Best Classical Music
Some of the master composers are represented by several pieces each: nine works by Bach include Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring ; Mozart's Rondo alla Turca appears along with eight other selections from his oeuvre; seven by Chopin include Funeral March ; the "Emperor" Concerto, Ode to Joy, and "Für Elise" are among the eight Beethoven features; and eight by Tchaikovsky include Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker. Beginning pianists of all ages will cherish this excellent compilation of beloved piano classics. Some of the master composers are represented by several pieces each: nine works by Bach include Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring ; Mozart's Rondo alla Turca appears along with eight other selections from his oeuvre; seven by Chopin include Funeral March ; the "Emperor" Concerto, Ode to Joy, and "Für Elise" are among the eight Beethoven features; and eight by Tchaikovsky include Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker. 2 by Liszt, Brahms' "Lullaby," Morning Mood by Grieg, Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony, plus compositions by Schubert, Verdi, Debussy, Handel, Mendelssohn, and others.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"You should be able to read music two octaves up from middle "C" and one octave below, but the base is simple--usually one or two notes at a time, many slow selections and almost every song is in the key of C or F. Even as someone who doesn't sight read well, I can play the pieces from the beginning with both hands--slowly. I feel my sight reading is improving because the notation doesn't overwhelm a beginner with too many notes at a time. Some people were frustrated that the pieces were short excerpts of classics--1-3 pages of music. Nice variety--9 from Bach, 8 from Beethoven, 7 Chopin, 9 Mozart, 8 Tchaikovsky plus 1 or 2 each from Bartok, Brahms, Clementi, Debussy, Dvorak, Foster, Gluck, Grieg, Handel, Haydn, Liszt, MacDowell, Mendelsohn, Moussorgsky, Paderewski, Rameau, Rachmaninoff, Rubinstein, Saint-Saens, Satie, Scarlatti, Schubert, Schumann, Scriabin, Sibelius, Strauss,Verdi, Vivaldi, and Wagner."
"I was never a virtuoso, but could play Moonlight Sonata, or Fur Elise up until it gets hard. A rough order of easy to difficult would have been useful, or grouped for some sort of lesson, e.g. unusual time signatures or challenging keys. I think either of those methods of organization would make the book more useful--it's obviously aimed at learners so why not help them out a bit more and steer them toward pieces that will help them with whatever it is they'd like to learn, or whatever part of the difficulty spectrum is the best level of challenge. With the organization as it is, I'm just kind of working through alphabetically, practicing the ones that look interesting and doable for as long as I feel like it, and moving on."
"Good complete book of songs!"
"perfect!"
"I like the book."
"I love the classics and they made them easy to play----with some harder than others."
"Fun for a beginning adult piano student--most of these pieces are only one page."
This new volume in Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics presents 26 preludes, 21 nocturnes and 19 waltzes a large amount of music at a value price.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Printing is not clear as I expected."
"Love this book and playing from it."
"It's Schimer -- what else can I say -- one of the best editions ever on the market."
"Came just like it stated, brand new and in a very short amount of time after I ordered it!!"
"I love Chopin music, and nocturnes and waltzes are my preferred."
"Pages Printed upside down on both shipments."
(Music Sales America). Founded in 1947, Hal Leonard LLC has become the worlds largest print music publisher, representing some of the greatest songwriters and artists of all time.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"bought it for a gift and so far no complaints :)."
"Love it."
"Love it."
"purchased this as a gift for a friend and she loves all the music it contains and that it lays flat so it is easy to play by."
"Mistakes in print."
"My daughter was thrilled with this."
"After opening the book a few times, the pages have started to come off the spiral."
"Quality of music copies is poor and hard to read."
Best Chamber Music
(Essential Elements for Strings and Essential Elements Interactive are fully compatible with Essential Elements 2000 for Strings) Essential Elements for Strings offers beginning students sound pedagogy and engaging music, all carefully paced to successfully start young players on their musical journey.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"She does use the CD that came along with the book and it is nice for her to be able to follow along."
"Essential Elements is what I used to learn music in band as a kid."
"Bought Book 1, 2, and 3."
"Still a classic and useful method for learning."
"Exactly what was needed and quickly shipped."
"Great books to learn any instrument.I used them when I was younger and now my daughter will."
"I wanted to learn to play violin and cant afford lessons so I bought both these books."
"Book came very quickly and was exactly as described."
Best Orchestral Songbooks
Selected and progressively arranged from the foremost instructive works of Buchler, Cossmann, Dotzauer, Duport, Franchomme, Grutzmacher, Kummer, Lee, Piatti, Schroeder and Servais.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I listen to the piece as i play, pairing up a digital tuner to ensure im on key, since i do not use fingerboard stickers, at all."
"How much do I love this book?"
"Moreover, I had a great teacher who happened to be the principal bass. of the NY Philharmonic who had received his training at the Paris Conservatory and who selected the curriculum for next."
"Master the etudes in this volume and you'll be ready for all beginner and most intermediate and even some advanced cello repertoire."
"I find the exercises in this book very useful with gradual increase in difficulty as you proceed to build up technical skills."
"Great aid in working on specific bowing techniques and etudes."
"Lets face it scales and exercises are the foundation of good playing."
Best Musicals
Wicked is not just a musical, it is a phenomenon. "The book takes you down the yellow brick road and behind the curtains of the great wizard."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Meant to be a companion to the musical based on the original novel of Wicked by Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Grimmerie is a comprehensive behind-the-scenes view of the musical from the book to Broadway."
"Details the story of writing, producing, casting the original Broadway production."
"If you are or have a Wicked fan in your circle, this is fabulous!"
"You're perfect."
"Daughter loved it."
"I gave this to a friend for Christmas and he loved it."
"Daughter loved this gift."
"The content is great, they have set design drawings, original manuscript scanning from the author and lovely HD photos of the original cast and crew!"
Best Soul Music
With unprecedented access to the musicians, singers, and studio engineers who knew Prince best, including members of the Revolution and the Time, Duane Tudahl weaves an intimate saga of an eccentric genius and the people and events who helped shape the groundbreaking music he created. His work has the rare qualities of a good reporter's objectivity coupled with an insider's instinct for the true story. Providing unique insights into Prince's creative process and personality, this book is a must for anyone wanting to understand this exceptionally talented and driven artist. Archivist, interviewer, and discerning fan Duane Tudahl has delivered a fly-on-the-wall account of some of Prince's most important and productive years in the studio. This book bristles with energy, passion, and knowledge, and stands as an essential documentation of Prince's work and artistic process.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"So much information, so well researched with an incredible amount of first hand accounts it will become the bible on Prince for this period of his career."
"And while at moments I felt tears welling up as his associates discussed things like his sense of humour, it brought back so many wonderful memories of those magic years of 1983 and 1984 in Minneapolis. It provides oodles of details, but not in some dry fire scorched manner, but instead telling the story with the same passion and depth that Prince put into his music. Scholarly work, no doubt, I can only imagine the decades of research the author put into this book and that would have been enough, but he also proves to be an excellent story teller. Get the book, put on Purple Rain, Ice Cream Castles, The Glamorous Life, and Apollonia 6 and loose yourself in Prince's world."
"By diving deep into the two most critical years of Prince’s professional life, Tudahl has given us a revealing insight into Prince and his music."
"The Prince you see here is not a moody and distant person, but a warm and caring man who clung to those he chose to bring into his inner circle. There are times the books lets us glimpse Prince's utter confusion that someone would not want to get out of bed at 2 AM to come to a studio and listen to his latest tracks. For those fans deeply into the music of the 1999 and Purple Rain era, there is gold here seeing him shape those songs in preparation for the movie. We see in this book that by the time Purple Rain came out, even after inventing a completely new musical sound, Prince was finished with it and was moving on to different creative styles."
"This book was a great read and gave detailed recording information about this pivotal time in Prince's career."
Best Gospel Music
Its easy and joyful learning style enables the young student to think, feel, and develop musically. * Ode to Joy by Beethoven * Amazing Grace. * Happy Birthday. * Jingle Bells. * Yankee Doodle. * When the Saints Go Marching In. * Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. * Mary had a Little Lamb. * Take Me Out to the Ballgame. * Michael, Row the Boat Ashore. * This Little Light of Mine * Home on the Range * Shenandoah *And Many More Great Songs and Pieces! I've had a hard time in the past with guitar playing and trying to get it completely right but this really helps the way things are explained. However, after a mere ten minutes of starting the book, I was singing and playing Amazing Grace for my family very comfortably. I chalk the book's success up to two things: firstly, the level of descriptive detail in everything is thorough and easy to understand without being overwhelming. The gratification of being able to play a song after the first lesson is great for those of us who want instant results in a new endeavor! January 17, 2014 by Rachel Blackmon: I am a recent college graduate with a degree in Music Education. From an educator's point of view, this is a great guide to teaching yourself guitar or working on it with a music teacher.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The concept of a lesson book with graphic explanations and the free online lessons makes this book a tool that I can work with."
"Also, the fact that Iw ill be able to learn how to play in the comfort of my privacy is extremely encouraging, as I have always been someone that suffered from musical stage fight. Thank you for this incredible product, and I am excited to use and try out your other musical eBooks and guides!"
"I got her this book to help her along the way."
"Anyone can learn to play the guitar and it is far cheaper than formal instructions."
"I've been looking for a guitar instructional book that actually helps you learn and teaches in a very simple yet exploratory fashion. I've had a hard time in the past with chords and trying to get them completely right but this really helps the way things are explained."
""Guitar Adventures" by Damon Ferrante is an excellent book for people interested in learning the guitar at many different levels."
"It gives more material than other beginning guitar books that I have seen, for instance when I started learning guitar I wasn't taught how to read the music I was playing, it was just laid out in chord diagrams."
Best Bluegrass Music
Bluegrass Fakebook by Bert Casey - This handy songbook contains bluegrass lyrics, bluegrass gospel lyrics, chord progressions, and melody lines to 150 of the all-time favorite Bluegrass songs, including 50 gospel tunes, as well as many "new" bluegrass songs. 25 years ago, Bert Casey and Geoff Hohwald started Watch & Learn to help revolutionize music instructional courses by developing well thought out, step by step instructional methods that were tested for effectiveness on beginners before publication.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This one book will give you enough lyrics/chords/basic notes for melody, that you'll be set for a whole wknd of fun jamming!"
"Lyrics and vocal melodies for lots of the classics, not so much for instrumental lead lines."
"This book is easy to follow and the songs very enjoyable."
"A great reference guide to the BG repertoire."
"But there are only a few hymns in it."
"Basically every song you would need to know to be a valuable performer."
"Good book."
"All the favorites are here."
Best Blues Music
From his birth on the high plains of West Texas during World War II to headlining sold-out cruises on chartered luxury ships well into his seventies, McClinton admits he has been “One of the Fortunate Few.”. This book chronicles McClinton’s path through a free-range childhood in Lubbock and Fort Worth; an early career in the desegregated roadhouses along Fort Worth’s Jacksboro Highway, where he led the house bands for Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, and others while making a name for himself as a regional player in the birth of rock and roll; headlining shows in England with a little-known Liverpool quartet called The Beatles; and heading back to Texas in time for the progressive movement, kicking off Austin’s burgeoning role in American music history. "Delbert McClinton's singing, songwriting, and harmonica playing have been at the center of Texas soul and rock and roll so long that it can seem effortless — the man of maximum cool. In this engaging and revealing biography, you follow his extraordinary journey from Texas roadhouse to international acclaim, including decades of shepherding one of the most successful Blues Cruise companies. Call whatever he has been doing for more than sixty years country, rhythm 'n' blues, roadhouse rock, honky-tonk, rockabilly, Northern Soul, or beach music, and you won’t be wrong. Whether it’s Jimmy Reed, the Beatles, or John Belushi, the stories he tells to Diana Finlay Hendricks about the people whose paths he’s crossed are mythic and larger than life its own self.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It’s all here; Texas roadhouses, brushes with blues and rock and country legends, his Beatles/John Lennon connection, publishing ripoffs, countless bar gigs, great original music, endless disappointments, brutal honesty, life on the road, always being broke...yet never giving up, always believing in his music and making new friends and fans one small gig at a time across the country."
"Been a fan since the 70's one of the few artists left today that still sounds as good now as then, if not better, as they say like fine wine."
"Terry and Jim Carey. PS: SURE wish he would come back and play here in Las Vegas!"
"Love this book!"
"Really enjoyed reading this book."
"Wonderful biography!"
"Every music lover, every musician, every music executive, or, anyone with those ambitions....you need to read this and commit it to memory."
Best Dance Music
With Dance Music Manual , you’ll get coverage of every aspect of dance music production―from designing sounds to compression, from effects to mixing and mastering―and go even further, with advice on publishing and promoting your tracks. Alongside holding seminars across the UK on producing club-based music, he has written numerous articles and reviews for leading music technology magazines and authored a distance-learning course for Music For the Media.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If somewhat poorly written."
"If you want to learn how to create or produce music with today's sounds, a music production platform like Ableton and this book will get you started in the right direction."
"Short answer: If you want to become a better dance music artist, and/or producer, and feel you need to read a book to get a better grasp of everything involved, buy THIS book. and this book hits the mark every step of the way, even diving into music theory, mixing, mastering, and promotion - all of it starting with "sound theory". This book is written in a style that any beginner will be able to pick up, but Rick doesn't assume you are an idiot, nor does he water down any subject like a lot of "intro" books do without imparting any practical knowledge. It's like Rick wrote a small book on each subject and then distilled them down to only the most important and essential concepts and then made each a chapter of this book. It is truly impressive (and a gift) that Rick tried to tackle so many subjects related to Dance Music and cram it all into 1 book, and for the most part he does it with flying colors. And, while this book doesn't cover some specifics of live performance or mixing on headphones, it absolutely covers gear setups from cables to mixers to audio units as well as in depth explanations about mixing and mastering which more than cover the needed skills. This book provides a STRONG, holistic foundation of knowledge to build upon, is a reference book that will get used and worn out and is, at times, an inspirational piece. This book won't write music for you, nor replace a lot of hard work, nor make you a star, but if you want to do all those things, this book will give you a GIANT push in the right direction and provide an entire framework to work with in accomplishing those goals. Yes, there are other books out there that go into each subject Rick covers in "The Dance Music Manual", but really, if you had to buy one and only one book on this subject, this is the book you need. One final note: If you already produce and/or gig for a living, perhaps you won't get much out of this book as a beginner, but even experienced professionals MAY be able to glean some knowledge from this book that they didn't have before."
"I'm a hack musician and this book has really helped too fill some of the gaps in my swiss cheese like musical education. As someone who doesn't do music production full time, this book serves as a great read cover-to-cover and also as something of a practical reference."
"HOWEVER, this book is still very helpful to those individuals as well."
"The most complete guide to electronic music making!"
"I learned a couple of things on my own, but reading this book fills in the gaps that once stopped me producing."
Best Rap Music
” — Complex “A cautionary tale that ends in triumph.” — GQ “A revelation and a welcome addition to hip-hop’s literary legacy.” — All Hip Hop. Born in rural Bessemer, Alabama, Radric Delantic Davis became Gucci Mane in East Atlanta, where the rap scene is as vibrant as the dope game. He inspired and mentored a new generation of artists and producers: Migos, Young Thug, Nicki Minaj, Zaytoven, Mike Will Made-It, Metro Boomin. In his extraordinary autobiography, the legend takes us to his roots in Alabama, the streets of East Atlanta, the trap house, and the studio where he found his voice as a peerless rapper. There are scenes from Gucci Mane’s new autobiography that seem better fit for a gripping Oscar drama than for the story of a guy who recently won his first MTV Video Music Award.” —GQ. The book provides incredible insight into one of the most influential rappers of the last decade, detailing a volatile and fascinating life . By the end, every reader will have a greater understanding of Gucci Mane, the man and the musician.” —PITCHFORK. A thorough look into the experiences that molded one of rap's most polarizing figures in recent memory.” —VICE. Through sheer grit, shrewd intelligence, and a stubborn unwillingness to be counted out, he transformed himself from a street hustler, drug dealer, and occasional strong-armed robber into a modern day Zone 6 prophet. Even while incarcerated, Gucci remained a cult hero to a generation that reached far beyond the Southern city where his influence first blossomed. His is a story of overcoming adversity, taming internal demons and rejecting the imposed labels of others." “The Autobiography of Gucci Mane, written with music journalist Neil Martinez-Belkin, quietly defies the conventions of the celebrity memoir genre; in parts, it reads like what I can only describe as pop culture poetry. In its conversational candor and the razor-sharp image it evokes of a particular era, it felt reminiscent of Patti Smith’s Just Kids.” —LITERARY HUB.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Don't get lost in the sauce."
"I read the whole book in just three days because I was so engrossed by his incredible life story. Autobiographies are so much fun to read because they are stories that really happened."
"I was LOVING this autobiography until it ended so abruptly!"
"I've been a huge Gucci fan since 2006, so naturally I had to have this book.."
"Great book, but he gets arrested so many times towards the end they all start to blend together until he got out for the last time."
"I finished this book and couldn't put it down!"
"Worth the read, he's more intelligent than he's given credit for."
"Loved this book!"
Best Heavy Metal Music
Metallica: Back to the Front tells the amazing, fully authorized story of the band’s seminal Master of Puppets album and tour. Filled with hundreds of never-before-seen images from the band’s personal archives, this deluxe volume will combine an in-depth narrative with stunning visuals, taking fans further into this defining period of the band’s career than ever before. "As Ulrich reveals, the book features photos, original art, ideas for lyrics, and interviews with the band, producer Flemming Rasmussen and fans.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The never before seen or heard of events by many described in the book provided clear insight of their early metal days and the great "puppets" era."
"This book features tons of fan photos and remembrances, quotes from the tour crew, management, friends and girlfriends, and — of course — the band."
"Fantastic book with awesome pictures."
"Master of Puppets."
"Purchased this for my 16 year old son who loves Metallica for Christmas."
"A Must for all Metallica Fan."
"It had pictures of the saddest day in Metallica's history of Our brother Cliffs death however it had amazing pics and storis of their amazing tour of Master of Puppets days!"
Best Jazz Music
The Real Books are the best-selling jazz books of all time. Looking for a particular song? Founded in 1947, Hal Leonard LLC has become the worlds largest print music publisher, representing some of the greatest songwriters and artists of all time.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I purchased this item as a gift for my drummer boyfriend."
"I am in favor of paying for books since the authors have copyrighted them and teachers should not be photcopying more than a page or two when introducing a student to a new book or style."
"This is the "pocket-size" version of the official Hal-Leonard real book Vol. The size is reduced compared to its original big brother version, but it's still clearly readable in any dim stage/pub light conditions - even charts with long bebop lines such as "Confirmation" or "Donna Lee"."
"Appears to have all the standards."
"Though perhaps we'll never know the full story of just who exactly wrote it and where he/she/they lived... the fact is that the book (atleast for the time being) is now available... ironically by HAL LEONARD, the publishing company that tended to publish all those other FAKE BOOKS for years that made the REAL BOOK so appreciated (LEONARD's books tend to have great tune selections, but some of the worst changes in the world... in contrast, the REAL BOOK's sheets, though not perfect are usually a safe call when you're called up to blow, also unlike Scher's commercially available THE NEW REAL BOOK they're a lot more practical (i.e. you take one glimpse at the sheet and the form is staring right back at'cha !)."
"Great transcriptions."
"Good book for musicians to own!"
"Great book---no problems."
Best Rock Music
1949), known for his work with the E Street Band, and his brand of poetic lyrics - Americana, working class, sometimes political sentiments centered on his native New Jersey - his distinctive voice, and his lengthy and energetic stage performances.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The motivations, the demons, the anxiety, the joys, the fears, the hopes, the dreams, all the elements that have constituted the Boss’s muse over these past 50 years are explained here. I do not want to reveal any of the revelations the reader will discover within the pages of this book, but I can say it was interesting to learn that Bruce possesses many of the same insecurities of us mere mortals. Bruce discloses, in great detail, particulars of his early years, his upbringing, the issues that influenced the way he thinks, his musically formative years, his wide held acclaim, his family, his doubts, his fears, and a treasure trove of personal details I have never heard before. Bruce has obviously spent much time in intense introspection, and he shares many of his insights and conclusions here. Now that the great James Brown has passed on, the moniker, “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” clearly belongs to Bruce. His unique gifts of lyric writing, musical composition, musicianship, and studio and on stage performance have rarely been seen in a single person. If you have ever wondered exactly what it is that makes one of the greatest of this or any other generation’s musical talents tick, it is all right here. Through a lifetime of events he details here, his skills developed and he has evolved into the national and world treasure affectionately referred to as "The Boss.""
"I read Bob Dylan's Chronicles a couple of years ago, and was struck by the artistic voice of the book."
"I love it so much. I didn't just learn about Bruce Springsteen's music, I learnt about some aspects of his life and some things about America. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading the whole book."
"Freehold, Asbury Park, New York City, San Francisco, London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Memphis, and even Big Sur's Esalen make an appearance. The tension between the spontaneous nature of his live shows and the crafting of his music into recordings is palpable in the pages of "Born to Run"."
Best Country Music
And the stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive will encourage readers to stay positive, because there is always a bright side.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I bought this product for my mom as a gift."
"Count Your Blessings...This was a fantastic read."
"I bought this one for a friend whose husband was having terrible health issues and possibly facing near death, so they both needed hope and a reason to keep moving forward and knowing they are not alone."
"These stories helped me to grieve over the loss of a loved one."
"It will bring healing and humor, as well as a sense of "I can get through this" and "I'm not alone," which is critical when facing the emotional strain of going through a divorce. I was fortunate to get involved with a small group through my church that addressed bitterness and forgiveness. Forgiveness is not an easy road to travel, but carrying the burden of bitterness with you only makes your life's journey more difficult."
"I love this book- I go back and reread my underlines- Both my parents have passed in last two years and they had been at their home under caregivers help (another story) for total of about 8 years- I was a major part of that and in last stages and when they passed, very hard for me-This book brought some Light back in for me and smiles and connection- A feel good/better book-I've bought for and recommended to other people who have "lost" a loved one-."
"I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my best friend who is a cat lover and she absolutely raves about it."
"I enjoy the Chicken Soup for the Soul series books, but was kinda disappointed in this one."
Best Opera Music
Some of the master composers are represented by several pieces each: nine works by Bach include Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring ; Mozart's Rondo alla Turca appears along with eight other selections from his oeuvre; seven by Chopin include Funeral March ; the "Emperor" Concerto, Ode to Joy, and "Für Elise" are among the eight Beethoven features; and eight by Tchaikovsky include Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker. Beginning pianists of all ages will cherish this excellent compilation of beloved piano classics. Some of the master composers are represented by several pieces each: nine works by Bach include Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring ; Mozart's Rondo alla Turca appears along with eight other selections from his oeuvre; seven by Chopin include Funeral March ; the "Emperor" Concerto, Ode to Joy, and "Für Elise" are among the eight Beethoven features; and eight by Tchaikovsky include Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker. 2 by Liszt, Brahms' "Lullaby," Morning Mood by Grieg, Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony, plus compositions by Schubert, Verdi, Debussy, Handel, Mendelssohn, and others.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"You should be able to read music two octaves up from middle "C" and one octave below, but the base is simple--usually one or two notes at a time, many slow selections and almost every song is in the key of C or F. Even as someone who doesn't sight read well, I can play the pieces from the beginning with both hands--slowly. I feel my sight reading is improving because the notation doesn't overwhelm a beginner with too many notes at a time. Some people were frustrated that the pieces were short excerpts of classics--1-3 pages of music. Nice variety--9 from Bach, 8 from Beethoven, 7 Chopin, 9 Mozart, 8 Tchaikovsky plus 1 or 2 each from Bartok, Brahms, Clementi, Debussy, Dvorak, Foster, Gluck, Grieg, Handel, Haydn, Liszt, MacDowell, Mendelsohn, Moussorgsky, Paderewski, Rameau, Rachmaninoff, Rubinstein, Saint-Saens, Satie, Scarlatti, Schubert, Schumann, Scriabin, Sibelius, Strauss,Verdi, Vivaldi, and Wagner."
"I was never a virtuoso, but could play Moonlight Sonata, or Fur Elise up until it gets hard. A rough order of easy to difficult would have been useful, or grouped for some sort of lesson, e.g. unusual time signatures or challenging keys. I think either of those methods of organization would make the book more useful--it's obviously aimed at learners so why not help them out a bit more and steer them toward pieces that will help them with whatever it is they'd like to learn, or whatever part of the difficulty spectrum is the best level of challenge. With the organization as it is, I'm just kind of working through alphabetically, practicing the ones that look interesting and doable for as long as I feel like it, and moving on."
"Good complete book of songs!"
"I like the book."
"Good book but not really for a beginner."
"I love the classics and they made them easy to play----with some harder than others."
"Fun for a beginning adult piano student--most of these pieces are only one page."
Best Popular Music
With The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the songs that roused the world, and he lived the original rock and roll life. With his trademark disarming honesty, Keith Richard brings us the story of a life we have all longed to know more of, unfettered, fearless, and true. "[A] high-def, high-velocity portrait of the era when rock 'n' roll came of age, a raw report from deep inside the counterculture maelstrom of how that music swept like a tsunami over Britain and the United States....Mr. Richards has found a way to channel to the reader his own avidity, his own deep soul hunger for music and to make us feel the connections that bind one generation of musicians to another. Along the way he even manages to communicate something of that magic, electromagnetic experience of playing on stage with his mates, be it in a little club or a huge stadium. "[A] slurry romp through the life of a man who knew every pleasure, denied himself nothing, and never paid the price.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I love Keith, but he needs to have empathy for his old friend. I have always loved the Rolling Stones and I could not put this book down."
"I liked learning the history of his childhood and I'm also happy I didn't have to grow up worrying about a hummer bomb dropping on our house when I was a kid."
"An honest and informative autobiography by one of the best rock/pop songwriters and musicians alive today."
"Yet, I almost didn't give my husband the book before the trip, knowing that if I did, I would be listening to it for an entire day of my life. Also, we had a 14 year-old and a 19 year-old in the car with us, and I knew that Keith Richard's life had parts with which I was not going to be pleased. Although you cannot call Mr. Richards humble, his ability to laugh at himself and his circumstances not only makes this book enjoyable, it also makes Keith tolerable, and I think it is the secret to his amazingly long life (considering the circumstances). But if you love a good tale about LIFE--the juicy and slimy parts as well as the sweet parts, and the horrifying parts with the touching ones--this audiobook just might be the right thing for your next long journey."
"Richards doesn't withhold any criticism in his biography; he can be at turns complimentary and harsh in his assessment of his peers including Mick Jagger in his discussion of his Stones partner's solo career. He also discusses the writing of some key Stones songs including "As Tears Go By" (which is often incorrectly seen as being inspired by "Yesterday"--it was recorded before McCartney's ballad by Marianne Faithful although the Stones may have been inspired to record it and the arrangement of the string parts may have been influenced by the success of McCartney's ballad there's little the two have in common in terms of their structure), "(I Can't Get No)Satisfaction" and "Wild Horses" (Keith states early on that he could tell that Marianne Faithful had a hand in the writing of the lyrics as he states that many of the lyrics didn't sound like something Mick would write)."
Best Reggae Music
Book by Henke, James.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Wonderful book."
"The book was for someone who loves Bob Marley, it was a gift he really loved it, thought it had a lot of imformation in it that he didn't no."
"This is a perfect gift for anyone who is a Bob Marley fan or just anyone interested in his lid in genereal."
"I have always been a huge Bob Marley fan and this book really makes you feel like you are taking a look through his eyes!"
"It's a must have for all Bob Marley fans."
"I love the pockets with the extra's, posters, photos and information about Bob Marley and his life."
"Purchased as a gift for my 19 yr old daughter (I'm not a Marley fan but she lives for the guy)."
"Large hardcover book with many attachments."
Best Punk Music
NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories is the first tell-all autobiography from one of the world's most influential and controversial punk bands. If you need a little history lesson on how all this shit started, and what the true meaning of being punk rock is, I suggest you read this book now! Classic Rock , May 2016 Compiled in the style of Motley Crue's The Dirt , this readable and engaging account of a band who live life almost as fast as the music they play is predictably rip-roaring For being a book that spares nothing, this one is hard to beat.”. Their new book, The Hepatitis Bathtub And Other Stories , details it all and does so in true, painfully honest NOFX fashion The band held nothing back.”. NeuFutur , 4/6/16 Surprisingly sincere Much like the band's music, which buries moments of deep political and emotional topics inside of goofy, often sophomoric humor, the book's emotive moments are buttressed by wild stories about partying on the road Even if you've never been a big fan of NOFX, the book is a refreshing honest look at a struggling independent band dead set on compromising nothing and still managing to be successful.”. Bad Feeling Magazine, 5/15/16 With often unflinching honestly, NOFX have recounted a harrowing story that showcases the real life pain behind the band's often-obnoxious façade. In the beginning, you'll be glad these people weren't your friends, but by the end you'll wish they were A book that's impossible to put downeven if you will occasionally want to hold it at arm's length.”. Like the few great band bios, the array of experiences described in The Hepatitis Bathtub are enough to set anyone into contemplation about strength and perseverance, love and depravity, camaraderie, and a place for misfit rock and rollers in a society that to this day clings to rigid standards. Tampa Bay Times , 4/17/16 A harrowing memoir The Hepatitis Bathtub is peopled with lunatics, sociopaths, addicts and loved ones who couldn't escape the punk abyss, with the band struggling to survive dark turns ranging from drug abuse to counterfeiting to disastrous investments to friends' deaths to, um, matricide (allegedly).”. Exclaim.ca, 4/18/16 Tells the band's rise from shitty L.A. upstarts to the kings of pop-punk It's also teeming with the kinds of sordid tales of drunken hooliganism and abject squalor that would put Mötley Crüe to shame.”. Chapter 16, 4/20/16 A tell-all memoir The overarching themes of the book are universal and inspiring, but on a concrete level this memoir is pretty raw Absolute candor is actually what unifies the book and makes it impossible to put down From their humble beginnings in one of the country's toughest punk scenes to superstardom, NOFX never fails to entertain.”. Nashville Scene , 4/21/16 [A] revealing new memoir Staggering and, in some cases, heartbreaking But Hepatitis Bathtub makes it impossible to look the other way The format reads like a sweeping, intriguing conversation, but the book also has a cinematic quality, as each person recalls the same moments in time from his own perspective.”. Nashville Tennessean , 4/20/16 Offers a no-holds-barred look at the band, as the four membersFat Mike' Burkett, Aaron El Jefe' Abeyta, Eric Melvin and Erik Smelly' Sandinshare memories from their 30-plus years together.”. , 4/25/16 Every bit as hilarious, disgusting and boundary-hyphen free as you'd expect from a band who've spent three decades in the punk trenches filling themselves with drugs and booze.”. New Noise , 4/12/16 The candid demeanor of their stories mirrors the ethics the band have held all alongnot always pleasant, but a direct reflection of their early DIY roots Hepatitis Bathtub covers it all. Whether a casual listener, hardcore fan, or a couldn't give a fuck about NOFX' character, this book is an evolutionary tale of grimy, realistic fun worth learning to read for.”. No attempt is made to cover or smooth out any rough or hard memories, everything feels as though it has been included in the name of telling the whole story The character of each band member is meticulously presented and articulated and, after one has made it through the whole book, readers are left feeling as though they truly know them In a world where many rock bios seek to do little more than collect myths, NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories bravely stands and tells the great, unbelievable truth.”.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Pretty rare for me to make it through a whole book (thanks dyslexia), also pretty rare to read a music bio book that goes into the details of how screwed up people can get but also has some light at the end of tunnel redemption."
"Fast paced, candid, fun, easy to read and shocking (if i had not grown up with many of these guys - but I did). The author and the band were able to give us four different life stories, and show the reader how they got from there to here. This book was an honest look at the LA/Hollywood punk rock scene in the 80s which was a historically important, and really fun time. It was an inside look at the music business, and the reasons why so many got into punk early, and what the costs were physically, financially and socially to the pioneers of LA punk rock. I rate a book on many things, first and foremost: did it keep my attention, was it well written to the point that I forget the story teller and become immersed in the story, did I feel something or learn something from it, and did I enjoy it?"
"Incredible to hear some of the first hand stories of what the L.A. punk scene was like in the 80s."
"These guys put it all out there for their fans to read."
"I discovered NOFX in 1989, and became a big fan from the early stuff up through "Heavy Petting Zoo," From that point on I started losing interest and gradually lost touch with the band."
"This book wasn't just written for punks, the music world....there is a reason why this is a NY Times Best Seller."
"one of the best band biography books I've read."
Best Folk & Traditional Music
Get the story behind every recording session, album, and single released during Bob Dylan's illustrious-and now Nobel Prize-winning-career. Philippe Margotin has written numerous books on music, including biographies of U2, Radiohead, and the Rolling Stones.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Everything (songs that Dylan performed on) is arranged chronologically from his first album, with information including musicians, producers, engineers,studios, song lengths, cover designs, and release dates. Photo subjects include Dylan on stage and in the studio across his career, an early photo of the Greenbriar Boys with Dylan at Gerde's from 1961, one-man band Jesse Fuller, Dave Van Ronk, Suze Rotolo, Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, the Byrds, Bobbie Gentry, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, Leadbelly, Howlin' Wolf, Mississippi John Hurt, and a number of others who crossed paths with Dylan. Some of the information included as short side-bars is fairly esoteric--like a line from "Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again"--which was inspired by a folk song "I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground"--which was recorded in the 1920's by Bascom Lunsford, an Appalachian singer."
"I purchased Margotin and Guesdon's book "All The Songs: The Story Behind Every Beatles Release" for my Beatles-obsessed mother, who loves it. When I saw the authors were coming out with a new book, this time on one of my favorite artists, I immediately purchased it."
"There aren't a lot of copies on Amazon, so now is a good time to buy it before it becomes unavailable."
"This work gives you possibilities of what they could mean - what was going on in the world, his life or, dare I say, his mind when the songs were written."
"I bought this book for my nephew ( him being an avid Dylan fan ) & he loves it !"
"If you have always wondered what or who a Bob Bylan song is about, this book is for you."
"The book is huge and a very extensive look at Bob Dylan's work."
"I gave this to my brother for Christmas, and I was perusing it before wrapping it, and I tell you, it was a close thing that he got the book at all!"
Best New Age Music
A New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice. A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. A Library Journal Nonfiction Pick of September. The New York Times bestseller about a young black man's journey from violence and despair to the threshold of stardom. Daniel Bergner takes readers on Ryan's path toward redemption, introducing us to a cast of memorable characters--including the two teachers from his childhood who redirect his rage into music, and his long-lost father who finally reappears to hear Ryan sing. And Sing for Your Life sheds unique light on the enduring and complex realities of race in America. But Bergner is also doing something more expansive, examining the long and tormented history of black involvement in an elite artistic tradition and in society at large. With sensitivity and candor, he shows the subtle and not-so-subtle challenges the opera world poses to singers of color.... [A] vital, compelling and highly recommended book." "Sing for Your Life is a generous book, filled with complicated, compassionate characters, written with great journalistic skill but also empathy. To read the story of Ryan Speedo Green is to be troubled, confused, heartbroken, thrilled, hopeful, proud, and ultimately, perhaps, changed. "A masterly crafted and unique portrait...While fans of opera will find this to be a captivating biography of one of the most decorated bass baritones, this highly recommended narrative is also about a man who conquers his personal demons and limitations to break racial barriers in one of the oldest cultural institutions in the world. "A thrilling and authentic work of art, this is the unlikeliest of portraits of an artist who against-all-odds rises from the ashes of rural black poverty, a broken home, child abuse and the edges of madness to vault to the threshold of opera stardom." "In Ryan Speedo Green we see a microcosm of American's own struggle to throw off the shackles of our troubled racial legacy... His story, expertly told by Daniel Bergner, is proof of the possibility of all of our redemption." Any rise to stardom in the daunting world of opera is bound to be dramatic, but Ryan Speedo Green's story is harrowing and rewarding in unexpected ways. From the first line, Daniel Bergner sets preconceptions about race, class, and "high" culture against a breathtakingly candid narrative of a young man's struggle, not just to conquer the Olympic challenges of singing opera, but also to see beyond violence and adversity to a life in music."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It’s great to know that Ryan has a desire to make a change in his life and wants to be “Better.” However, what saddens me most is to know that this mother and son bond that I thought would last forever took a turn for the worst."
"Second, the influence that one person (in Ryan’s case, his first voice teacher) can have over another’s life is immense. My only criticism of the book is the author’s choice to include details of the voice teacher’s last days."
"An amazing saga of a young man living in poor neighborhoods with family problems who rises above it all due to his amazing voice."
"This was a very interesting story of a young black man who discovered opera and his own voice and how he overcame great odds on this very difficult path to a career in music."
"Was a child when the story starts in is poor and with a single mom.As he grows up he has many problems with school and some with the law."
"He blossomed into a fantastic singer when someone else could have landed in a life of crime or worse."
"I have great empathy since. I was a young adult during the civil rights movement and was appalled about the mistreatment of millions of people in this land of so called democracy."
"The story is so inspirational but also a challenge to those of us who are privileged."
Best Rhythm & Blues Music
Drawing from interviews conducted before Marvin Gaye's death, acclaimed music writer David Ritz has created a full-scale portrait of the brilliant but tormented artist. Based largely on interviews for a projected "autobiography" that was cancelled after Gaye's death in 1984 at the hands of his father, this book is neither especially well-written nor perceptive. As coauthor of one of Gaye's biggest hits, 'Sexual Healing,' David Ritz actually knew Marvin Gaye, and their relationship gives this narrative a degree of intimacy rare in biographies . .At the root of it was the artist's complex relationship with his father, a contradiction that Dion Graham narrates expertly, mimicking the dialects of Marvin and his father. ''Dion Graham channels Marvin Gaye in his riveting performance of Ritz's 1985 biography of the singer.''.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"While the Publishers Weekly review recommended that fans simply listen to the man's records, David Ritz does a credible job of telling us what was going on in Marvin's life, and his tortured soul, that led to his death at his father's hands."
"A huge Marvin Gaye fan, this book touched on Marvin, his life & his music connections."
"As a life long fan of the amazingly intriguing and deeply soulful Marvin Gaye, I found this book one I could hardly put down."
"This book tells me a lot about mr Marvin Gaye and I've always loved his music."
"Great story about a great singer entertainer."
"Insight into a man, his demons, his creative genius and Motown."
"I had this book when it first came out."
"I thought I knew so much about Marvin Gaye as an artist, but this book shares so much more about his personal life and struggles."
Best Religious & Sacred Music
Includes words and music to each hymn Special softcover, french flap cover design Ivory paper with brown ink Jagged-edge paper, giving it a classic feel Complete with hymn index Use for devotionals, teaching illustrations, introductory remarks for song leaders and music ministers. Rob Morgan is the pastor of The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville, Tennessee, where he has served for more than thirty years.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Love the book."
"My wife, the musician will love it for Christmas."
"enjoying these songs and writings about them."
"So interesting to read and contemplate while singing the tunes in my mind."
"Great product, very happy with my purchase."
"Great Book, I have given this as a gift many times to people in Music Ministry."
"HERE’S WHY: The words and music are presented as sheet music, but each line is a separate image. If I enlarge the first line of words and music so I can read them in Kindle on my iPad mini, when I get to the end of the line I must then close that image and go through the process of enlarging the next line."
Best Ethnic & International Music
Chris Perez tells the story of his relationship with music star Selena in this heartfelt tribute. Chris Perez is a Grammy-winning American guitarist and currently plays for The Chris Perez Band.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Chris really opens up the door and gives us a glimpse into their life as it was from before they were a couple to the aftermath of that terrible day."
"Excellent, heart warming read."
"To find beauty, grace, humility, ambition, compassion, intelligence, sweetness and superb talent in one individual is extremely rare."
"So much more insight into how Chris loves Selena."
"The timeline of the book follows a similar timeline to Selena the movie (minus her childhood and the original Los Dinos years of course), it provides a personal account of Chris' perspective as a band member of Los Dinos, what it was like to be on tour with them, including the early days and the later success, how his relationship with Selena began, the details of their elopement, and the ups and downs they went through as a newly married couple trying to juggle fame, fortunate, family and 5 dogs. It is so easy to see Selena's smile and hear her laugh the way Chris describes her, he brings her back to life in the pages of the book, making her come alive more as a human being through personal anecdotes about Selena, opposed to focusing on the dazzling performer she was and the superstar she was going to become."
"Thank you, Chris for sharing your memories and allowing me just for a few days to enjoy your heartfelt memories of our beloved Selena."
"The way Selena is portrayed is human and it makes me respect and love her even more not only as an artist but a person."
"It was bittersweet in the sense that it's amazing that his love holds strong for her till this day but sad that he can't seem to let go."
Best Military Marches
John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) is an American icon. "A remarkable array of carefully arranged and meticulously detailed data. "The premier Sousa authority, Bierley caps his forty-year career with this admirably comprehensive tome on his--and many Americans'--favorite subject. "Solidly researched, the book provides a view of music in American life not found in other studies of Sousa or the period.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"These books about John Philip Sousa by Paul Bierley are so accurate in their facts you will be amazed!"
"This book is an incredible resource which surpasses all other research on The March King and his professional concert band."
"Outstanding reference for Sousa aficionados."
"This was a very intesting book regarding the carrer of john Philip Sousa."
"My first trumpet teacher was in the 1920 Sousa Band and listed in the book."
"I bought this book because my grandfather - Charley Parker played clarinet in the band."
"Great reading."
"The author has nicely highlighted each aspect of Sousa's career which makes for easy reading. The problem with Sousa is that we tend to exclude all other band composers and their music. Hall, Karl King, and Henry Fillmore to name some of the prominent American ones. He saw that as a civy street guy he could make a lot more fame and money than he was as director of the US Marine band. The whole concept of the encore march after a long piece of music was unique, and introduced excitment to his concerts. Americans came to see Sousa the man as much as the great music his superb band played. Kenneth Alford, the Great British march composer did only about 20, but they are all classics. The great strength of this book are the many details provided of the personnel who played in the band, as well as concert programs, and tour iternary. There is one chapter devoted entirely to a band memebers diary recording his expereinces during Sousa's great World Tour of 1911. This is certainly THE book to have about Sousa and his incredible band who left their mark in the world's concert halls."