The School of Velocity, Opus 299: Complete (Alfred Masterwork Edition) [Paperback] Review

If this is too intimidating for you, I would start with Czerny -- Practical Method, Op. 599 (Complete) (Alfred Masterwork Edition), which is thinner and simpler than this.

If THAT'S too difficult for you, I would fall back to Preliminary School of Dexterity, Op. 636, which is about as low as you can go and still be playing authentic Czerny that hasn't been watered down.(I don't know why Amazon doesn't have a picture of it:it's certainly not rare or out of print.)

Only after finishing that should you go for the mother lode, the School of Velocity.

All of these Alfred editions are the best:carefully edited and handsomely presented.Palmer didn't simply run those old galleys again:everything's been recomposited and -- importantly for me -- the notes have been made larger where possible.At any rate, it's certainly more readable than that old yellow version everyone seems to own.

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Product Description:
This popular volume offers practical training in well-articulated pianistic passage work, particularly in playing the virtuoso music of the romantic period. In addition to this, each study is a complete music composition, demanding attention to dynamics and phrasing. Students who master Opus 299 have indeed progressed a long way in the "school of velocity." Available in a 112-page complete volume or in two separate books.

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Complete Preludes, Books 1 and 2 [Paperback] Review

This is one of those sets that I think, if I were stranded on a desert island with a Steinway (and a good piano tuner), I could delve into for years with little other music.
These short pieces are excellent for sight-reading difficult passages with many key changes and unexpected accidentals, for intricate harmony and for expression of mood. The names are evocative of feelings and sights, such as an underwater cathedral, bells in the evening air, wind through heather and the like.

Though short pieces of a few pages, each provides a particular challenge to the piano student, as well as being appropriate for concert encores or intimate playing.

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Product Description:
Here, in one volume, are two bodies of work that, perhaps more than any others, reveal the essence of Claude Debussy's extraordinary expressiveness and his innovative gifts for musical imagery. Each book contains 12 preludes for the piano, many of them well known to today's musical audiences because of their great popularity with pianists worldwide.

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Simple Things [Paperback] Review

I bought this book because I just love Jim Brickman's music.This book is one of those books you read a chapter at a time and reflect on the content.Jim has made me laugh and think back to those earlier years and to step back and realize what is important in life.I highly recommend this book and it certainly could not have come at a more appropriate time in light of our Nation's tragedy.God bless America!

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Product Description:
Complete with Brickman's biography and color photos, this album-matching folio contains: The Promise * Catching Twilight * Night Rain * Another Tuesday Morning * Gate 41 * Waiting for You * Journey * Devotion * One and Only * Serenade * Simple Things * A Mother's Day * It Must Be You.

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Stageline - X-Type Padded Keyboard Bench KB51 Review

Nice firm seat, much wider than I thought it would be. Great for a higher seat. It appeared for $59, bill arrived printed for $79 which was confusing. Arrived very quickly in perfect condition.

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Product Description:
Heavily padded for maximum comfort. Four adjustable height levels. Easy to set up. Height from 20.875" to 26". Seat 12.5" x 23.75". 4 position deluxe.

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Impromptus, Op. 90 (Alfred Masterwork Edition) [Paperback] Review

I was quite disappointed in this product. I'm not sure if it's just the copy I got, but the printing/stapling went awry and one side of the music did not print on page 20. I would ask for a refund of this product if I hadn't gotten it online. Save yourself the trouble and get a copy of this music that doesn't look like the printer was having an off day.

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Product Description:
This concise edition contains four expressive and lively impromptus that will challenge advanced pianists. To clarify the composer's original notations on tempo, dynamics, fingering, pedaling and ornamentation, Dr. Baylor has included notes on performing each piece and provided footnotes for difficult passages. These editorial suggestions make preparing for a performance both enjoyable and educational.

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Masterwork Classics, Level 1-2 (Alfred Masterwork Editions) [Paperback] Review

This Book/CD combination is hard to beat for someone who wants to start playing classical music from the get-go, rather than a lot of children's songs or folk songs.It is also a good value.It includes scores in easy to read format for 29 simple compositions, from baroque to 20th century.These are not watered-down versions of well-known pieces or popular melodies, but rather original classical compositions written specifically for the novice.Most are ½ page or 1 page, and no page turning is required.This is a great supplement to any method book, and provides at least several weeks worth of fine early material. I have been using the PIANO HANDBOOK (Carl Humphries) but realized I needed additional early material since that book moves so quickly.

The CD, which includes each of these pieces, is well played and nicely recorded.The CD is invaluable--not only to hear how the songs are intended to sound, but also to better choose which ones to work on (especially if, like me, you're self-taught).I've selected 12 of the pieces to work on over the next few weeks, starting with two, and adding a new one each week. These songs are appealing enough that I'll probably be playing several of them for a long time.I've also purchased the Level 3 Masterwork Classics and can hardly wait to get started with that.........but first things first.

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Product Description:
A progressive repertoire series designed to motivate students while allowing them to progress evenly and smoothly from the earliest classics toward intermediate literature.These pieces are from the standard classical literature, chosen to appeal both to teacher and student. Each volume comes with a corresponding CD.

PIanist Kim O'Reilly Newman holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois. She has performed throughout North America and Europe with the Hambro Quartet of Pianos and was an editor and recording pianist for Alfred Publishing. Kim is a brain tumor survivor and now specializes in performing music for the left hand.

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The Twelve Notes Of Music: Ear Training And Interval Study Course [Paperback] Review

I purchased this book in the hopes of finding a method to use with some of my students. As a professional teacher and performer, I am terribly dissapointed. In its 20 pages, the book does little more than define what intervals are, and offers little practical advice and no useful exercises on how to sucessfully learn intervals or recognize pitch. Further, the title 'Music Theory: Ear Training and Interval Study Course' is quite misleading. Sternal attempts to teach the student intervals by having the student play all intervals from the minor second up to the octave on the guitar. Thus, If you are not a guitar player, and/or do not read his non-standard guitar tablature this method will be completely useless for you. The back cover claims that this is a method for guitar, piano, or voice of which only guitar is really feasible because there are no notes or diagrams that can be read by vocalists or pianists or any other instrument for that matter (It only uses fretboard diagrams). Also, the front cover fails to mention that this is only intended for guitar, piano, and voice. If you are not a guitarist, this method will be unintelligible for you. If you are a guitarist, I would strongly suggest you find a different method as this is hardly a method, but more a very poor definition of intervals. This method is also problematic for guitar players in that Sternal does not address the tuning issues of the guitar. If you do not understand the problems of tuning a guitar, you will be learing these intervals incorrectly since you are using an improperly tuned guitar as a pitch reference. I hardly ever write reviews, but I was so turned off by this that I felt obligated to prevent others from making the same mistake.

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Product Description:
Music Theory Simplified - There are only 12 notes in the musical alphabet, when you have mastered them you have mastered music. Take an in depth look at each individual note and learn how it associates with other notes, giving you a full understanding of the tonal structure of melodies, harmonies, and chords. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced musician you will gain a world of insight by learning our twelve musical tones! *24 Page Study Course *US Patent Applied For *Improve pitch recognition, and note relativity *Music theory simplified *Start with one note and build at your own pace *Written with charts and thoroughly explained instructions *No sheet music or sight reading necessary *Each chapter is built on what you have previously learned *Learn to easily build any scale or chord structure.

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