Best Music Instruction & Study
Titles: Alouette * Alpine Melody * Amazing Grace * Au Claire de la Lune * Aunt Rhody * Auld Lang Syne * Aura Lee * The Bandleader * Beautiful Brown Eyes * Blow the Man Down! * Largo (Dvorak) * Lavender's Blue * Lightly Row * Little Brown Jug * Liza Jane * London Bridge * Lone Star Waltz * Love Somebody * Lullaby * The Marine's Hymn * Mary Ann * Merrily We Roll Along * Mexican Hat Dance * Michael, Row the Boat Ashore * Money Can't Buy Everything * My Fifth * Ode to Joy * On Top of Old Smoky * O Sole Mio * Raisins and Almonds * Rock Along * Rockets * Rockin' Intervals * Rock It Away!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It took me about 1 1/2 months to work through the book and I rate it as excellent instruction for anyone wanting to learn or re-learn the piano."
"A little background before I get into the real review: My 14 y/o trumpet player daughter has been wanting to learn the piano for years. Her trumpet teacher disagreed and recommended she start with the Suzuki method as she has and incredibly good ear and quite a bit of natural musical talent. I bought this book to help rectify that, knowing that I'll be sitting in on her weekly lessons and absorbing a lot of information there. It's pretty exciting to go from not knowing where middle C is located to playing Jingle Bells with a bit of harmony in 2 days! I do plan on adding scales and such to my practice sessions, as these are truly the things that will help you progress and give you a more fundamental understanding of how music is put together. I feel like I'm able to grasp the concepts that are introduced and will be able to help my daughter along once her lessons start in a couple of weeks."
"No CD, but Youtube is better than the CD anyway."
"I would definitely recommend Alfred's series, but make sure to get some additional piano literature to go along with it."
"I have been glad that I going through it with a piano teacher however as there are definitely things she clarified better than the book did. That said, I think this would be a good book were someone to choose it to teach themselves and I often move ahead in it to teach myself a bit of what is coming next in the lessons."
"So I got this book."
Songs include: The Bare Necessities * Beauty and the Beast * Can You Feel the Love Tonight * Cruella De Vil * A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes * He's a Tramp * I See the Light * I've Got No Strings * Let It Go * Mickey Mouse March * Some Day My Prince Will Come * Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious * Under the Sea * When You Wish Upon a Star * Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah * and more. 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"The pieces are easy to practice for any beginner to intermediate pianist, but not easy for the kids who doesn't know anything about notes or who can only play pieces that are in C major. I can't think of a Disney song without syncopation."
"She picks up the melody really quickly, but has to work a bit harder to include the left hand."
"I collect music books for pieces for my students to perform, and this book is great."
"Songs were really simple, lots of "classics.""
"some of them are not as easy as I was hoping they would be, but has a good selection."
"good book for beginning pianists."
"perfect."
"Sure, we all love the originals-- jazzy rhythm, full orchestration..... but please give the wee ones a fighting chance at success in their early training."
With lesson examples presented in today's most popular tab format, which also incorporates simple beat notation for accurate rhythm execution, Teach Yourself to Play Guitar offers the beginning guitarist not only a comprehensive introduction to essential guitar-playing fundamentals, but a quick, effective, uncomplicated and practical alternative to the multitude of traditional self-instructional method books. Founded in 1947, Hal Leonard Corporation 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"It is straightforward, and simple using the tablature method rather than standard music theory-which will give you a basic start on beginning to understand reading music and music theory later on if you choose."
"Since my fiance is unfamiliar with reading music, or has never had music lessons this book teaches you to play by tab format and is simple for him to understand. The book covers a lot of different styles of music and includes good pictures and descriptions that are simple enough to give him a good start to learning guitar."
"The book makes it easy to learn to play guitar."
"Fantastic book, I am learning a lot using this!"
"Teach yourself to play guitar is awesome!"
"Tiny text, I had a lot of trouble reading it if it's the e-book that I had."
Best Sheet Music & Scores
Here's what The Rap Year Book does: It takes readers from 1979, widely regarded as the moment rap became recognized as part of the cultural and musical landscape, and comes right up to the present, with Shea Serrano hilariously discussing, debating, and deconstructing the most important rap song year by year. Complete with infographics, lyric maps, uproarious and informative footnotes, portraits of the artists, and short essays by other prominent music writers, The Rap Year Book is both a narrative and illustrated guide to the most iconic and influential rap songs ever created. Shea Serrano is a no.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Don't trust a man who gives this less than 5 stars."
"Books about rap ranked: 1."
"Let it be known that ShaunPG can be counted on in a crisis."
"Great all-around book."
"A) If you don't buy this book, you can't be trusted in a crisis."
"Simple choice to pick up for you or a friend with its low price point. Shea's writing style is an easy read and is an entertaining "controlled chaos" with the use of footnotes to bring laughs is right out of the Bill Simmons playbook."
"This book is fantastic, but that's not why you should buy it."
"I as well can be counted on in a time of crisis."
Best Music Theory, Composition & Performance
Titles: Alouette * Alpine Melody * Amazing Grace * Au Claire de la Lune * Aunt Rhody * Auld Lang Syne * Aura Lee * The Bandleader * Beautiful Brown Eyes * Blow the Man Down! * Largo (Dvorak) * Lavender's Blue * Lightly Row * Little Brown Jug * Liza Jane * London Bridge * Lone Star Waltz * Love Somebody * Lullaby * The Marine's Hymn * Mary Ann * Merrily We Roll Along * Mexican Hat Dance * Michael, Row the Boat Ashore * Money Can't Buy Everything * My Fifth * Ode to Joy * On Top of Old Smoky * O Sole Mio * Raisins and Almonds * Rock Along * Rockets * Rockin' Intervals * Rock It Away!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It took me about 1 1/2 months to work through the book and I rate it as excellent instruction for anyone wanting to learn or re-learn the piano."
"A little background before I get into the real review: My 14 y/o trumpet player daughter has been wanting to learn the piano for years. Her trumpet teacher disagreed and recommended she start with the Suzuki method as she has and incredibly good ear and quite a bit of natural musical talent. I bought this book to help rectify that, knowing that I'll be sitting in on her weekly lessons and absorbing a lot of information there. It's pretty exciting to go from not knowing where middle C is located to playing Jingle Bells with a bit of harmony in 2 days! I do plan on adding scales and such to my practice sessions, as these are truly the things that will help you progress and give you a more fundamental understanding of how music is put together. I feel like I'm able to grasp the concepts that are introduced and will be able to help my daughter along once her lessons start in a couple of weeks."
"No CD, but Youtube is better than the CD anyway."
"I would definitely recommend Alfred's series, but make sure to get some additional piano literature to go along with it."
"I have been glad that I going through it with a piano teacher however as there are definitely things she clarified better than the book did. That said, I think this would be a good book were someone to choose it to teach themselves and I often move ahead in it to teach myself a bit of what is coming next in the lessons."
"So I got this book."
Best Trumpets & Cornets
For the first time, Star Wars(R) A Musical Journey (Music from Episodes I-VI): Instrumental Solos includes selections from all six Star Wars(R) movies arranged for flute, clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, horn in F, trombone, piano accompaniment, violin, viola and cello.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My niece can "sight-read" music and the family was so impressed with her first time rendering of the music and subsequent improvement after her listening to the enclosed CD!"
"Purchased this book for my son who plays the baritone (as it works the same for the trombone)."
"Absolutely a blast to play, and great for sight reading."
"I've been hearing my son play the Star Wars theme since he got this book."
"My son is playing much better because he knows the music already."
"The CD has 33 tracks on it...a warm-up track to start with, and then 2 tracks for each song. The first track of each song is an orchestra playing and you can play along with them."
"In fact, he and a friend are using this music to compete in the school talent show."
"Exactly the book I was hoping to buy."
Best Music Conducting
Through two highly successful editions, The Study of Orchestration has set the standard for orchestration texts, providing the most comprehensive treatment of both orchestration and instrumentation. Samuel Adler is Professor Emeritus at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School of Music.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It's a textbook, so it's hard to get too excited, but it is informational for the serious student."
"Great book and great audio examples, but the video software is not updated."
"Use Windows Media Player and ripp the audio examples, and then convert the wave-files to mp3s."
"You have to buy the workbook so you can get a better understanding of what you are reading."
"Dear Publisher, Please update the software as soon as possible so that I can use it on my Mac."
"The audio samples are *not* visible on a windows computer - the way this works is pop in the CD in any CD player or computer DVD drive that can play CDs, and play them back. Initial review: "Whoever developed the user interface should be killed - it forces you to listen to the opening tune which after a couple of times gets really annoying, it keeps asking for different CDs (insert disk 1, insert disk 6, insert disk 1, etc) for anything you want to do, and the audio samples are nowhere to be found ('cannot find composer')."
"Doesn't work with OS X 10.11."
Best Blank Sheet Music
We are proud to publish titles of interest to all musicians as well as music lovers, from songbooks and instructional titles to artist biographies and instrument price guides to books about the music industry and all the performing arts. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"These are good, but two things: 1) A few of the cover's holes have already torn on the bottom."
"I haven't had to buy manuscript paper in a long time, and these notebooks are just as I remember them."
"I got it for myself, but I've been forced to share it with my 5 year and 7 year old, who are both now writing their own songs on piano."
"Good quality manuscript paper."
"This is a great product to buy if you like to write lyrics or music all together."
"If you write music, and I do, then you need this product.....and the price is right!"
"GREAT PRICE I LOVE THIS EXCEPT I COULDN'T ORDER ALL I NEEDED I WANTED 100 AND IT WOULD ONLY LET ME HAVE 80."
"It's manuscript paper reasonably priced."
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 French Horn Songbooks
First to be published in the series was The Art of French Horn Playing by Philip Farkas, now Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music at Indiana University.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"this book is a must have for all horn players and students."
"He did take back what he said about "no-pressure" playing and regretted the picture on page 66."
"This book covers just about everything that an aspiring or professional horn player should be doing to play correctly."
"This is one of the very few French Horn books that I would recommend for the beginner, especially, since the writer has put so much written explanation into the work."
"Within 10 minutes my son learned things about technique and aperture that he had been wondering about."
"Very helpful for someone who is trying to master their French Horn techniques."
"Excellent book for anyone who play horn."
"We were pleased at the low price of this book as offered by the seller and the condition of the book was as described."
Best Trombones
For the first time, Star Wars(R) A Musical Journey (Music from Episodes I-VI): Instrumental Solos includes selections from all six Star Wars(R) movies arranged for flute, clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, horn in F, trombone, piano accompaniment, violin, viola and cello.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Got this for my son who wanted to do a sax solo for his 6th grade talent show several months ago."
"My niece can "sight-read" music and the family was so impressed with her first time rendering of the music and subsequent improvement after her listening to the enclosed CD!"
"Purchased this book for my son who plays the baritone (as it works the same for the trombone)."
"Absolutely a blast to play, and great for sight reading."
"The shipping was quick and my daughter loved the music and book."
"Bought this book to give as a gift to a 2nd year trumpet player."
"I've been hearing my son play the Star Wars theme since he got this book."
"My son is playing much better because he knows the music already."
Best Brass Songbooks
Harry Potter, Instrumental Solos for Violin/Piano Accompaniment (Movies 1-5) (Pop Instrumental Solo)
Titles include: Hedwig's Theme * Harry's Wondrous World * Nimbus 2000 * Fawkes The Phoenix * Double Trouble * A Window to the Past * Hogwarts' March * Hogwarts' Hymn * Professor Umbridge * Fireworks (Grade 2-3) This title is available in SmartMusic.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My child loves it."
"Comes with an accompaniment CD which is super fun to play along with."
"My middle school violinist loves this."
"Nice selection of music, but would have liked finger and bow positions for all the notes, so a student could work ahead of their lessons."
"Anything that gets a kid wanting to play."
"My son loves it."
"Great for any Harry Potter fan."
"Great for additional practice."
Best Ukuleles
(Ukulele). Founded in 1947, Hal Leonard Corporation 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"There are a lot of good songs in this book: Popular (Beatles, Everly Brothers, Joni Mitchell...), Christmas Carols, Children's Songs, Patriotic, Show Tunes, Folk, Hawaiian...etc...This would be a great book for school teachers to have on hand."
"This is a great book for the beginner ukulele player like me."
"Great collection of songs including a section for kids music and holiday tunes."
"Great selection of a broad range of music."
"My wife loved the book."
"Not the typical same three chords for every song."
"Terrific book with a wide variety of songs."
"Not that good on the kindle -- music too small to read, even in the largest font."
Best Saxophones
Commonly referred to as “The Saxophone Bible,” Paul DeVille’s Universal Method for Saxophone is considered the trusted training method for aspiring and serious saxophone players. As the accomplished saxophonist and author Sam Sadigursky wrote in his review of the top saxophone books of all time (in which he rated Universal Method for Saxophone the number one choice),
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The music teacher said this was "THE BOOK" for anyone wanting to know how to play the saxophone."
"Easy to find several pages of things to work on every time I practice."
"This is THE book if you want to get great on saxophone!"
"well written practice book for all levels of playing!"
"Awesome book!!"
"Everything you need to know!"
"I use it to warm up, it has improved my technique."
"It's great reading and reviewing various parts for a quick study."