2 comments about Famous Pianists & Their Technique.

1. This book is a wonderful technical resource for mature pianists that want to really discover the secrets of how the immortal professional pianists of our century and the last polished their piano technique. This is a great comprehensive book of all of the best pianists and their mechanical ways of doing things at the keyboard. Gerig gives cites quotes and thoughts from many great pianists and teachers, and then adds his own commentary to them and explains what he thinks they are trying to say. The reason why I gave it four stars instead of five is because it is moderately tedious to read in certain parts. The explanation which some of the pianists give is in such great, exacting detail that it is necessary to read some parts of it several times in order to fully grasp the meaning of it. This is a great book and definately worth reading if one wishes to seriously study how to play the piano. However, it is an extremely advanced book and is full of very specific information and terms which a beginner or intermediate pianist would definately not understand. On the other hand for the college bound pianist or high level piano teacher, this book is a gold mine



2. This is a fantastic book in every sense of the word. The way Gerig written it is very great in itself in that it presents the piano from a historical view as well as purely technical one. So not only does it enhances the inquiring musician's mind in the technical methods,employed by the masters of the past centuries,but it gives practical technical and practice tips which show immediate improvements. I give it four stars because it is somewhat tedious to read. Perhaps it only seems that way because I devoured half of it in three days.

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3 comments about Steinway.

1. What kind of "classics" do I love is a question I sometimes receive. The name was always primarily for my love of books, however it extends to many classes of design, architecture, music in many forms, and Frank Sinatra is particular. An additional example would be the Steinway Piano and the history of the Family who created it.

   Unfortunately the cover of this book is not shown, for it also appears in poster form depicting the interior of Steinway Concert Grand. And even if it were not used by 95% of concert pianists, even if it did not create one sound, the design alone is gorgeous to gaze upon.

   I do not play, and my knowledge of pianos does not extend very far past this book. But the work is so well done, neither do other readers of this book need to play or be technically inclined. The book does contain technical information that will be of interest to some more than others, but for anyone who enjoys History, the book is wonderful. And even if you are not technically inclined, many of the facts that document who and what is required to create just one of these instruments, is something that will fascinate any inquisitive reader.




2. This is a wonderfully illustrated book presenting the whole history of the Steinway company from it's start in New York untill today. The text in historically insteresting, and the book uncludes a large number of excellent illustrations. There are pictures of many Steinway models, various historical photos of the NY stores and factory, art case pianos galore, old advertisements, and more. The history of the piano is tied closely to this company. And don't forget, it was first and foremost the piano that introduced music to the general public (before the age of the gramaphone and the CD).



3. This is an amazing book about an amazing company. I had always thought that Steinway was a German company with an American factory. The first line of Henry Z. Steinway's foreward lays that myth to rest:
   "The piano is an American invention. Historians of the piano traditionally start with Cristofori in Italy in the late seventeenth century, proceed to the eighteenth-century Vienna known to Mozart and Beethoven, and to London where in the early nineteenth century the first factories produced pianos in quantity. But in America, Iron entered the piano. The cast-iron frame was developed here, and by the middle of the nineteenth century the piano as we still know it was built by Americans."
   
   The book goes on to tell how the company's founder received an honor for bugling in battle at Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, how some piano makers named Steinway opened the first Mercedes dealership in the US... before there were any roads for automobiles, how luminaries like Wagner, Liszt, Berlioz, Rubinstein, and Rachmaninoff raved about this instrument that was like no other, and--of course--how a family of German immigrants changed the face of music, and the piano in particular, by moving to America where they had the opportunity to do so.
   
   If you think a piano is a complex device, and it is, then you'll be amazed at the world's best piano's factory. The piano itself could be metaphorical for the entire factory. The instrument is wood and iron, ivory and felt. It's got 70,000 lbs. of tension stretched across tolerances so fine that the musicians can feel a difference of a couple of grams, or a millimeter variance. At one end of the factory you'll find logs floated in to be milled into piano materials, and iron to be cast in the foundery. At the other end you find bow ties and spats and painted fineries. The piano is full of such dichotomies. The Steinway family itself, though, seems very focused and adapted to its calling. It's almost miraculous that it happened at all. Perhaps America can take a bow for creating the opportunity that brought Europe knocking at Steinway Hall for a chance to play the finest instruments, and to compose music that suited it. Had it happened 50 years later, much of the repertoire we know would not be here.
   
   I was fascinated with the "perfect instrument:" a Steinway with no keyboard. No room for human error. It was a player piano -- an early home entertianment center. An instrument that brought the music to you. Think of it as an early iPod. ;^) But if there had been no stories at all, no text, I would have bought this book even for the pictures. Educational in places, sheer indulgence and delight in others. This is a beautiful book.
   
   
   Shooshie

5 comments about Hourglass.

1. Putting a Sony Enhanced (copy-protected) CD in your computer may install a rootkit on your system, leaving it extremely vulnerable for hackers.
   
   Buy the music online. If you have an MP3 player, and want to play it on a Windows computer, beware.



2. Hard to believe that more than 35 years have passed since JT's debut. As one of the most talented of 70's performers, Taylor has consistently turned out material that superbly showcases his enormous gifts as a singer-songwriter. While some have knocked him for being too mellow, anyone who doubts that Taylor can rock should take a listen to his live rendition of "Steamroller Blues" (from his first Greatest Hits album). In fact, I once saw him bring a staid group of tuxedoed award-show attendees to its feet during a rousing live performance of "Steamroller."
   
   Nevertheless, Taylor has always known himself, his forte and he never falters on delivering what he does best. A matchless ballad singer, Taylor often seems like a comforting force of nature: "Fire and Rain," for example, is as moving today as it was in 1972. On Hourglass, "Enough to be On Your Way" is a ballad that rises to the level of "Fire and Rain" while "Look up from your Life" is an impressive addendum to "You've Got a Friend." "Line 'em Up" pokes fun at political hypocrisy during the winding-down stretch of Vietnam; the song is a gentle but nonetheless terse comment from a baby boomer who reminds us of the turbulence of that era, though it could apply to today's scene. Taylor's tenderness, his wry sense of humor, patience and excellent musicianship are all on display here. "Hourglass" is definitely a keeper--an indisputable testament to James Taylor's staying power!



3. Finally....."Hourglass" is James Taylor's first studio Album in 6 years. Released in 1997, featuring great artists like Sting, Stevie Wonder, Yo-Yo Ma, Michael Brecker and Branford Marsalis, Taylor put his heart in releasing this album. The result is a collection of relaxing, melodic and pleasant tunes and songs all related to love and family.
   James Taylor is back to the basic of his guitar sounds and tunes and this album is a perfect example to that, showing Taylor at his best; highly recommended to all the fans and to anyone who wants to hear a great Folk Soft Rock album.
   If you are new to James Taylor's music and like this album, I recommend you try another CD titled "One Man Dog"
   Hourglass



4. The award winning album is probably one of the top 5 JT albums out there (amongst Mud Slide Slim, October Road, Gorilla and Sweet Baby James).
   
   I use this CD personally for sound quality car audio competitions, as the quality is absolutely amazing (plus JT is my fav music artist). By far one of his best recorded albums along with October Road.



5. This is a calm James Taylor album perfect for a late afternoon and an orange sunset. Not like Taylor's older rock albums, it has a more modern feeling, maybe slightly western but by no means country. Being a different kind of James Taylor it will appeal to a different kind of listener, sort of like the difference "Surprise" offers from most of Paul Simon's other work. Good, just a slightly different feel.
   
   On here alot of the songs sound the same, that is except for the first track "Line 'Em Up" which I think is one of the all time best James Taylor songs. You remember how "Your Smiling Face" was jus a complete hit all the way around from the beginning? Well this is like that. From the first note you know that its well written and equally well sung. After this early climax there seems to be alot of filler kind of material with slow ballads such as "Gaia" and "Enough To Be On Your Way". "Jump Up Behind Me" is the next thing close to a 5 star song. A warm and well paced beat paired with Taylor's sultry vocals. "Another Day" stands out among all of the other slow songs. Slow at the beginning, but the it picks up slightly. This album ends on a nice note with "Boatman" and an old tune Taylor turned into gold caled "Walking My Baby Back Home". If you hang on long enough you will hear bonus track 13 which holds no particular intrigue. Just a sporadic little western blues jam Taylor might have put together at the last minute. Its kind of silly, but sung well.
   
   This is a 4 star James Taylor album with a couple of 5 star songs on it. The rest are a little bland. I wouldn't recomend it to those unfamiliar with Taylor's work just as I wouldn't tell some one about Paul Simon and then hand them a copy of "Surprise". But if you like James Taylor, its worth a try.

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1 comments about Total Keyboard: The Complete Guide to Playing, Performing and Recording on the Piano and All Types of Electronic Keyboards.

1. I have some experience playing the accordion, and when I decided to learn the keyboard, I flipped through several books and bought a couple of the cheaper ones. This one caught my eye from the beginning. ... .

   Well, when I saw it here for such a low price I decided I couldn't resist and bought it. A week later I tore into it - and let me tell you, it's great. Some people may feel put off by its coverage of musical theory, but DON'T BE! Too many "teach yourself to play" books ignore the important theoretical side of music, and the author manages it in a very light and easy-to-follow way. This book is marvelous and if you do what he says and take it slow and steady and concentrate a little bit on what you're doing you'll find yourself very well on your way to a technical understanding of keyboard instruments by the time you're finished.

   He also demystifies the "tech" behind keyboards and synthesizers, which I thought would never be possible. ;)
   Although this section won't be useful to acoustic piano players, that doesn't mean you should pass it by. The "teach yourself" part alone is worth the full ... price tag on the back of the book.

   In short: BUY IT! Don't waste your time with other books.

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