5 comments about Guitar Player Repair Guide.

1. I'll make this short. If you play guitar and don't have the bucks to pay a guitar tech, you shouild read this book.



2. This book is for Luthiers, not an ordinary Joe. I found the directions to be scattered and not in an order where things are made simple. Only certain brands are highlighted. This may be a great book for guitar techs. In fact, it should be called "The guitar technician's guide...." NOT "The guitar PLAYERS guide....." But then they wouldn't sell so many copies then would they? I'm thoroughly disappointed. This book will either go to a used book store, or in the trash next to the $600.00 guitar with a stripped truss rod that I thought I had the know-how to adjust.



3. My son was happy to get it for Christmas and feels he will use it a lot.



4. I currently own seven guitars. I tried repairing/restoring an old, cheap guitar a few years back and ending up with a pile of worthless junk.
   
   Since purchasing this book all my remaining guitars sound better than ever. My first undertaking after reading this book was the restoration of my first guitar bought new 1965. Its plays like it was new and looks better than it has in years (many years). I have since used this book as my guide to a Gibson Les Paul restoration, a Yamaha BB1200S restoration, clean-up & set-up up on a couple vintage guitars, and was confident enough to do the setup an a new Gretsch I purchase a couple months ago.
   
   I have done setup and cosmetic work on two friends' guitars as well.
   
   This book has paid for itself many times over.



5. This book is a great resource for anyone wanting to learn about guitar repair and maintenance. Personally, I'm just a guitar player that's tired of running to a guitar tech every time I need a seasonal truss rod adjustment. This book lays out very clearly the types of maintenance that are necessary for acoustic, electric, and bass guitars. My only critique is that the book focuses more on Gibson, Martin, and Fender guitars. For the 80% of the guitar community that uses these guitars, this is great! For me, I play a Taylor and a G&L (which is really close). It would be great to have a little more "universal" information. BUT, this is a very small issue. If you use common sense, the principles in this book can be applied to virtually all guitars.
   
   The most important thing is that I used the techniques in this book and setup my Taylor 414ce, and now it plays AMAZING!!! Plus, I now know the proper ways to maintain and care for my gutiar so it will last for years!!!
   
   This book is a must have for EVERY guitar player that has a guitar that they want to keep sounding great, playing great, and well maintained.

5 comments about Complete String Quartets.

1. Mozart is supposed to be one of the greatest and most prolific composers...well...he starts to wear a little thin here! His operas and orchestrals are wonderful, but if you want the most prosaic pieces of music of all time, try these quartets. (I never regreted switching to viola so much until Mozart and the cello part isn't any better).



2. This is a good score and of course wonderful music. The editing is good, but there are a few questionable bowings. This is definitely good for anybody needing a score for the music. It also gives one an idea of how the music fits together if one plays in a quartet. Well Done!



3. The reader from St Louis should be told that Mozart was still a teenager when he wrote most of his quartets. Try the Hoffmiester and the 3 Prussian Quartets. Better still try the Viola Quintets. Nothing prosaic here!



4. Aside from the obvious, that this music is exceptional in all regards, this edition is a bargain for anyone who enjoys reading along while listening to the music (those of us who like to "see" what's we are hearing - very instructive) or for the player (even though I don't play a bowed string instrument, I enjoy reading/playing the parts). You can't go wrong with this well priced edition.



5. This is an excellent volume for analyzing. I purchased this book for the very purpose of becoming more familiar with Mozart's string quartets, as I haven't been playing classical music for very long. The book is incredibly valuable, considering having 23 full quartets with each part, and very affordable.

5 comments about Mel Bay American Fiddle Method, Vol. 1 (Book & CD).

1. I bought this book so I could get a head start on an Intro to Fiddle class. I also got the DVD. I couldn't be happier. It's a great companion to my class and gives me some extra practice material when I get through the songs we learn in class. The author does a great job of explaining techniques and giving tips. It's like having a tutor in addition to the class teacher.



2. I have been playing the fiddle for 7 years. The hardest thing for me is learning to jam with other musicians. AMF, Vol 1 was a big help in this regard. The first nine tunes were especially helpful because they are easy to memorize, easy to play in tune, and have a nice rhythm. These tunes are also familiar to other musicians in the bluegrass jam that I attend.



3. As an adult student, I found this book incredibly productive. This book does a great job getting you up to speed with easy melodies and a solid foundation to build further advanced skills you will use forever. You will learn to read music at the same time. A valuable asset. This book will start you building an Old-time standards repertoire, another asset. The music is broken down to two A parts and two B parts. I learned about muscle memory and how your brain wires finger motion. Amazing stuff.
   I have purchased the second book and I am very much enjoying a profound sense of achievement. The CD's work wonderful as a reference to keep you in check. Highly recommended along with a good fiddle teacher.



4. Went through the Vol I basic and the Vol II intermediate in a couple of months after a 30 year hiatus (long story). Beautiful American and Irish fiddle tunes arranged and annotated so as to be instructive and accessible. The CD recording really helps. Even with well written musical notation this stuff can be a bit of a tooth-pull without an exact recording of the piece being played.



5. Had this product delivered twice without the DVD. Never got it, canceled order. Rep at Amazon couldn't understand that it was to have had a DVD and a CD.

5 comments about Art of Violin Playing: Book One.

1. Many teachers say that the art of violin playing is the Bible on how to play violin. I have played violin for many years, and I find this book an invaluable tool. It contains so much detail that often it must be studied to understand all the minute details that Carl Flesch wishes to convey to the reader. If you are just a beginner, I would recommend a different book. The Art of Violin Playing uses somewhat technical descriptions on how to play, which are slightly confusing at times, but never impossible to grasp. I have found myself quoting this book when I teach my students. They will ask why I tell them to play a certain way, and I can show them what a master teacher says to do. I recommend this book very strongly.



2. ...for violin playing anyway. This book has rewarded all of my efforts to study it, however painstakingly. It is a violinist's textbook, the most scholarly violin book that I know of. Some of the technical descriptions are very subtle; that has been carefully protected by the translation. Flesch's integrity demands attention, preceding trust and patience. I might mention that his students include Ida Haendel, living proof of his principles, and the late Ginette Neveu.



3. I have found that this is a good book, but it is difficult to have to view the images or drawings in the last pages every time the text mentioned it. My suggestion for the autor is to put the images where they are needed; i.e. in the same page as the text refering to them, or in the next page if not enought space are left to do so.
   
   My rating is 3 and half stars.



4. The style of writing and the photos are antiquated but the information is timeless and comprehensive. It's not for the meek, rather, it's for the serious student and those wishing to advance to a higher level. The book illustrates and describes the basic mechanics and essential skills needed for violin playing, the rational behind the technique, and how it all fits together. The book is an amazing resource. Expensive, but worth it.



5. I was happy with purchase. I knew what the book was about before I purchased it. It arrived quicker than I expected too. I have not read it all yet as it is a music book.
   
   Regards
   
   David

2 comments about Suzuki Violin School, Vol. 1 (Suzuki Violin School).

1. This is the 3rd CD from the Suzuki series we've purchased. Like
   the 1st two CDs, it's good, clear and well played. The piano accompaniment is not overwhelming nor is it too soft. My daughter enjoys listening and playing her violin along with these CDs. It's a good idea to have this to play the new songs so your child can hear the pieces for Book 3 of the Suzuki pieces. She asks for it when we're in the car so that she can listen to it while I drive.



2. David Nadien's CD is a great version - it includes the piano accompaniments so that your child can play with the CD.

2 comments about Bob Dylan: The 6 Chord Songbook, Easy Guitar Edition (Bob Dylan).

1. I am not very familiar with Dylan's works but I bought this book anyway because I thought the 6 chords used would be simple. This turned out to be true. The chords are simple and if you forget some, there is a chart of all chords used at the beginning of the song. Since I have never heard of some these songs, I had to improvise on how it is played. Compared to other guitar related books, this one is fairly simple. There are no tablatures or written notes, just the lyrics with the corresponding chords. If there was a CD as a reference, this book would be good for a beginning guitar player.



2. Advanced players stay away, but this is as good a beginning guitar book to learn to play and strum that there is. The chords are simple, so spending time with this book will really teach you to comfortably play G and C chord songs.
   
   Many of the songs are "dumbed down" or have had the key moved. Purists will be unhappy, as the songs lose a lot of that Bob Dylan funk, but, nonetheless, virtually every song in the book sounds good when played and is recognizable. Plus, for beginners, almost every song can be played with either a Carter-Style strum or a simple 1 2 3+ 4+ strum pattern.
   
   Within weeks, you'll be able to play Dylan songs recognizably and, if you have even been playing for 6 months, you'll be able to play many of these songs on the first run-through.

2 comments about Autoharp Owner's Manual.

1. Really good book for autoharp owners. Lots of interesting info in one concise spot. A little technical in spots but all in all a book most autoharp owners can make use of.



2. This book is a compilation of articles from an autoharp publication. The articles have a variety of topics that help an autoharp owner tweak the 'harp to make it more conducive to personal playing.
   There are a number of articles on how to re-felt, how to re-tune, how to play to prevent RSI.
   I found it particularly useful to change my autoharp to diatonic tuning.
   It's the "Chilton's" for Autoharp.
   There are even plans for making an autoharp, lots of theory and suggestions.
   A really fun book for autoharp enthusiasts.
   It's not really a "how to play" book. It's aimed more at heavy users.

1 comments about Position Pieces for Cello.

1. I am an adult learning the cello. I would be considered an intermediate to advanced beginner.
   
   Position Pieces is an outstanding way to learn the positions on the cello. Some of the tunes are somewhat juvenile, but they have all challenged me.
   
   The book also incorporates other techniques in the pieces, so it's more than just shifting. My instructor and I have enjoyed working through this book.
   
   It would be very difficult to do if you are trying to teach yourself.

No comments about Essentials Elements 2000 For Strings Book 2: Cello.

5 comments about Principles of Violin Playing and Teaching.

1. Ivan Galamian (1903-1981) was one of the great violin teachers of the 20th century. He taught people like Perlman and Zukerman, as well as countless other professional players of today. This book sets forth the essentials of his method. The text was written by Elizabeth Green, herself a Galamian student and a noted author and teacher in her own right. But the ideas are Galamian's. The small number of pages (100+) is deceptive; every sentence is packed with information and must be read carefully lest some important feature be missed. Violin playing is a complex mental and physical activity, and to learn it well demands the ability to focus on many small details as one trains the ear and the hands. This book is not really intended to be a self-tutor so much as a reference for the teacher and the student who is advanced enough to understand what Galamian is saying. It is not for beginners. A beginner book might tell you where (approximately) to put your fingers on the string to get certain notes. This book tells you (in words and photos) what your finger looks like when it is on the string, what part of the fingertip is pressing on the string, how hard it is pressing, how fast it should be traveling as it hits the string, the musical effect of different methods of lifting the finger, and so on. And that's only a tiny bit of what is written about what the left hand and fingers do. This is followed by a complete analysis of the mechanics and musical effect of every conceivable bow stroke. Matters of bow speed, pressure and point of contact with the string are all considered in light of the effects they produce, along with many more ideas concerning placement of thumb and fingers on the stick, angle of bow to string, and more. The book concludes with an analysis of effective practicing and teaching. There is much useful material on the relationship between technique and artistic interpretation as well. The many excellent photographs and musical examples add a further measure of depth to the book.

   One small quibble: I don't think he spent enough time discussing how to play in tune. What he does say is all correct--he mentions that one must "think the sound" of the desired pitch as well as mentally prepare the hand and finger motion--he is speaking of shifting--but thinking the pitch needs to be stressed more, I think, and extended to thinking the actual sound of a beautiful violin tone as well.

   This is a book for teachers and players who are advanced enough to know the areas they need to work on. It is considered one of a handful of classic books on violin playing, which include the famous treatises by Leopold Mozart, F. Geminiani, and Carl Flesch. First editions of this book (1962) are scarce and cost anywhere from ..., which says something about its importance, I think.




2. As a former violin student of 9 years who moved towards piano instead, I have found this book immensely valuable in helping me as a Suzuki parent of a young violinist myself. If you have a child moving into the Kreutzer etudes, or in Book 7 or later in the Suzuki series, this book is a godsend. At this point in your child's studies, you have no doubt been listening to many great artists, and wondering how they attain the immense variety in tonal coloring, or how they actually implement such amazing shifts, or complex bowing techniques. This book, with its pictures, is outstanding in deconstructing these motions. While it is highly analytical in parts, the book is also excellent in addressing the body's motion as a whole - in showing the coupling between the hand, elbow, shoulders, violin... using well known extracts from etudes, caprices, and solo works as practical examples.

   It most definitely helps to be an advanced instrumentalist in reading this book, as the author certainly presumes that the reader has a trained ear. The sections on how to practice will also be appreciated by those who have worked in intensive Master Classes, and have carried back from these classes some improved practice habits.

   All-in-all, this is book not to be missed, particularly by the supportive parents of maturing artists.




3. this is a MUST for any violinist who is serious about playing the violin. This book has solution to all of the problems that a violinist faces, in addition, this is a great leaning tool, lines from major concertos are used as exemples. again, this book is a must for anyone who's serious about playing the violin or even becoming a concert soloist.



4. I would recommend this book to any musician. Although it extensively covers bowing and left hand technique, the most important aspects are in how to practice and master your art. The variations suggested can be used by any musician on any instrument and will take you to a new level of technical control.
   
   I would not suggest this book for a beginner, this material is best learned from an experienced teacher. Advanced students and teachers should all have this book in their book collections.



5. After seeing the positive reviews on this book, I decided to go ahead and get it, as I realized despite my having played viola for such a long time, I don't own a single tome detailing the principles of good technique and playing.
   
   So far I've gone through sections dealing with left hand positioning (the frame) and intonation. The writing is clear and engaging; Galamian observes many times it is important not to lay down arbitrary rules on how things should be done - unless there is a compelling reason. I like how the sections contain exercises that are written out - the provide a concrete method to achieve the results he discusses. The photos of hand positioning are also very descriptive.
   
   I can tell I'm going to refer to this book again and again in the coming years - it is so nice to have it reinforce what I've heard (and often forget!) from different teachers! Definitely recommended!
   
   I'd like to add that I found this book for about $20 less at Shar Music - but at any of these prices it's completely worth it!