2 comments about Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Recital Book Level 1A (Alfred's Basic Piano Library).

1. Even for the most basic beginner, cute, thoughtful songs that could easily be performed for a beginning pianist recita.



2. I did a lot of looking for piano instruction books, and the Alfred Series is fabulous! This book was referenced from the Basic Course and corresponds to the level the student is at ~ and it makes teaching so simple. One of the things I like best is the great variety of songs - that are actually fun to learn - I highly recommend this book for the younger beginner student.

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.

No comments about Sonatas - Book 1: Piano Solo (Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics, Vol. 1).

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.

5 comments about The Messiah: An Oratorio Complete Vocal Score (G. Schirmer's Editions of Oratorios and Cantatas).

1. The book arrived in a very timely manner. It was in excellent shape. I am extremely happy to have it. Now I can mark it all up for the soprano lines.



2. The Messiah is, by far, my favorite piece of classical music. It has been a Christmas tradition for me to attend singalong Messiah concerts for many years. This score has been the choice of the choral conductors and organizers of the concerts of which I have been a part. I bought this book to give to my son-in-law for Christmas, as part of a package that also included a recording of a radio program about the Messiah and Handel, and a CD of the music. He is an musician, so I knew he would enjoy it, and I wanted to provide him with material to share with my granddaughters, so they could also become acquainted with this great piece of music. He was very pleased to receive the gift.



3. My copy of Handel's Messiah arrived when stated and in in perfect condition. Thank you



4. I developed an appreciation for Handel's Messiah over 60 years ago, and to this day I listen to recordings of it frequently. While in college I became a participant, singing in the chorus, and have done so many times since. A while back I gave my vocal score to my daughter for her use, not realizing how much I missed having it at hand. Since I recently purchased a replacement I feel complete again as I refresh my readings of this great work, truly an all time classical composition.
   Donald A Carlson



5. It got me through Christmas and Easter without having to use the choir's musty copies.

1 comments about Piano Adventures: Technique and Artistry Book, Primer Level.

1. My son (age 8) has used the primer level of the Faber series for the past 6 months. I think it has a comprehensive and fun approach to teaching piano. He loves it as does his teacher.

No comments about Piano Adventures: Lesson Book Level 2B.

5 comments about The Disney Collection (Easy Piano Series).

1. GRREEEAATT!!! If you love disney songs like I do, you should definitely get this book. All the songs have vocal and piano parts. I for one only use the voice. This book is definitely the best disney classics book.



2. my girls use this over and over! they love to play the songs from Disney, and I saved alot buying it on Amazon!



3. This book contains a huge variety of disney songs, however, they are a bit too easy. I think that the over simplified versions of the songs lose the melody that you would expect from a more advanced version.



4. We love the book, my children are in books 2 of Faber, and these songs are challenging for them, but they are motivated by the fun songs!



5. I purchased this book like 2 months ago. The music is great, however, it seems too easy for me to play with... no challenge actually. The left hand barely move any, so... you know the idea.. well, I have an advise. If you have just known how to play piano for like 2 or 3 months. Then, this is your book.

3 comments about Older Beginner Piano Course Level 1/WP32.

1. It is a user-friendly piano course book especially for an older beginner. The content of the book is very clear.



2. This is the greatest book you can use to learn how to play the piano. I used this book in college and within weeks I was playing like a pro. and I 've never played a piano before.



3. This book is really great. It arrived at my house in good condition and in an orderly fashion.

No comments about Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Theory Book Level 1B (Alfred's Basic Piano Library).