5 comments about The Jason Robert Brown Collection: 24 Selections from Shows and Albums.

1. I'll admit that I was suspicious of a collections of JRB songs. I already had the vocal selections for his shows, "Parade", "Songs for a New World" and "The Last Five Years". I just thought it was another way for the publisher to make a few more dollars. That was until I looked at the contents. This collection had things in it that are not available anywhere else...Particularly songs from JRB's album "Wearing Someone Else's Clothes", among others.
   
   The music is very challenging and is arranged to be very close to what Jason actually plays. This authenticity is something I enjoy about all of the vocal selections from his composition.
   
   Buy this collection and enjoy an emerging Broadway super star composer.



2. Jason Robert Brown is one of the leading names in the "new" musical theater. Outstanding collection for students, teachers and GREAT audition material.



3. Jason Robert Brown's music is eclectic and impressive. I bought this book after learning "Christmas Lullaby" and have already found several other songs I want to use in this collection. In case you have never heard of Jason Robert Brown, he wrote the music and lyrics for "Songs for a New World" among other musicals. Brown's music is intriguing and not your usual Broadway stuff. The collection contains twenty-four selections from his musicals (Songs From a New World, Parade, The Last Five Years, and Urban Cowboy), as well as other songs from CDs of his music (Songs of Jason Robert Brown, Wearing Someone Else's Clothes.) The piano accompaniments are full and not watered down - an important benefit for serious performers and pianists. One caution: the songs and piano accompaniments are challenging and require careful preparation to be performed successfully. The necessary effort will yield rich rewards in terms of increased musical knowledge and enjoyment.
   
   If you are looking for unusual but eminently worthwhile audition or performance material, this book is a great place to go.



4. I particularly enjoyed the selections from "Parade", it's an amazing show. Jason Robert Brown is an amazing composer, and everyone should have this book for some of the brilliant songs in it.



5. For this price, to get so many great song - great deal! All the songs from the Lauren Kennedy Album (that aren't from other shows) plus songs from the "Wearing Someone Else's Clothes" album. Also a great selection from Last 5 Years, Songs For a New World, Parade, and Urban Cowboy. Even if you have some selections books, you still have great additions.

5 comments about Songs for a New World: Piano/Vocal Selections.

1. I loved this show the moment the lights came up on the stage. If you are a fan, as well as an avid piano player, you'll love the music. There is such a range of material in these selections... just be wary that you'll have to practice to keep up with Jason Robert Brown!!



2. Jason Robert Brown is the best song writer ever. His music is very clever and witty! This is a must have as well as the cd!



3. Please realize that the ONLY reason people are giving this work anything below five stars is NOT because of a lack of music quality; it's merely because not all the songs were included!
   
   And it is this way with EVERY musical theatre score released to the public; composers are NEVER ALLOWED publish all of the songs from the show, because of legalities and technicalities [every show is owned by a publishing company, and performers have to pay publishing companies to do the show. If all songs from a show are included in publicly-released piano/vocal scores, anyone could go out and do an illegal production of the material].
   
   I agree, 'just one step' IS amazing, but if you really want to sing that song, it IS PUBLISHED in jason robert brown's newest compilation [the orange one].
   
   Jason Robert Brown is today's best contemporary music-theatre composer.
   Songs for a New World is his best work [tied with Parade].
   
   Unlike most other "must-own" songbooks, however, "Songs for a New World," is a song-cycle; that is, it's not a full story which follows a plot. It's a combination of songs that speak to one central theme. Because of this, a variety of characters and musical styles are present in this piece, and there is quite literally a song for everyone here.
   
   Seriously - the four singers on the cast recording are a soprano, an alto, a tenor, and a bass. No matter what your voice type - belter or legit - there's something beautiful for you here.
   
   Even if two songs are omitted, this is STILL a must-have! Get your hands on this music!



4. Jason Robert Brown is among my favorite composers. His music is a delight to play and sing. Be aware that much of this music will be frustratingly difficult for less experienced performers (pianists and singers alike), but it is absolutely worth the effort for any who can pull it off. And a splash of blissfully simple music, in "A Christmas Lullaby." Although I have my own objections, like everyone else, to certain songs that were not included, that's just what happens in a vocal selections book, and is no reason not to take advantage of what IS available.



5. First, buy the album. After you fall in love with the music (because, of course, you will), buy this book and have at it. This is probably the most challenging and rewarding "pop" music for a pianist to play that you will ever encounter. It's rhythmically intense, and harmonically it is very fun, too. Not exactly the stuff you can sing and play at the same time.

3 comments about Ben Folds - Rockin' the Suburbs: Piano/Vocal Transcriptions.

1. Accurate transcription of piano music as played in Rockin the Suburbs CD. Keep in mind that this is not a transcription of a live performance, and so songs such as "Rockin the Suburbs" might be a little sparse on notes since little piano is used on the CD. Songs with less accompanyment by other instruments, such as "The Luckiest" sound more complete when played only with a piano.



2. Folks looking for the same full-instrument transcribed scores as the previous scores Hal Leonard released are going to be a little disappointed. When the previous reviewer says the piano parts get a little sparse, he means it, and unfortunately unlike in the previous books, you can't turn to the lines of other instruments for fill-inspiration. This also means it's a heck-of-a-lot easier to play than the other books (maybe this is a good thing for you?)
   
   Still, it's Ben Folds, who pwnz all things piano and the piano ballads (Luckiest, Fred Jones Pt. 2) are sure to please.



3. Purchased as a gift...was just what I was looking for. Thank you for
   quick service.

No comments about Mabel Strikes A Chord (Sister Magic).

3 comments about A Dozen a Day Preparatory Book, Technical Exercises for Piano.

1. This book is cool! I have already finished this book but i'm still reveiwing it because the groups are cool!



2. This is a great little book of technical exercises for children learning the piano. I find it perfect from age 7 upwards, but smaller children do not have the reach or strength for it.
   
   I find the exercises useful for my own warmups, so you can use this for many years.
   
   The exercises are given names to appeal to the children, with little matchstick men illustrations to go along with them. You begin with walking, move to running, skipping, jumping etc.
   
   I joke with the kids "I want you to do cartwheels and headstands on the piano this week, but don't let your mom catch you!" Always gets a laugh.
   
   Highly recommended for kids learning the piano.



3. This book is so good and it's also a lot of fun! The pieces are creatively named and a joy to play. I wish I had this book when I started out playing piano as a kid! Looking forward to going on to Book One!

4 comments about Piano Pieces for Children (Everybody's Favorite Series, No. 3).

1. I have the 1934 edition. The pieces are graded from 1 to grade 4 and the quality and range of the music is fantastic, fair better than the rubbish simplified versions nowadays.



2. I started my piano lessons about 20 odd years ago...this book was what I played for fun and didn't underestimate my "talent". Sadly I lost my original copy about 6 years ago, what a joy to finally get it back...untouched.



3. Very good for beginner who want to start playing piano. Favorite and famous songs for all time.
   Fun to learn and play the music. Not only for children!



4. I have my original version from 1964 all tattered and torn. I will buy this book for my nephew who has taught himself to play piano. I could not give up my own version as it is too dear to me. It is a timeless reference in learning to play piano at any age.

1 comments about Rent: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical (Applause Books).

1. Celebrating one of the most famous Broadway musicals, "Rent: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical" is the script and songbook for the show that has been running on the famed musical theater street for well over a decade. The play, which focuses on young artists making their way in the world as the AIDS epidemic begins to hit, has gained its popularity for a reason - its no-holds-barred take on contemporary issues is speaks openly to theater goers of all backgrounds. "Rent" is sure to please fans of the play who want a souvenir to cherish as its Broadway run comes to an end.

5 comments about Body and Soul.

1. Do you know someone who plays the piano or is learning to play it? A gift of this book will make that person grateful to you forever, though this is no book for the really young. I have never read a better description of the making of a great pianist and composer, a rags to riches story full of heart and optimism. In many ways it is a musical education. What is the difference between a pianist with great technique who plays all the correct notes and a great pianist? You'll know. I even enjoyed reading the technical musical descriptions of what was going on, though I didn't understand them. Frank Conroy was an accomplished jazz pianist and his knowledge of that, and of classical music, really adds to this novel. A very enjoyable, old-fashioned novel in the best sense of the word, a novel that is unforgettable. It's going to be around as long as the author's Stop-Time.
   Is it good enough to make the list of probable classics? I thought the good fortune of Claude in meeting exactly the people who could help him the most was almost miraculous. Great talent attracts help, Conroy would say, but I think some setbacks in Claude's early development would have added to the drama. Conroy doesn't give Claude much introspection. We mostly see him from the outside, a boy who has found salvation in music and clings to it for dear life. So a classic? Maybe. But all in all this is an absolutely wonderful book.



2. Excellent musical content. Some descriptions seemed slightly forced, but that may be because I am not familiar with the colloquialisms or slang of the time. The descriptions made me feel as if I were actually witnessing the events.



3. The ending seemed contrived, but otherwise a great read, especially in the summer. Reading about a boy growing into a man pretty much alone with this amazing musical gift and happening on the "right" people to nurture him since his mother was not able to was a happy story. The female characters were not particularly well drawn, so it was hard to imagine how his first wife and he grew apart since they'd been such good friends during college. Same with #2 who was really an infatuation and then the one to complete him. Teachers and mentors were much clearer characters.



4. I can't say enough about the quality of this book! As a piano teacher, I was smitten from the first page. If you have even a passing interest in music, you will LOVE this book! Thank you, Frank Conroy, for a gem which, when I finished and immediately began to read again. Simply a masterpiece!



5. As a big fan of classical piano, and as a former piano student, I had great expectations for this book. I was not disappointed..for the most part.
   
   I could relate to so many thoughts of the main character. The plot compels you to keep reading...
   
   And now the down side...
   
   I was disappointed that the names of God and Christ were used in a bad way. It hurts me how often God's Name is abused out of anger in so many movies, tv, and books. Also, some explicit scenes in the book, could have been toned down.
   
   So, while I loved the story, I was hurt that the name of God was misused.

3 comments about The Music Tree: A Plan for Musical Growth at the Piano : Time to Begin (Frances Clark Library for Piano Students).

1. My son is in first grade and using the first book - we love it! This method does a great job of teaching how to count the beats for each type of note. When I was a child, that was what I had the most trouble with. Looking back at the old books I used, it's no wonder! The first song in my old book included quarter, half and whole notes, with a full staff. Time to Begin introduces just one new thing in each lesson, so my son is able to get through a few 'songs' each week and feel that he is progressing well. That makes him much more agreeable about practice time since he's not just staring at the same piece for 30 minutes. He used the Alfred book in kindergarten and prefers the new one. The little characters Chip and Bobo (who give practice tips and a bit of theory for each lesson) are cute! Presentation counts for a lot at this age.



2. I had this recommended to me as a good tool to teach beginning note-reading and I've found the book is indeed step-by-step, i.e. it spends a lot of time teaching higher and lower, and then steps and skips on the staff.
   
   What I don't like is that it introduces an incomplete staff to start, and students are expected to read only steps and skips, going up and down. For a long time students are reading notes on one, two, or three lines, before the entire 5-line staff is shown. There is no correlation to the treble or bass clefs, the beginning note is indicated afresh for each song. I've found this to be confusing for some beginners. What is more, the actual music in this book sounds chintzy and simplistic because it revolves so much around two and three notes.
   
   I prefer the Hal Leonard series for teaching note-reading; in presenting the clef at once it is actually simpler to read, their pages are colorful but less distracting, and Hal Leonard does a great job of using good-quality music. I think having children play a good-sounding tune is inspiring for them and keeps them more motivated than playing ditties revolving around two or three notes, as they feel they are playing actual music.



3. My five-year-old daughter loves this book. It moves at the right pace for her. She can learn the songs within a week of practice and move on to one or two more songs for the next week.
   
   I love that the book teaches more than just reading notes. She has learned rhythym, intervals and octaves, slurs, measures etc. All at a pace that a five-year-old can understand. I feel like she will get the inner workings of the music sooner this way, rather than just reading notes in succession to find the melody.
   
   She has been using this book with an experienced piano teacher, rather than just with me at home. Her teacher added pentachords and chords for practice, and uses the workbook along with this book. But in only five months she has made a lot of progress.

5 comments about Piano Lessons Book 1 - Book/CD Pack: Hal Leonard Student Piano Library.

1. I bought this book/cd for my 6 year old daughter. She is at that age where she will not let me show her how to do anything! She took the book and the cd and is teaching herself how to play the piano! She has given several "recitals" for our family and I am amazed at how much she has learned.
   It is a wonderful introdution to the piano and I would highly recommend it for anyone, young or old.



2. I bought this book for my 4 year old daughter to begin piano as part of homeschooling for Kindergarten. I also borrowed Usborne's First Book of the Piano from the library and was glad I didn't buy it! Although I like that in Usborne's the notes are written with the letters C,B,A, etc, instead of finger numbers, there are way too many concepts per page and very very busy pages. Leonard's Piano book on the otherhand introduces one concept at a time and the pages are not cluttered. The CD is a great and fun feature. It has accompaniament music for each song the student plays, which not only is great for a "teacher" who doesn't play, but great that the student can hear the music as s/he is learning. A great way to teach piano, btw, is to "show" how the piece is played and is suppose to sound first and then let your child do it.



3. This is a great book for beginners. The very first day the student is playing a little song. Easy to follow and understand even if you have no prior piano experience. I have tried others and did not like them, but I would definitely choose this method again and recommend it to others. The price is very reasonable and it comes with the CD.



4. I bought this book at the same time as a couple of the John Thompson books. Even though I learned with the John Thompsons, I think this book is great for early learners because it starts simply with finger numbers and pictures of the keys, without trying to teach note reading at the same time. My five year old is really enjoying the book so far and is enthusiastic about learning the piano. He is young enough that if you try and fit too much into the lesson at once, he loses interest. I definitely recommend this book for young ones.



5. I'm using this to teach my six year old, and couldn't be more pleased. It moves at a really slow, easy pace which is exactly what she needs. She does not feel overwhelmed and yet finds the exercise challenging. She also gets the songs stuck in her head.