small daughter in her violin practice. By splitting the tasks of note reading and rhythm reading into separate sections on pitch and rhythm she doesn't get as frustrated. The author knows that it's best to concentrate on ONE thing at a time as you're learning!



2. I use this book to teach children how to read music. It came in great shape and i use it all the time!



3. This book is perfectly designed for the Suzuki lesson structure. If there is an able teacher and parent present to introduce and teach each lesson, the book is very successful. My students are exposed to the basic concepts of music theory in a theory class following their weekly group classes - so there is no need to explain basic concepts like the "treble clef" or "staff." There are plenty of introductory reading books out there for the older beginner, but this book has a gradual yet not monotonous pace, catering to an early beginner who has a support structure (parent/teacher).
   I use this book for all of my students in a studio of 40+ Suzuki Violinists!



4. My son receives private lessons in Suzuki violin. This book is used by his instructor. It moves along at a perfect pace so as not to distract from working on Suzuki pieces but to hold the students interest as he learns to read music.



5. I bought this along with several other books to get me started on the violin (I am in my 30's). I had played the cello as a kid, so I was familiar with some of the aspects of string instruments. This book has really helped me to remember notes. The spiral binding is awesome. The exercises are not glamourous, but they get the job done.

No comments about Piano Adventures Lesson Book, Level 3A (Piano Adventures).

2 comments about Alfred's Basic Piano Library Lesson Book: Level 2 (Alfred's Basic Piano Library).

1. The Alfred Basic Piano Library is a wonderful series of books for beginning students. I have taught piano for 11 years, and this series has been very successful with many students! Some favorites of students in Level 2: Alouette, Kumbayah, Ode to Joy, Oh Susannah.



2. I think this is an excellent series for beginners. It includes a song people will actually know about every three songs. The only draw back to the series is the difficulty in getting them. Thank you Amazon for making them available online. All the local music stores have stopped carrying them.

5 comments about The Art of Bop Drumming (with CD).

1. I bought this book after playing professional jazz gigs for 4 years. It is authentic and a great place to start for beginning to intermediate jazz drummers. The CD is a nice accompaniment.



2. Like Jazz? Don't like Jazz? It doesn't matter. Whether you like to swing or not, this book WILL make you a better drummer and musician. The triplet feel is almost its own dimension in drumming and every drummer should master it. Although it is targeted for bebop jazz (basically faster swing feel as far as a drummer is concerned), this book will give you plenty of exercises and ideas you can incorporate in any genre. The exercises are great for independence and time-keeping, and offer very, very good fill and solo ideas.
   
   As for aspiring jazz drummers, there is absolutely no question, GET this book. Any jazz professor at the university level would approve and it is used widely in music schools such as Berklee and Indiana University Music School (I graduated from IU).
   
   The lessons on brushes are crucial and if you have never placed your hand on a brush, here is where you should start looking.
   
   The accompanying CD is great as well and helps you to master a good swing time, listen to exercises being played, listen to compositions and play along tunes with a bassist or with a whole rhythm section.



3. I'm simply going to reinforce what you may have heard elsewhere: this is as good a foundational text on jazz and bop drumming as you can find (along with Ed Soph's and Jim Chapin's books).
   
   If you are interested in learning to PLAY jazz and bop on the drums, this book takes you from a level assuming some knowledge of the drum kit, little knowledge of jazz, and brings the two together in a very logical way.
   
   I have milked four years (so far, many more to go) out of this book with regards to the density, depth and entertainment/interest-level of the material.



4. This book is fantastic sorce material for any intermediate drummer looking to begin exploring jazz. For experienced players the content can be quite challenging and the advice is imminently valuable. Really a spectacular educational resource.



5. The best educational book on jazz. Covers ride cymbal, comping, solo ideas, uptempo, brushes and has a good play along cd. All of the written words do a fantastic job of putting things in context. Mr. Riley clearly knows his stuff. "Beyond Bop Drumming" is also a great book for more advanced jazz playing.

5 comments about The Definitive Bob Dylan Songbook (Bob Dylan) (Bob Dylan).

1. The review by Kyle is right on. Based on trying out "Blowin' In the Wind," the chords are just wrong. And its not a matter of transposing the chords (or of a missing transition chord) -- the chords are incorrect in whatever key you play it. The whole point of buying a guitar songbook is to be able to read and play; but I had to pick up the right chords from listening to the song, with a little help from an internet search!



2. pretty hyped on the number of songs in the book and just about all the lyrics, but alot of the chords are off. that sucks. but if you really dont care about that the book will atleast make your pad look a little cooler.



3. My son has recently become a Dylan fan and I bought him this book so that he can learn some of his favourite songs (guitar and lyrics). Not bad for a plain Jane book that contains tons of songs. He thinks in a few of the songs, some of the chord progressions are not right, but I think it may just be a Bob Dylan thing. I was worried that with a book this size, I would have to take it apart and hole punch the pages into a binder, but so far it has held up well and the book stays open nicely at whatever page you are viewing.



4. This is a big book, and on the surface a good value -- although there are some very critical omissions IMHO.
   
   But the biggest problem I have with this book is that it's not "as played" accurate -- and therefore not "definitive". Yes, you can whip this book out and start playing and singing Dylan songs for your friends and 98% of them won't know the difference. But if you want to play them right -- the way Bob plays them -- you will have to use your ears.
   
   This is a common problem with chord/tablature books, and is not limited to this one... but what the publishers of this type of books should know is this:
   
   Anyone who is interested enough in Dylan to buy a book like this will also probably invest in a capo!



5. This book is about 1.5 inches thick and includes it all. Really good and well presented.

5 comments about John W. Schaum Piano Course: A-The Red Book : Leading to Mastery of the Instrument.

1. The John W. Schaum Piano series is an excellent way to introduce children to the piano. Geared to the early grade school level, A-The Red Book is a follow-up to Pre-A-The Green Book. All the piano books in this series feature colorful illustrations, easy-to-read notes, and simple hand positions. The book progresses from very simple melodies at the start to more complex "melody and chord" songs at the end. Children love to sing along as they play the notes. I have found this to be a great way to for younger kids to learn to read music and begin their study of the piano.



2. I used the older version of this book when I was a child and it was excellent. Easy to read and understand. Perfect for learning to play the piano if you want to go at your own pace. I had a private instructor as well but the book was the key to my lessons. I have almost the entire collection but they are a bit out-dated so I plan to buy the new ones soon for my own review, and also so I can teach my kids to play when they are old enough. I loved the John W. Schaum series. Note: These books aren't really theory based so if you intend to teach yourself, you'll also need a book to really teach you the basics (Tip: I used the AB Guide to music theory by Eric Taylor, it's alittle difficult to find now though), once you master the theory, you'll be on your way to playing tons of songs. Fun fun fun!!!



3. I was very happy to be able to find the John W. Schaum Piano Course books. Many years ago, I was taught to play piano using these books and now I'm able to teach my children the same way. This book provides a very simply step-by-step approach to piano playing that is challenging but still easy enough for children to understand and to practice what they've learned on their own.



4. "Schaum's A-Red Book" is great for the student who needs a little extra work before moving on to "Thompson's Grade 1 Book". I usually start my students in "Teaching Little Fingers to Play", but I have discovered that many of them need extra material before they are able to move on to "Thompson's Grade 1 Book". This book is the one!!



5. This is a great way to learn piano. I have taught this method for many years and it has never failed any of my students. This books offers fun songs yet is packed with important information from the start.

5 comments about Zen Guitar.

1. If you write, play, breathe music pick up this book, it's insane every page makes you want to play the guitar, and they start off every page with a quote from a well known musician!... pick it up well worth it!!



2. It is a really good book. It gives much room for thought on guitar. A must-read for all musicians.



3. A book that actually has some depth and meaning - - for a guitar player and for life. I bought another copy for my 21 year old son I thought so highly of it.



4. This book is so cliche that I couldn't stand to read more than 20 pages of it. It is repetitive and not particularly insightful. If you do choose to buy it based on so many positive reviews do yourself a favor and buy it from somewhere you can easily return it. As one reviewer mentioned it only exists because the 'title was available', so pick up the Zen of Pooh if you want to learn about zen practice and a guitar method book if you want to learn how to play the guitar.



5. Honestly, this book is the biggest waste of $6 I've ever spent. I didn't expect a book of scales or guitar theory, but literally every page is a bunch of worn out "Zen" cliches which don't have anything to do with playing guitar and therefore don't actually help you become a better guitarist.
   
   If anyone truly become a better musician, mentally or physically after reading this book, I do not understand it and would love to hear why.

5 comments about The Perfect Wrong Note: Learning to Trust Your Musical Self.

1. This is my favorite book about music-making (classical piano, in my case). Westney very convincingly makes the case for an overhaul of the way we approach music practice and performance. The 'juicy wrong note' idea promotes a wholistic, passionate attitude. It is NOT the idea of treating mistakes lightly...more, it's the attitude of making the mistake whole-heartedly and then learning what it has to tell you about your level of preparedness,an unsuspected weak point, etc. Westney does not cover specific how-to's (the best book on that for piano in my opinion is Berman's) but more the philosophy to bring to the practice room and to the performance. I'd give more stars if it were possible



2. Not really being part of the culture to which the author is reacting, I found this book to be captivating, if a bit strident. The unfortunate tendency towards perfectionism taints a great deal more than music instruction. The expectations of deference and respect on the basis of position weaken bishops and U.S. presidents as well as maestros and music teachers. Still, the control freak element runs deep. As an adult beginner taking piano lessons, I just see it from a different perspective. Take humor in the strutting of the popinjay, no need to be alarmed by it.
   
   Also, the man either knows nothing about golf, or else cheats on his scorecard. I suspect the former rather than the latter. But, a recorded lousy golf swing is just a lousy golf swing, while one left off the scorecard is, well, a reflection of character.
   
   However, on his home ground, the practice room and the recital stage, the author is very strong. Texas Tech is lucky to have him. Go, Red Raiders!



3. If you want to truly refresh your thinking about teaching music, this is the book. Explore with the author ways to bring enthusiasm and joy into the learning process... how to use 'honest mistakes" as tools. Be prepared to learn why traditional methods can sometimes harness creativity. This book described for me a way to help my students relax and welcome the journey into music. Whether teaching by traditional methods or not, this book is a must. Thanks, Mr. Westney, for the great read and the inspiring words.



4. This book is absolutely enjoyable to read. I just couldn't stop reading it...I did not want to continue practicing without hearing all that William Westney had to say about practicing techniques (for any instrument, though mainly piano) and musicality. He uses great resources if you want to learn more about what he writes. His focus is getting in touch with the innate musician within you...a very positive and motivating book...highly recommended.



5. This book is impressively well written with a dry, concise and insightful tone. This book is not against perfectionism, but against the idea that mistakes should be always avoided, even during practice. The author suggests that music should be performed with a strong body awareness, and that this should be cultivated during practice in a way that is a sort of dialogue between ourselves and our bodies; in this dialogue, errors are a way for our bodies to communicate with us, so we should be able to make them boldly and then recover from them as much information as we can. This, in the end, makes the correction of the error deeper, and our performances more confident.
   
   The book is not a step-by-step guide to practicing using this method; it's more a pedagogic book detailing the philosophy behind this approach. Still, it's very though provoking even for non teachers and for amateurs musicians, especially adults returning to music after previous bitter experiences.

5 comments about 101 Bass Tips: Stuff All the Pros Know and Use.

1. Interesting arcane and off-beat tips, probably already known by the master bassist but helpful reinforcement; or good to know stuff for the beginner starting out on the career. CD attached with some useful examples.



2. this book should be read by not just bass because it's tips roll over to all guitar players. I am taking up bass and have been playing 6sting electric and just loved the book.



3. The 101 tips that modern bass master Gary Willis lays out in this excellent book will help bassists of all levels improve their craft in a variety of ways. Take me for example. I had been obsessing over the lack of mids in my tone, tweaking my preamp and considering introducing an expensive EQ pedal into my effects chain. Then I read Tip 49, and backed off the volume on the neck pickup of my Jazz(tm) bass. Wow! There was the articulation and punch I'd been looking for. I had also been feeling guilty for watching my alma mater's football games on Saturdays ("there goes another three hours that I could have been practicing!"). Then I read Tip 96, and bought a length of 2x4, some rope, and two screw eyelets. Presto - I had the perfect "bass" to focus on the mechanics of right hand slapping with my thumb, isolated with no need to worry about what my left hand was doing, all while watching football. Features a CD-ROM of audio tracks that you play over for some of the Tips.
   
   [...]



4. This is one for the library. Totally recommend getting the Tascam MPB-T1 Mobile Bass Trainer - MP3with a leather case from ValetStand com. Just down load the cd to the Tascam trainer and you can practice anywhere.



5. This book is for you if:
   You already know your way around the fingerboard, and know some theory, and have a solid beginner's grasp of the instrument, and are looking for some ways to improve or aid your playing/gigging, *outside* of basic technique, reading and theory.
   
   many useful tips, some more so than others, depending on your level. An excellent supplement to the fundamentals.

5 comments about Handmade Electronic Music: The Art of Hardware Hacking.

1. Ever since products such as GarageBand took over the low-level tasks of producing electronic music and turned us all into application users, much has been forgotten about making music with low-level electronic components. In the case of younger electronic musicians, this may be an art form they never even knew in the first place. Although there is an advantage is computer musicians speaking a common language through a common application, something fascinating in the realm of experimentation has been largely lost. This book returns to the days of yesteryear with some projects in making your own electronic music with basic devices.
   
   The book starts with some brief information on the tools you'll need plus the author's seven rules for experimentation. Part two is dedicated to listening. He shows you how to use radios and coils to find hidden electronic music, how to use the speaker as a microphone and vice versa, and how to use piezo disks to pick up tiny sounds, among other topics. Part three, on touching, shows you how to transform a portable radio into a synthesizer, change the clock circuit in toys to produce new sounds, and use photocells and pressure pads to "play" the modified toy. Part four, Building, shows the reader how to breadboard up some oscillators along with some controlling circuitry and produce gating, ducking, tremolo and panning effects. Part five, Looking, concerns translating video to audio using commonly found devices. The final section goes into depth on mixing circuits, how to build a good but cheap amplifier, connecting sensors to computers via game controllers, and a section on power supplies.
   
   The book is written such that you should proceed from beginning to end, since the devices in earlier sections are used to assemble the devices in later chapters. By the time you finish you should have entire experimental musical instruments that you have assembled yourself.



2. This is a great book if you are a electroacoustic composer, you can make cheap sensors and rare instruments... ready - if you want - to plug to Max/MSP or Ethersense...or Teabox... Thanks to Gregory Taylor from Cyclin'74.



3. Ah ! this book is one of the best i bought.
   I just love it !!



4. This is a really fun book, with lots of projects for budding electronic musicians. But it goes beyond that: It's a solid intro to electronics and CMOS components. I went into this book thinking it might be too basic, yet I walked away with a lot of ideas, and some interesting new techniquess.
   
   I wish that more electronics writers would cover the material with this author's style and accuracy. Also, kudos for providing parts sources and for using easy to find and inexpensive components. (I've seen many people, myself included, become frustrated by hard-to-find parts lists or the use of discontinued items. These projects suffer from neither of those problems.)
   
   In the end, you'll be left wanting to know more about the components and techniques you've picked up. (You'll probably want to add Don Lancaster's classic CMOS Cookbook to your shopping cart. It will give you the details about many of these components.) Highly recommended. I'm looking forward to other books by this author.



5. A great guide to taking apart old electronic noisemakers and turning them into something new. Also includes simple DIY electronic circuits with all the steps. The projects are compelling and workable. Give this to a young person and change their whole outlook on DIY.