Heifetz As I Knew Him (Amadeus) [Paperback] Review

Having read all available books about Mr. Heifetz, I was so happy to find this incredible book. Yes, Ayke Agus does give us her background so we can comprehend how she was able to work with, and most importantly, UNDERSTAND him. It is wonderful to read about the man who raised up the art of violin playing to new heights. He also wrote enjoyable and artful violin and piano transcriptions of works for other instruments(or songs). In the book, the story of her care-giving is so vivid that I have been told that in many major hospitals the book is being used as a teaching tool about caring for the aged. When you reach the end of the book you will know so much more about this giant of an artist than you believed you could ever learn. Being a very private person we have never before been allowed into his world. Her description of his last days and her commentary brought me to tears. I was privilidged to hear Mr. Heifetz in performance when I was very young and it was unforgettable! Read this book and understand the man and his art.

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Product Description:
For the last 15 years of Jascha Heifetz's life, Ayke Agus was his closest companion. She came to him as a violin student in his master class at the University of Southern California, but he singled her out when he heard her play the piano. She became his private accompanist and ultimately his assistant and confidante. A sensitive and astute observer, Agus takes up where previous biographers left off; her book is a loving yet unblinking portrait of an aging master by his disciple.

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Music for Little Mozarts [Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD] Review

This is a two CD set each CD is 30 minutes long.The second CD is for the "music discovery book", I love this CD, it is just perfect for group music classes and it is a fun CD for kids to just listen to.There are 25 songs: a hello song (mentions mozart mouse and beethoven bear), a goodbye song (could be used for any program), 8 rhythm instrument songs, 5 movement/music appreciation songs, and 8 listening/ear training songs.

The first CD is essentially a "book on CD" of the "music lesson" book and I don't see why you would ever use it because a teacher could read the story herself much more entertainingly.

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Product Description:
Two compact disc recordings (sold as a two-disc set) support the concepts introduced in Level 4. The disc for the Music Lesson Book includes the narration for the story, as well as two performances of each piece-an acoustic piano version and an orchestrated version. The disc for the Music Discovery Book contains all of the songs and the "Listen and Sing" examples in the book performed by a teacher and students. In addition, professional performances of all listening examples for music appreciation and movement activities are included.

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Simply Christmas [Paperback] Review

These arrangements are particularly well done.The songs are simple enough for someone who has been taking lessons for 1-2 years (a second grade piano student), and they are fun and interesting to play.

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Product Description:
A delightful collection of carol favorites for the early intermediate player. These creatively styled piano arrangements are designed as solos and are easy to play. Perfect for seasonal recitals or that special family gathering.

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Barry Manilow 1 Review

As a child I fell in love with Barry Manilow..his music..lyrics..the way he sang a song. Although I'm now an adult and my musical tastes have broadened considerably, I still appreciate all that Barry gave and gives to his music. I've always loved his first three albums, in particular..and this one tops my list for "Could it Be Magic" alone. "One of These Days", "Oh My Lady", "Sweet Life" and "I am Your Child" are among the standouts in my opinion..as much for the heartfelt way Barry sings them as for anything else. This may have been his first album..and produced even earlier than I had realized (1972)..but it is by no means a sad effort. I recently ordered the CD version, having lost my vinyl to a flood years back..and I can't wait to hear it, again. For simple, heartfelt melodies, Barry's your man.

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Hugh Tracey Alto Kalimba 15-key Alto Kalimba Review

When I was growing up, a family friend had a Hugh Tracey Kalimba on their coffee table, and I used to love to plink on it, but I never really knew the magic it had in it until one day 20 years ago when some of my friends were fooling around with a brand new Alto Hugh Tracey Kalimba.A stranger walked into the house and started playing the kalimba, and the most amazingly beautiful music started pouring out of this thing!I immediately ran out and bought one myself, and have spent 20 years chasing the memory of that fateful day.

OK, some specifics: this is the first kalimba to be marketed outside of Africa, starting around 1960, and this is the instrument that started the Kalimba Craze.It is STILL made in South Africa, and it is STILL among the top quality kalimbas commercially available.Abundant instructional material now exists online.The wood is Kiaat, a resonant hardwood that is abundant in southern Africa.The tone is clear, the tines are delicate and smooth, easy on your thumbs and nails; the two octave range from low "DO" to high "DO" is easy to wrap your brain around (the Treble kalimba starts on the 3rd of the scale, or "Mi"; BTW, this kalimba is LARGER than the Pakistani-made immitation of the HT Treble kalimba which is marketed as the "Large Rosewood Kalimba").The tines are wider than the Treble, which makes it easier to play.The one drawback is that children and women with small hands are not so comfortable with this model.For them, I do suggest the Hugh Tracey Treble kalimba or theTM Alto, a newer model with the same tines as the ALTO, but mounted on a 0.5 inch kiaat board.The TM ALTO is easy for small hands to hold, but then you don't have the wonderful "Wah Wah" effect from the sound holes in the resonant box.

This instrument has been the joy of my life, and I cannot recommend it enough.I have found it deeply disturbing that the US market has been dominated by inferior kalimbas for the last several years.In this rush to globalization and Walmart-ization of consumer goods where the bottom line is just about how much money a product costs, we risk losing the real quality products out there.YES, the African-made Hugh Tracey Kalimba costs a lot more than the Pakistani-made immitation, but its WORTH it!It is a real musical instrument, capable of bringing great beauty and joy into the world.

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Product Description:
Hugh Tracey Kalimbas are hand made thumb pianos from South Africa, known the world over for their beautiful tone. These instruments are truly authentic both in construction and sound. The Kalimba - depending on the region also called Thumb Piano, Finger Piano, Mbira, Sanza or Likembe - is a wood box on which a collection of metal strips are mounted. The Kalimba is held in the hand or on the knee and the musician plucks the free hanging strips with the thumb or fingers.

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Monty Python's Spamalot (Vocal Selections) [Paperback] Review

I decided to take a chance with this piano/vocal/guitar collection since I had already read a review warning that it was a fairly simplistic arrangement.It is indeed very basic; someone with four years of piano experience could handle just about every piece.

All that was taken from the actual score was the melody and the chords.Songs that had clear baselines, such as You Won't Succeed on Broadway's descending octaves at the end of each couplet, simply don't have them in these book.Typical left-hand arrangements are a series of eighth notes pairs with bass-root, inverted chord, over and over again no matter what sort of mood the piece should set.Given the range of tempos and their amusing descriptions, (where else would you find the term "Jaunty Madrigal"?), having identical left-hand arrangements is ridiculous. Right hand arrangements tend to double the melody with chords filling them out below.Most songs are cut down to a bare minimum, leaving out parts that could easily have been included such as accents, grace notes, and the like.

Most frustrating of all is missing lyrics for subsequent verses, which is absolutely unforgiveable."Knights of the Round Table" only has 2 verses.Yes, you can pull the lines off the internet, but why should you have to?

Probably the best arrangement of the whole book is "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" which does include all the lyrics but inexplicably cut the piano solo!So when I say it's the best, that's where "best" gets a 7 out of 10.The Act II Finale does not appear, either.However, the book does include most all the other songs from the musical.Many sheet music books from musicals omit more.I am looking forward to a vocal score being offered as these are a reduction rather than an arrangement and offer all the incidental music as well as instrumental and lead-in sections.

Hal Leonard often rates their arrangements on a difficulty scale but I can't find one on this book.I would give it a "2" on their 6 point scale where 6 is the hardest.

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Product Description:
Vocal selections from the uproarious Broadway production that won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2005. Songs include: All for One * Always Look on the Bright Side of Life * Brave Sir Robin * Come with Me * Find Your Grail * Fisch Schlapping Dance * He Is Not Dead Yet * His Name Is Lancelot * I'm All Alone * King Arthur's Song * Knights of the Round Table * Laker Girls Cheer * Monks Chant * Run Away! * The Song That Goes Like This * Whatever Happened to My Part? * Where Are You? * You Won't Succeed on Broadway. Includes five pages of color photos.

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Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba 17-key Treble Kalimba Review

I proudly own a Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba. This is a very fine instrument so don't be put off by it's simple design.It is well worth it's price the minute you hold it & play it for the very first time....the best sounding kalimba on the market....anything else is ,in my opinion, an imitation of it, I know, I bought one of "those" too!!!
You have to play one to know what I'm talking about. A finely crafted product...Do I sound like a commercial??? I sing it's praises, but a Hugh Tracey Kalimba "speaks" for itself!

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Product Description:
Hugh Tracey Kalimbas are hand made thumb pianos from South Africa, known the world over for their beautiful tone. These instruments are truly authentic both in construction and sound. The Kalimba - depending on the region also called Thumb Piano, Finger Piano, Mbira, Sanza or Likembe - is a wood box on which a collection of metal strips are mounted. The Kalimba is held in the hand or on the knee and the musician plucks the free hanging strips with the thumb or fingers.

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Casio LK110 Electronic Keyboard Key Lighting / Midi Review

This exact Casio LK 110 can be purchased new for $69.00 at Guitar Center, Musician's Friend---just to name a few.

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Product Description:
The LK-110 is a perfect starter-keyboard for any player at any age. The key lighting feature helps players develop timing and accuracy, highlighting areas of concern so you can direct your practice for more efficient learning. With 100 songs, an interactive lesson function and a wide variety of tones and rhythms, you will be able to play a host of different musical styles and time signatures in no time

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