Editorial Review

In 1975, four teenagers from Mount Temple School in Dublin gathered in a crowded kitchen to discuss forming a band. The drum kit just about fit into the room, the lead guitarist was playing a homemade guitar, the bassist could barely play at all and nobody wanted to sing. Over thirty years later, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. are still together, bound by intense loyalty, passionate idealism and a relentless belief in the power of rock and roll to change the world.

Read more

Reviews (10)

U2 from the Band Members.
I can't express enough how GLAD I am to own this book. The photographs are exceptional and personal, and the band members open and up front about their (very) humble beginnings, all the way to stardom... which doesn't impress them much. It is the perfect Time for this book. The Band's willingness to put together this volume is a gift to the millions of us who have been touched by the greatest rock band in all the history of rock 'n' roll.

A gift to the world!
I would like to thank U2 for giving us this book. It really made me feel part of their history together. I've been a U2 fan for more than half of my life and looking at those amazing pictures, reading their own words is priceless. If you like U2 is the perfect thing for you to have; if you don't, after reading this book you will.
The Beatles Anthology Book Done U2 Style
If anyone here owns the Beatles Anthology companion book to the TV series/CD's, this isn't much different. The story is "written" by the band, quotes culled from over 150 hours of interviews done for Neil McCormick. Every phase of the band's career, from it's earliest days straight through to "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" is told solely through quotes from each band member, making this is as definitive, brutally honest, unflinching and uncompromising a book on the band as we'll ever see. These aren't moments plagiarized from magazine articles or other books, but personal recollections.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Composers & Musicians - Rock    6. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    7. Ireland    8. Personal Memoirs    9. Rock Music    10. Rock groups    11. U2 (Musical group)    12. Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts   

Reviews (3)

I LOVE THIS STUFF!
Springsteen fans have been very lucky as of late as he has been putting out more and more product.While non-fans may wonder what all the fuss is about, let's face it, if there is one rock ledged who is sorely lacking in the way of specialty releases, it's the Boss.How nice then to finally see things like the '75 London concert DVD and CD released last year, a revamped Seeger Sessions disc with songs that popped up on the tour and during rehearsals we otherwise would not have had on the actual release and items like this book and the coinciding "Greetings from E-Street..."
good job

Fantastic Tribute to a Great Artist.
I am a life long Bruce Springsteen fan, and so, I have become more objective with my opinions of this spectacularly gifted musician. In Dave Marsh's 'Bruce Springsteen on Tour 1968 -2005, the reader is taken deep into the movement that the Boss has set out, transforming American rock n roll, and in many ways putting a kick back into the American music industry.What is most fascinating in this biography is the wonderful and mostly unseen photographs of Springsteen and crew on tour. There are nearly 350 pictures or so, and nearly each of them tells a unique story of the movement that is Bruce Springsteen.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Concert tours    5. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    6. Genres & Styles - Rock    7. History & Criticism - General    8. Music/Songbooks    9. Rock musicians    10. United States    11. Music / Rock   

Reviews (1)

Well done
I do think this little book picks up some of the contemporary songs and adds a quality to some of the old ones that make it worthwhile to purchase. I bought it cheaper here that through the Cokesbury sale! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Methodism    2. Music    3. Religion - Worship - Music    4. Religious - Contemporary Christian    5. Religious - Hymns   

Reviews (26)

Essential book for those interested in jazz theory.
Mark Levine's "Jazz Theory Book" is an important resource for anyone interested in learning jazz harmony, in a complete fashion. Most books on jazz theory leave some things out, or don't explain something fully, forcing the player the buy another book to try to fill the holes. This book covers all the bases and the concepts can be applied to any instrument (reading music is necessary).
A decent reference book for jazz
This book is loaded with pretty much all the information a jazz player needs for good improvisation.The writing is understandable if you have decent knowledge of music and are patient enough to read some parts over more than once.If you are looking to work on jazz theory, this is probably the right book to start with.
Understandable
This book is very understandable.It assumes that you have a general understanding of music theory.From there it takes you through a very clear sequence of concepts specific to jazz.It's very clear and offers lots of examples and suggestions for practice and approach.An excellent book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Music    2. Music/Songbooks    3. Songbooks - General    4. Music / Songbooks   

Reviews (13)

Have motorcycle...Will Travel
I just finished reading Roadshow:Landscape With Drums:A concert tour by Motorcycle and loved it from cover to cover!! It is what it is. A written visual discription of life on the road after 30 long years of touring out of a suitcase,town after town, city after city , country after country year in and year out!All I did was buy the new album every year,go to the show every year(33 at present)go home and go to work the next day! I could not do what Neil,Geddy or Alex has done for 2112 days straight!!!The book is a true account of what Neil enjoys in this stage of his complicated life and spoken wonderfully from a very unique private person.Neil,Thank you for the memories and look forward to the next book!

A curmudgeon's diatribe with drums
While I was looking forward to reading this book, I couldn't overlook the nagging feeling in my gut that Neil Peart would fill hundreds of pages with a lot of whining, crabbing and irritation at the fact that he has to actually put in a grueling three hour work day every other day. What I found most enjoyable were his observations about the scenery and locales he visited, particulary in Europe. (The Skibo Castle description was ornate and engaging.) But there was just too much bitching from this misanthrope millionare. The fact that he can't deal with fans who have allowed him to live a life of leisure and luxury is ridiculous. Sure, there are some nuts out there, but this guy needs to show more appreciation for his audience. And heaven forbid that Geddy should want to add one song to the set for the European leg of the tour--Neil freaked out on him like a spoiled child. There's no doubt that Neil Peart has prodigious talent with the pen, but he needs serious help in the social skills department. Of course, I don't need to like a writer at all to enjoy what he writes, but when the two are joined at the hip in a biography, it's certainly going to effect my impression of the work.

great book!
The book read as advertised- a travelogue of motorcycle riding between gigs. Those who are looking for inside Rush info, etc. from Neil should know better- the man is rightfully tight-lipped about private matters, and we, even as fans and patrons of his art, have no right to such info. Nor should we have any expectation of such info. To write negatively about his book because he is guarded about some matters comes across as childish to me. Having said that, it's a great book, and as a fellow motorcyclist (BMW R1100 RT) it's a pleasure to read books about the subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Canada    3. Drummers (Musicians)    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Europe    6. Genres & Styles - Rock    7. Motorcycling    8. Music/Songbooks    9. Musical Instruments - Percussion    10. Rock musicians    11. Travel    12. Voyages And Travels    13. Music    14. Music / General   

Reviews (3)

What AGreat Trip down E Street !
This book is so much fun! It's sort of a "pop up" book for grown ups. The clever pull-outs, the repros of tickets & ephemera, the old newspaper clippings that show a YOUNG, YOUNG Bruce...it's all good!This is not only a very novel approach, but also an easy to read, informative scrapbook of Springsteen history.The wonderful, plentiful photos and out-takes include some superb shots (including the covers) by Frank Stefanko.

Very unique book that i highly recommend if you're a Bruce fan
i concur with the first reviewer - i too thought i had just about every book i could want on Bruce, but this one surpassed my expectations.Don't let the low page count deter you - this one is definitely worth the money.There are a ton of pictures i had never seen before (ones that very likely came from the band members themselves or members of their inner circle) and there are a lot of reproductions of interesting chachkies, clippings, documents, itineraries, setlists, etc. that are in little pockets throughout the book (akin to the inserts you got in the LP of The Who - Live at Leeds).The book begins with Bruce's first bands and goes all the way up to the latest reunion tours.The presentation is excellent - quality printing, binding, and beautiful thick stock slipcase.I paid around $24 for it and i'm extremely pleased - while not a narrative-heavy book like some others that run much longer, i'd rate this as one you'll want to add to your Bruce collection.Hats off to the author.

A Stroll Down The Boardwalk in Asbury Park and E Street
I'm going to try to make this as helpful as I can without going on excessively. I don't know about you, but I sometimes become belabored by long reviews.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    3. General    4. Genres & Styles - Pop Vocal    5. Genres & Styles - Rock    6. History & Criticism - General    7. Music    8. Music/Songbooks    9. Photography    10. Rock groups    11. Rock musicians    12. Springsteen, Bruce    13. United States    14. Music / Popular    15. Popular culture   

Editorial Review

This is the big one -- 20 thick volumes packed full of information on musical history, composers, artists and more.It carries a big price tag, but it's an invaluable aid for the serious student or writer. Grove has several other dictionaries, opera and jazz among them, but if you can only handle one, this is the one to get. This text refers to the 20 Volume edition of this title. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Nothing better...period
Despite the fact many have tried to "pretend" there are other dictionarys/encyclopedias that are better than The Groves, there simply are not.Sure, The Groves is not cheap, however, if you are looking for a quality work, it will never be cheap.So, whether you are a person with degrees in Music History, or someone who just wants to have information readily available on music/musicians, this is the only way to go.

Don't believe that you are getting 20 books.
Although the announcement makes you think that maybe yo will be getting 20 books for a song, you will be singing a different tune when it arrives.You will get one (yes, 1) volume selected apparently at random.I got volume 13.

dumbed down
Four stars for what has been carried over from the 1980 version, zero stars for what has been appended to it. We can't entirely blame the dictionary for the poor quality of most of these additions. The dictionary depends on a large pool of contributors, most of whom hold academic positions, and our academies are beset with insufficiently acknowledged problems.Read more

Subjects:  1. Music    2. Music (General)    3. Musical Instruments - General    4. Music / General    5. Music | Reference    6. Reference works   

Reviews (18)

Provides many links between these functions and composer effectiveness and strategy.
THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON MUSIC could have been featured in our Health Shelf section, but is reviewed here for its importance to musicians and any interested in music. It's the first to provide a comprehensive scientific analysis of how people experience music: chapters blend psychology, neuroscience, and musical examples from classical to rap to explain different facets of music and how they are perceived by the brain. Lest you think this overly scientific, it also provides many links between these functions and composer effectiveness and strategy.
Fascinating: Music listening as a personal tour through labs, studios and living rooms
Dan Levitin's "This is Your Brain on Music" is a rather unique book. I don't know any other book that bring together personal anecdotes from the music recording world, a wealth of current insights into how our brain allows us to even listen and enjoy music to the more arcane problems of how we structure our ideas into categories.
Not good
This book is carelessly written and edited, with a surprisingly large number of factual errors and misstatements of various kinds.I had high hopes for it, but I came away disappointed, even angry.Although there is some valuable material (p. 187 is great), too much is unacceptably sloppy.The music-theoretical explanations tend to be simplistic and misleading.Some are wrong.Trouble starts early, with a definition of "the A minor scale" as "the one minor scale that uses only the white notes of the piano keyboard."But this "natural" minor scale is not analogous to C major in the way Levitin is implying.The observation that Beethoven's Fifth "restates a melody using different instruments" trivializes a sophisticated musical language."Shave and a haircut" and "Gee Officer Krupke" are not the same rhythm, though Levitin says they are. (They're related, but not identical; it would have been illuminating to discuss the difference.) Mozart did not write "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" at age 6 (or any other age) though he did composevariations on it.(Levitin's claim that the stress pattern in this tune is TWINkle twinkle LITtle star is peculiar, or at least highly debatable.) The definition of a "whole note" as a note that "lasts four beats" is unhelpful.The claim that 6/8 is a "somewhat common meter in which we count six beats to a measure and each eighth note gets one beat" will be news to most practicing musicians, for whom this meter normally has two beats.Schoenberg is lazily called a "contemporary" composer though he died in 1951.The note C is defined as the "dominant" note of a piece in the key of C, which is bound to confuse anyone who is subsequently taught what a "dominant" is.Another problematic sentence:"Musicians refer to the pleasing-sound chords and intervals as consonant and the unpleasing ones as dissonant."But this is not what musicians understand by consonance and dissonance.Levitin's analysis of the slow movement of the Haydn Surprise Symphony doesn't jibe with the music; he says that "the main melodic idea spans barely more than half an octave, a perfect fifth" -- and so what? -- but the first 4 bars cover an octave, and the first 8 bars an eleventh.Another puzzling sentence: "There is nothing intrinsically catlike about the word cat or even any of its syllables [sic]"And what about the author's dismissal of "attempts to please the audience through musical obsequies [sic] rather than through soul." I cannot imagine a classical musician who would not wince at "Many of the greatest musicians of our era lacked formal training.... in classical music, George Gershwin, Mussorgsky, and David Helfgott are among those who lacked formal training..." Leaving aside the "unmusicality" of the repetitive writing, it is time to stop exploiting poor David Helfgott, who, however much he suffered personally, is not considered "one of the greatest classical musicians of this era" by any serious practitioner.Levitin must be a more responsible researcher and sincere music-lover than this book suggests, and I'm sure his intentions were good.Perhaps Levitin's editor is more to blame than he himself is. The objections I've listed may seem niggling. I've listed them for two reasons: 1) it would take too much space to discuss larger issues, and 2) I think such mistakes are evidence of the book's overall carelessness.Some books I would recommend instead of this one are more technical but also more stimulating and informative, notably Music and Memory by Bob Snyder and the recent Sweet Anticipation by David Huron.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. General    3. Instruction & Study - Theory    4. Music    5. Music/Songbooks    6. Philosophy & Social Aspects    7. Psychological aspects    8. Psychology Of Music    9. Science    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Science / Acoustics & Sound   

Reviews (5)

Excellent Product
I looked around for a long time for a decent intro to theory book and tried all sorts of things - this product is far and away the best I've found.

OK... but...
I find this book/CD set to be ok.However, it is a bit vague at times and lacks detail in some areas to the point where I found myself having to search the internet for more in depth explanations... for example.. Ties and Slurs.Also, I'm not sure if I just got a bad copy or if this common but the binding of the book seems poor.The pages began falling out after only 2 days of normal use.
Very good complementary learning.
As a drummer I was needing something like this material. There are many jokes about drummers and one of them is the typical : "Drummers are the best musicians friends". So in some way it used to be true for me, because I was always feeling my lack of knowledge in terms of music theory and all the stuff that you are supposed to know as a musician. So I've found in this book (even though I've just started studying it), despite of the basics, that I already know , that all the others issues inside it are very clear and very easy to understand, as well as the cd that is very useful to clarify every exercise or example in the book. So, in my opinion, this is a great material to take advantage, and I recommend it for those who want to improve their ability to understand music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Instruction & Study - Theory    2. Music    3. Music/Songbooks   

Reviews (27)

Piano Man is two thirds of a page long
In Billy Joel Complete Vol. I, Piano Man is five full pages long.In the Ultimate Fake Book, it's about two thirds of a page.Similarly, the sheet music for Webber's All I Ask of You is five full pages, but exactly one page in the Ultimate Fake Book.The Titanic Love Theme is one page in this fake book.I find the comb binding to be strong, and the print large enough and clear and everything is neat and accurate as far as I can tell.I am having SO MUCH FUN playing songs out of this fake book, I can't believe it!!! I'm almost giddy with delight -- I can't believe I'm playing some of these songs that I always wanted to be able to play!!!

Great collection, lousy binding
A "Fake Book" has just one staff, typically a synthesis between the melody and vocal line, so that you can play it on pretty much any instrument and get something recognizable as the song out.So you can play these songs on a piano, flute, harmonica - any C instrument really, which is most instruments (though not trombones or trumpets.)And the words are printed too, so you can sing it or at least know what would be sung.
The Ultimate Fake Book : C Edition (Fake Book Series)
This book contains many of my favoriate songs.ANd I like the way it indexes the songs in several ways.Alphabetic, by era, and by artist.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Genres & Styles - Pop Vocal    2. Music    3. Music/Songbooks    4. Musical Instruments - General    5. Songbooks - General    6. Songbooks - Popular    7. Music / Songbooks   

Reviews (36)

Digging for Gems
This is such a fabulous book taking a coffee break with the who's who of big producers.If you do music, you'll know there isn't really a shortcut to everything.That is why GREAT production work is such an art and everyone's got their way to make it sound..sound off effortlessly...if they're good.
The Lightbulb Came On
I've been recording at home for 20 years.For much of that time, I relied on Recording Magazine, tips from friends, and my ears to get by.My system was fairly simple - cassette-based multi-track, simple dbx compressor, and a few mics and digital effects.Then, it was time to move up.
A Must Have Book
This book is a definite must have if you are getting started in audio recording. I produce hip-hop & R&B beats on a Protools set up. This book has helped me turn hollow sounding music into a full sounding production. The question and answer section of the book gets some of todays best mixing engineers thoughts behind mixing. If your mixes dont sound the way they should and your seriously interested in making professional sounding music then read this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Music    2. Music/Songbooks    3. Recording & Reproduction    4. Songbooks - General    5. Stereo & Audio Equipment    6. Computers / General    7. Music / Reference    8. Music recording & reproduction   

Reviews (74)

A Grateful Guitarist
I'd like to get my two cents in regarding both the Fretboard Logic series and some of the negative reviews appearing on the Amazon site. First, these books and videos are without peer, and that's in spite of the fact that it was written 20 years ago, and has been copied endlessly by legions of johnny-come-latelys ever since. Second, disregard the negative reviews and concentrate on the positive ones, like the ones where players say it changed their lives.You may notice that the negative reviewers - for whatever reason - seem to have a lower ability to understand what they are reading. For example, one reviewer says "Don't buy this book because it is like studying German in order to learn English." This student is clearly referring to Edwards' usage of guitar-oriented terminology to describe what your eyes are seeing (on the fretboard) in addition to what your ears are hearing in standard music-oriented terms. If your capacity is such that you are able to grasp that the term "A form in the 3rd position" refers to what your eyes are seeing and your fretting fingers are doing, but that your ears are also hearing a "C Chord," then perhaps Fretboard Logic is not too difficult for you. (There are Five Basic Chord Forms, in fact, and can be used in any position.) If you are able to appreciate that a description of the form and position would be irrelevant to someone who plays an instrument other than guitar, but helpful to someone playing guitar, then maybe it isn't at all like teaching German to learn English. Perhaps the explanation for the occasional negative review on this seminal work have more to do with the source (which is always suspect when it advertises a competing title). In the first place, playing guitar is a difficult endeavor, and requires skills and drive which not everyone possess. I am one of those many people for whom Fretboard Logic has forever changed their lives. And yes, I also bought the Hal Leonard/MI book, and was amused by a number of things. First, the Fretboard Logic ads often include compelling testimonials from players, and over the years has been compared to the Rosetta Stone, the Holy Grail, the Bible,and so on. So the Tagliarino book starts out with what he terms "The Five Root Shapes" which are merely the tonics for the C chords in sequence, connected by interlocking circles, and you are told - wait for it - "This is the Rosetta Stone, the Holy Grail, the Magna Carta of guitar comprehension." [The sound of crickets chirping...] Later on, you find a keyboard diagram - I'm not kidding - being used in a book on how to play guitar! Heh. For the most part, you are spending your time constructing the patterns of the fretboard yourself, interval by boring interval, with a pencil, all to arrive at what Edwards produced and illustrated 20 years ago in Fretboard Logic. I guess they do it that way to get around the copyright issue. If you already know the Logic series, it is not unlike building a bridge with toothpicks and being handed a two-by-four and a pocket knife. Bottom line:Skip all the johnny-come-latelys, ignore the downer dudes and go to the source. You'll thank me later.
Don't By This Book!
I wish I would have came here and read the negative reviews before I ordered this book. Buried underneath all of these glowing reviews are a few that were much more appropriate. This book is almost like studying German in order to learn English. One of the key reasons for wanting to learn about notes, scales, chords, arpeggios, etc., is to be able to communicate with other musicians. Like one of the reviews said, unless the people you're with know this system, it's not going to help. I'd recommend the Hal Leonard/Musician's Institute book "Guitar Fretboard Workbook" by Barrett Tagliarino. It's available here on Amazon, and is the best written book I've come across. I gave it a quick first read-through, and everything made enough sense that I fell that once I read it a few more times, I'll understand it all thoroughly.

Brilliant
This book is brilliant. With a lot of practice and a few headaches, the concepts in this book will increase your playing exponentially. How do I emphasize A LOT OF PRACTICE? Only get this book if you are willing to put in the work to learn the guitar!
Read more

Subjects:  1. Instruction & Study - Exercises    2. Instruction & Study - General    3. Music    4. Music/Songbooks    5. Musical Instruments - Guitar    6. Guitars    7. Methods    8. Music Education    9. Theory   

Reviews (3)

Wild Harmonies - Will get into your skin!
Wild Harmonies
emotion is everything
She is looking for the right place in her life. Most of the people are looking for a meaning to live for.
insightful delightful, but not easy to read "Un" autobiography
WILD HARMONIES is an insightful delightful "Un" autobiography that breaks the rules of chronological order most books in that genre follow.Instead, the renowned French pianist is all over the place yet contains enough discipline so that the reader can follow her story.Most interesting is the combining of a love for music with a love for wolves.The music started as an unmanageable and unpredictable child in France while the love of wolves began as an adult in Florida when she met her neighbor's she-wolf.As she did with the piano Helene Grimaud became an obsessed fanatic who has opened up a wolverine conservatory in Upstate New York.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Composers & Musicians - General    5. Genres & Styles - Classical    6. Music/Songbooks    7. Musical Instruments - Construction And Repair    8. Wild Animal And Bird Protection    9. Music / Classical   

Reviews (1)

Incredibly lavish!
Massive, beautiful and gorgeous.What a treat to finally have a such an incredibly awe-inspiring piece as this to finally compile all of the wonderful works of art that go into what is, was and remains Tennant/Lowe.I have honestly wanted something like this to be produced for decades now, and when I first saw it in the UK, I ordered it there and waited for it for weeks.Now you can have it here quickly and painlessly.Definitely pick up a copy today...if you are even the most casual of fan (and somehow, I sense that if you stumbled across this, you are, as I, far more than that), you are very much deserving of this.Get it and cherish/treasure it for years. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative    2. Genres & Styles - Pop Vocal    3. History & Criticism - General    4. Music    5. Music History And Criticism +    6. Music/Songbooks    7. Graphic design    8. Music / Popular    9. Photographs: collections    10. Rock & pop   

Reviews (107)

Excellent book/CD set
We are so happy to have received Philadelphia Chickens as a shower gift.While our 10-month old doesn't understand the lyrics, he clearly enjoys the music, bouncing and smiling whenever he hears, "Cows, we're remarkable cows....."The songs are very enjoyable for adults as well.I've given this as a gift to 3 friends and all have loved it.

Great purchase!
Thanks for the great books.I bought two of the same from this owner.Both were new and in terrific condition.The CDs were perfect as well.Thanks!!!!!!

My child LOVES this!
We listen to this CD almost every day in the car. She's 2 yrs old now but we started listening to it at 1 year I think. She loves the "cow" song and used to ask for it every time we got in the car! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children's songs    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Librettos    6. Music - Songbooks    7. Musicals    8. Vocal scores without accompani    9. Vocal scores without accompaniment    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Music / Songbooks    11. Musical scores, lyrics & songbooks   

Reviews (7)

Steinway,a place, its people, the piano
Mr. Barron writes a great story.Other books have catalogued the Steinway history, and even how the piano works, but this innovative story adds life to what might otherwise be just an organized mass of metal and wood. The piano has a personality! In the narrative, the reader follows the construction of a single concert grand piano, but in the process we learn so much more by exploring many of the individuals involved in its building, the Steinway family and the workmen who lovingly bend the wood, glue the keys, and make the piano sing. Mr. Barron has not only written a great history of Steinway and the pianos they build, but created a fascinating story of its people. Its a great read for even the non-piano lovers among us. I couldn't put it down from start to finish. (The schematic drawings in the back - the new and the old, are particularly fascinating!)

PIANO OR PEOPLE
While I enjoyed this book, it is really much more about people than pianos, and the "common man" at that.Picturesque as they might be,many details about the workers' personal lives could have been spared.For those of us who play pianos but have never taken one apart, a labeled schematic would have been very helpful in understanding the text.

The Piano as a Person
My husband and I enjoyed this book greatly and have found others have enjoyed it as much, if not more.10 days ago as I lay in Intensive Care I ended up discussing the book with the fellow in the Intensive Care bed next to mine.I doubt either of us will ever again find a book that let us take our minds off our intensive pains for that half hour disucssion.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Construction    3. History    4. History & Criticism - General    5. Methods & Materials    6. Music/Songbooks    7. Musical Instruments - Construction And Repair    8. Musical Instruments - Piano    9. New York    10. New York (State)    11. Piano makers    12. Steinway piano    13. United States - State & Local - Middle Atlantic    14. Performing Arts / General   

Reviews (35)

Brilliant book!Motivation for musicians!
People - some of us are born with it and some of us nurture and grow it, imagine if you had the ability to do both? Kenny Werner is the Tony Robbins for musicians.This book is more of a spiritual guide to become the musician YOU think you are capable of becoming.If you believe that the only thing stopping you from achieving success, is you, then you are ready for this book.The accompanying CD is great to listen to for meditating.I have discussed this book with many musicians and overall it is agreed that this book is easy to read, in fact easy to apply too!

Direct self-help for the aspiring artist
A great discourse on how to be all you can be.Helps to dispel the mindsets and self-limiting attitudes we tend to hold onto consciously and subconciously.Broadens your scope and belief in self which allows you release and be the artist trapped inside you whether you believed it or not.

An inspiration to all musicians!
EFFORTLESS MASTERY by Kenny Werner
Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Music    3. Music / Jazz    4. Music/Songbooks    5. Self-Help / Creativity    6. Creativity    7. Jazz    8. Jazz musicians    9. Music - Jazz    10. Musicians    11. Psychology Of Music    12. Self-help   

Reviews (20)

Best beginning guitar method I've ever seen
I teach high school guitar here in Florida...The class was playing melodies on the first day of class!!!AMAZING!!
Hal Leanard Guitar Method
My 9 and 7 yr old boys are both taking their first guitar lessons and it seems ok....the CD is a bit confusing..I couldn't tell what music it was corresponding to at first because it was going too fast.It should say "now we're doing sample #1" etc.I like the idea that all three books were together.

Complete Edition - Complete Perfection
I'm rarely one to completely hype a product, but in this case, I must.I purchased this to use with an after school program I'm starting this year and to bone up on my lacking guitar skills.This series has everything one needs to LEARN to play the guitar.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Instruction & Study - Techniques    2. Music    3. Music/Songbooks    4. Musical Instruments - Guitar    5. Music / Instruction & Study    6. String instruments    7. Techniques of music   

Reviews (4)

Generous and Wonderful
Being one who always wanted to audition using the Witch's song or the Baker's Wife's song, I am delighted and grateful to Sondheim and Co. for putting out this amazing vocal score.The effort to do so must have been incredible.My only wish, not complaint, is that the chords were also represented by "C" or "Dmaj7" so that I could play along as I sing.I can read music, but if I have to play piano chords by sight only, it takes me days to finger it one note at a time.Well, that's probably my fault - practice, practice, practice!Anyway, it's quite a thorough job and now I have audition pieces galore!Only hope the accompanists can play it!

grrrrreat!
The musical score was in tip top shape and it came to my house in perfect timing for me to be able to use it for a local production.thank you.

Sure it's expensive, but you pay for what you get
This book is not for the intermediate pianist who wants to find some new music to play for the family at the family reunion.Not unless you've got a whole bunch of singers who want to join in...Read more

Subjects:  1. Genres & Styles - Musicals    2. Instruction & Study - Composition    3. Instruction & Study - Voice    4. Music    5. Music/Songbooks    6. Songbooks - General    7. Light orchestral, dance & big band music   

Reviews (38)

BUYER BEWARE!
I agree that this book is a compendium of very valuable information, especially for the novice buyer.But despite a lifetime playing the piano and a career as a piano teacher, I made a terrible mistake following his recommendation.He raves about the Schimmel piano, a German-made instrument.I bought one about twelve years ago and have hated it ever since.The store owner even replaced it with another identical model, which was no better.The dampers don't work properly and the strings continue to vibrate after the key is released so it sounds as if you always have a half pedal in use.Both pianos did the same thing.I am now shopping for a replacement...without the book.

A Must Have
Unfortunately, I purchased a piano before reading this book. Fortunately, based on the information in this book, I made the right decision. I just happened to be lucky. But I wish I had bought the book earlier.
THE book for Piano Consumers
If you are considering the purchase of an acoustic piano now or in the future, this book must be on your short reading list. Fine tells you about how a piano functions and what potential pitfalls to be aware of in the purchase of a new or used instrument. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Music    2. Music/Songbooks    3. Musical Instruments - Piano    4. Piano    5. Purchasing    6. Reference    7. Music / Reference    8. Musical instruments & instrumental ensembles    9. Buyer's Guides    10. Consumer Guides