Playing Bach on the Keyboard: A Practical Guide (Amadeus) [Hardcover] Review

This book summarizes many artistic elements of performing Bach, but in a very objective, matter-of-fact way. I found much useful content, but the delivery is very academic, and, in many cases, boring. A sense of humor or story-telling would ease reading, and this book has very little of either.

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Product Description:
In this concise and accessible volume, a noted keyboard artist and Bach specialist takes a fresh look at the performance of J. S. Bach's keyboard music. Addressing the nonspecialist player, Richard Troeger presents a wide range of historical information and discusses its musical applications. The author shares accounts of the musical styles Bach employed and the instruments he knew. In direct and pragmatic terms, he clarifies the importance of notational and style details as guides to the composer's intentions, particularly emphasizing changes in notational norms between Bach's time and the present. Troeger offers core information on dynamics, articulation, tempo, rhythm, ornamentation and accompaniment. He considers controversial issues as well, establishing the importance of the clavichord in Bach's milieu and examining the link between baroque music and rhetoric - a dramatic relationship that can bring great vitality to performance.

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Belter's Hot Standards - Updated Edition: 45 Classics Transposed Down for Women Singers (Vocal Collection) [Paperback] Review

This is my second copy of this book.It has usable keys for belter's some that are not available anywhere else.

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Product Description:
How many times have we heard women pop singers complain about the printed keys of standard songs? 'They're too high for me!' is the predictable comment. Here's a new collection that addresses that concern, transposing great songs down into a comfortable belting range. 42 timeless standards, including: Cry Me a River * God Bless' The Child * He Touched Me * The Man That Got Away * More Than You Know * On A Clear Day * Stormy Weather * and more.

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Music for Little Mozarts: Music Lesson Book 1 Review

When my four year old daughter started showing interest in playing our piano, I immediately set about to find a course of instruction for her (as an intermediate player, I chose to teach her myself).I checked out several books from the library, and browsed several local music shops.In total, I analyzed 6 different courses targeted for young children.I told my daughter she would start taking lessons when she turned 5 (two months away), and her anticipation started building.

Ultimately, I chose the "Music for Little Mozarts" series.The story-based flow of the lessons seemed intriguing, and the material seemed to progress at a good pace.

Well, we are now on the third book (the blue one), and I can say that these books are absolutely fantastic.As it turns out, my daughter hasn't shown much interest in the stories of the books (involving the different mice and other animal characters).She just enjoys working on the simple exercises.We work on the book for at least 10 minutes every day, and she volunteers to practice a little extra on some days.In the beginning, she was able to get through one exercise/page per day, but now it might take a little extra practice for her to learn the new notes.I bought some stickers at Staples, and every time she "passes off" a page, we put a little sticker on it.She really likes that.

Best of all, there has been very little discouragement (or boredom).Each exercise seems to be just the right difficulty.

The support offered with this series is also great.We work through the workbooks as well, and they provide excellent reinforcement for the concepts in the books.We haven't tried the flashcards or other materials offered (parent's guide, "Discovery Book", solo books, recital books, etc.), but I would expect them to be similarly helpful.The coloring books are just pictures of the characters, and don't serve to reinforce musical concepts.

If you're teaching a 4-6 year old how to play the piano, I highly recommend checking these books out!

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Product Description:
Lesson Book 1 is pre-reading. Concepts taught are: How to sit at the piano; Correct hand position; High and low; Loud and soft (forte and piano); Keyboard topography; Bar line and measure, Quarter, half, whole notes and rests; and Repeat signs. The first pieces in the book are played on the black keys. Later in the book, C D E for the RH and C B A for the LH (Middle C position) are taught with letter notes (the name of the note is written inside the note head).Song titles include: A BEAR'S SONG * A MOUSE'S MELODY * A THREE-NOTE SYMPHONY * BRIGHT STARS * CONCERT DAY * DOWN WE GO * E-I-E-I-O! * LEFT HAND WALKING * LITTLE DANCE * LOST TEDDY BEAR * MOZART MOUSE'S FIRST MINUET * MUSIC FRIEND WALTZ * NAP TIME * OFF TO BED * ON MACDONALD'S FARM * RAINY DAY * RIGHT HAND MARCHING * ROCKIN' PONY RIDE * THE A SONG * THE B SONG * THE C SONG* THE C SONG, AGAIN! * THE D SONG * THE E SONG * THE ELEPHANT SONG

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A Day in the Jungle [Paperback] Review

fabulous songs with great imagery.as a piano teacher I most recently purchased this book for a 9 year old boy who is devouring all of the songs and excitedly looking forward to the next.

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Product Description:
These are pieces to stimulate the musical imagination with such titles as ""Snake Sneaking"" and ""Jungle River Flowing."" They are also studies for dynamic balance between the hands, soft tone production, ""finger-pedal"" (sustaining tones with fingers instead of with pedal), and more. Jon George's illustrations add to the attractiveness.

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Yamaha P65MSB 88-Key Weighted graded hammer action keys, comes with stand and bench Review

The bad part is the price keeps dropping and I paid at fifty dollars more than the current price only two weeks ago.

But the piano is wonderful.It looks bigger than the picture, but the piano works just like a real one, especially the fingers feel right.It is not too heavy, I can easily move it and it does not take much space.Now I play it almost everyday for about half an hour.My piano teacher says this is enough for practice.The sound does not come out as great as really good grand piano.Anyway it is totally worth the price.

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Product Description:
The new Yamaha P65 Digital Piano is a great choice for the hobbyist or weekend musician, providing the experience of playing an acoustic piano without the weight or size. With an 88-key weighted graded hammer action keyboard, stereo sampled instrument voices, and digital effects, the P65 offer amazing features. Close your eyes and you will swear that you are playing a real grand piano. The P65's GHS keyboard recreates the lively feel of a grand piano without the expense and maintenance involved with such an instrument. A great deal of time was spent to create a digital piano that had the proper feel and expression of a real weighted graded hammer action piano keyboard. The P65 offers unrivaled sound quality utilizing exclusive technology. Using Yamaha's own AWM stereo sampling, sounds were recorded directly from a variety of instruments. Each voice is recorded in stereo and thus faithfully replicates the sound and warmth of the original instrument. The P65's built-in stereo speakers offer audio dynamics usually found exclusively on instruments costing substantially more. Perform a concert at home with expressive stereo sound for your family and friends.Digital Effects -Reverb and Chorus Built-In Speakers 2 Headphone Jacks -One for the Teacher and One for the Student MIDI In and Out Tone Generator AWM, Stereo Sampling Voices 8 voices Effects Reverb, Chorus Performance Modes Dual 8 Demo Songs 12 x 6 cm Speakers x2, 6W x 2 Amplifiers x2 Dimensions -Width 52-3/8 x Depth 14 x Height 5-1/4 inch (1330 x 355 x 133 mm) Weight -28 pounds 11 ounces (13.0 kg)

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Rhapsody in Blue (Original) (Belwin Edition) [Paperback] Review

Simply said, I am using this as the feature of my senior piano performace recital at my college. This brilliant work is something to behold in its concerto form, something to enjoy it its orchestral form, and something that every one should study in its piano solo form.

Gershwin himself wrote this arrangement, so it can be safe to assume that everything in this piece is exactly how Gerswhin wanted it. I would imagine he would best realize what he original thought to be the important parts...

Ryan

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Product Description:
Two-piano edition, with second piano playing a transcription of the orchestration. Two copies are necessary for a performance.

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Broadway's Best (Phillip Keveren) [Paperback] Review

This book is just my level.As a beginning piano player, it is difficult to find music that is easy yet interesting.This book fits the bill.

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Product Description:
16 beautiful solo arrangements of Broadway standards from 14 great shows. Includes: All I Ask of You * And All That Jazz * Beauty and the Beast * Bring Him Home * Cabaret * Edelweiss * If I Loved You * It Might as Well Be Spring * Seasons of Love * September Song * Some Enchanted Evening * Where Is Love? * With One Look * and more.

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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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