Theory Is Fun / Book 1 (Hirschberg) [Paperback] Review

a good book for teaching elementary aged children music theory, it covers the basics and some more advanced stuff as well. lots of Black and white illustrations, comics strips and such. the book teaches the note names and spelling with pictures and stories.

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Product Description:
THEORY IS FUN / Book 1, by David Hirschberg.

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Technique for the Advancing Pianist (Alfred Masterwork Editions) [Paperback] Review

I use this book for all my students who wish to pursue piano studies at a higher level, particularly those who will become piano performance majors in college. It truly is essential for the advancing pianist because many technical difficulties one encounters throughout Mozart, Beethoven, and some Chopin (and of course, many more composers) is learned here, such as scales in double thirds, rotation, and velocity. Work through every single page and you're well on your way to starting more advanced work in college.

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Product Description:
This practical resource provides foundational tools for scale, chord and arpeggio playing; exercises for developing precision, speed, agility and clarity of tone; and exercises and etudes that focus on a variety of technical challenges.

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Alfred's Teach Yourself to Play Piano (Teach Yourself Series) [Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD] Review

This book is great for people just learning to play piano.I have a keyboard at home that I practice on.It takes you step-by-step through each phase/step, and one lesson builds on the next.I m learning a lot with this book- highly recommended.

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Product Description:
First step: Buy this. Everything after that is pretty self-explanatory.

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USB Teach Me Piano Kit Review

I wanted a usb midi cable, since my new machine doesn't have a game port and I had been using a gameport midi cable to connect my sythesizer to my computer.This piano kit seemed to fit the bill. And, I liked that for about the cost of a cable I get the piano instruction software for my son basically included.

Before buying, I verified with Voyetra that this cable works both with mac and pc, since I have a PC desktop and Mac laptop.I didn't want a PC only cable. (Mac OSX has built-in compatible USB drivers for this Turtle Beach brand cable.)

Unfortunately, I spent over half a day trying combinations of connecting the cable between 2 different synths and my two computers... I get either computers to send data to control either synth, but got flaky MIDI IN data coming into the computers from every combination.It would send either random data or only "note off" commands but not "note on".

Eventually I gave up, suspecting the cable rather than my synths, computers, or application software.So I emailed voyetra tech support (they have no phone support), who replied on the next business day suggesting I download and install the firmware upgrade from their website.The upgrade worked easily, and now everything works great. (Note that the firmware upgrade needs to be run on a PC not a Mac.)

The included piano instruction software is good, and my son enjoys it, but it uses a lower screen resolution, leading me to believe that it was not written recently.But it has no problem running under XP.

Overall it's a nice product for the money, but the install was frustrating.You might need to know a bit about your synth, MIDI, and how to troubleshoot -- unless you get lucky.

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Product Description:
Item #: H54774. Learning to play a musical instrument is a rewarding and creative skill that can enrich the lives of you and your family, but finding the time to learn isn't easy.If you've always wished you could play the piano, or you've let your skills get rusty over the years, you'll appreciate the convenience of interactive lessons that are ready whenever you have the time. Product Description: USB Teach Me Piano Kit - complete package
Category: Education application
Subcategory: Education - music / music history
License Type: Complete package
License Qty: 1 user
License Pricing: Standard
Platform: Windows
Distribution Media: CD-ROM
Package Type: Retail
OS Required: Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows XP
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J.S. Bach: Selections from Anna Magdalena's Notebook (Book & CD) (Alfred Masterwork Edition) [Paperback] Review

This is an excellent edition of Bach's simple masterpieces. The decorations are clearly spelled out on separate staffs to avoid clutter. These are great pieces for the intermediate piano student.

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Product Description:
This timeless collection contains selections attributed to J.S. Bach, his son C.P.E. Bach, and others. Generations of students have studied the volume's "Menuet in G Major," "Musette in D Major" and the "Prelude in C Major" from the first volume of the Well-Tempered Clavier. Dr. Palmer provides the texts to the instrumental settings of chorales and arias found in this work, as well as a brief biography of the Bach family.

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Alfred's Group Piano for Adults Student Book, Bk 2 [Plastic Comb] Review

I have taught from this book this year and also used the first edition for several years.This is a good book with lots to recommend it to the teacher and student.The multiple-key approach dovetails very well with college theory courses.The instruction in lead sheet and figured bass harmonization is also excellent.Solo repertoire pieces have been thoughtfully integrated and offer the teacher and student plenty of choices.The only drawback I have found, from a teacher's perspective, is that the presentation of scales is, in my view, unsound.Stressing two octave scales and arpeggios at this level is much too advanced.It would be better to spread the presentation of scales out more (one per week after they are first introduced) and require only one octave.Of course, a good teacher can adapt the scale presentation, but with so many other excellent features, I think that the authors could easily address this (maybe in the next edition).Also, since this is used as a college text, it is preferable to teach natural and melodic minor scales and fingerings too.But other than this slight quibble, I highly recommend this great book, which is useful for the entire first year of piano study.

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Product Description:
Alfred's Group Piano for Adults, Book 2 is designed for non-keyboard music majors with little or no keyboard experience. Upon completion of the course, students will have a strong grasp of functional skills, keyboard technique and musical styles. The text is easy to use, containing 30 units, each designed to be completed in one week.It is fully supported by CDs and MIDI disks with over 500 accompaniments.

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Play Piano Today! - Level 1: Play Today Plus Pack (The Ultimate Self-Teaching Method) [Paperback] Review

Play Piano Today! - Level 1 (The Ultimate Self-Teaching Method), comes with a book and audio CD.The book does a fair job of showing some of the basics, but it could have been a lot better.Right off the bat they start giving you musical pieces to play, but they don't tell you how to do it.This might be ok, if you knew how to play years ago and wanted a refresher.But if you have never played the piano before, this book will not show you how to do it.Likewise, the CD starts right out of the gate telling you to play things, but doesn't first tell you how to do it.Overall, I would call this product far from the Ultimate Self-Teaching Method, or a complete guide to the basics, which is how they bill themselves.

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Product Description:
Start playing piano today! With this book/CD pack, absolute beginners can teach themselves: chords and scales, left- and right-hand fingerings, bass and treble clef notation and more, plus how to play 5 great songs: Limbo Rock * Save the Last Dance for Me * Takin' Care of Business * Wonderful Tonight * Y.M.C.A..

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Belwin Complete Adult Keyboard Course [Paperback] Review

This is a great book for beginners who are looking for simple piano instruction. It is packed with songs(more than 40). Some examples: "This Old Man", "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow", "Over The Rainbow", "Minuet" and "A Tisket, A Tasket". This book introduces the terms and methods with brief definitions, then gives you short songs sheets to practice with before applying each new method in the songs. This book is available with an additional cd (which I believe this issue does comes with it)containing all of the song peices. You can play along to it to help you get the hang of the music. There are also review pages to help you understand the notes. This book is all you really need to learn piano. (I should also add that I am a high school senior & this is the book we use in my piano class).

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Product Description:
A practical, enjoyable approach to learning to play all keyboard instruments. This exceptional beginning method has sound teaching philosophies, music of all styles, strong visual reinforcements and modern technology components. Well-suited for either class or individual instruction, the method includes familiar folk songs, well-known classical themes and popular favorites. It includes theory workbook pages and writing assignments that reinforce student lessons.

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Technique Builders: Fundamental Study Patterns to Improve Piano Proficiency [Paperback] Review

This is a truly fine set of exercises for the late-beginner/early-intermediate pianist.Beyond the expected parallel and contrary motions, there are accompanied exercises.One hand plays an accompaniment to the other hand's scale runs, arpeggios, and chord inversions.Everything is related to the playing of songs.

This book focuses heavily on the seven diatonic triads of the C major scale and their inversions and arpeggios.But it also includes work on all twelve major triads and many chromatic studies, as well.Simple repeated bass figures, rhythms, octaves, and finger-independence drills round things out.

I really enjoy Technique Builders.I can open it to nearly any page and play something challenging and musical-sounding.Ten minutes to an hour of exploring its pages is very rewarding.I give it 5 stars!

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Product Description:
The ultimate objective is to train the student through repeated patterns and precise exercises, to acquire a conscious control in these techniques: the use of the whole arm for lateral freedom and arm weight, the forearm for rotation (Alberti bass and similar patterns) the wrist for flexibility in phrasing and the fingers for dexterity in passage work.

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Piano Wizard Review

My kids love this. They want to take lessons and it is fun. They immediately start playing songs!!!!

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Product Description:
Allegro Rainbow's Piano Wizard is the music learning video game that painlessly teaches anyone to play the piano. It gives every player instant success and joy, because they will immediately be able to play their favorite songs! The game's patented sound and color learning cues transform tedious and repetitive practice sessions into an exciting and rewarding video game experience for people of all ages and musical abilities. Patented sound & color learning cues transform tedious & repetitive practice sessionsGame teaches children as young as 3 to play the pianoPositive reinforcement designed to quickly build player's confidences and self-esteemAutomatically rewards players for touching the right note and ignores mistakes1000s of songs available from Bach to the Beatles, including religious hymns & children's favoritesWhat's in the box: - Piano Wizard software- Colored keyboard stickers- User's guide

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Keyboard Chart Review

This is a real nice keyboard chart and it has helped me to remember the keys that I learned as a child years ago.

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Product Description:
Two-sided fold-out chart that represents the entire keyboard of the piano with each piano key named and its corresponding note on the grand staff for five octaves. Side One may be placed on the piano above the keys and Side Two may be used away from the piano for additional review.

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Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Course: Christmas Piano Book (Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course) [Paperback] Review

I'm thrilled with the results I am achieving with Alfred's Basic Adult All-In-One Course.
Before starting this course I simply knew what a piano looked and sounded like let alone where Middle "C" was.

Be sure to buy the books with their CD's where provided. It's helpful to hear the pieces played giving one an idea of the appropriate tempo to achieve. Having mastered level one I'm now deep into level two including Broadway Hits, Christmas Song and Alfred's Basic Adult Jazz/Rock Course. I also use Alfred's Basic Adult Finger Aerobics. I've been going it alone now for 15 months.

If you are hiring a piano teacher to help you with this course he/she can guide you with regard to tempo along with much more I presume.

Remember this is the All-In-One Course.There are other and older Alfred's Basic Adult courses be careful to look for this specific course.

[...]

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Product Description:
These collections by one of our most popular composers are full of easy solo arrangements of favorite Christmas carols for adults who are studying Alfred's Adult All-in-One Course, Books 1 and 2.Each selection will bring enjoyment and inspiration to lift holiday spirits!

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Learning to Play Piano: Book 1 [Paperback] Review

My five years old daughter started practising piano. It is a very good book. Our piano teacher advised us. Also my daughter likes the drawing on the pages.

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Product Description:
This new, four volume piano course presents a fresh, unhurried, and sound approach to piano study. It offers a veritable treasure of delightfully melodic, inventive repertoire to illustrate and correlate technique, theory, and musicianship.

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Alfred's Basic Adult Theory Piano Book: Level One (2462) [Paperback] Review

This is an excellent book for learning piano theory for beginners.I flew through it considering I've already played a bit and just needed a review.Try to buy it new if you can, as cleaning out another person's old notes and answers is a real pain.

I also definitely recommend this for adults (as the title says)because it cuts out all the little-Bo-Peep type stuff that are in the basic beginners books I've come across.

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Product Description:
Every concept and principal introduced in the Lesson Books of Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course is reinforced in each of the correlated Theory Books. Important tips are included that make learning chord progressions even easier!

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Piano For Dummies Review

I am having a blast learning how to pay my keyboard with this software.You can see your progress and that makes me want to practice more and set goals.I wish I had this software years ago.

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Product Description:
The eMedia Piano For Dummies CD-ROM offers everything you need to learn how to play. Learn from over 160 step-by-step lessons with full-motion video demonstrations. Piano teacher Irma Justicia has taught at the renowned Juilliard School of Music. Learn from either the music notation or an animated keyboard. Songs include recorded audio, variable-speed MIDI and MIDI accompaniments. When used with a MIDI keyboard, you can get specific feedback on playing mistakes. Also includes a digital metronome and recorder.

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Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Lesson Book, Level One [Paperback] Review

Having studied piano minimally as a child (six months?), I decided at the age of 49, while at my daughter's recital, that I'd like to learn, but perhaps without the cost (at least at first) of lessons.So after looking through several books at the local music store, I bought this one, with CD (very important, but seems not to be the version sold on Amazon).It was just the ticket.
In four months I have completed the book, and now can play moderately complex beginning pieces (for variety, I've supplemented it with a few pieces from getsheetmusic.com, and can play level 3 and occasional level 4 pieces from there).Each page teaches just the a little bit more, and gives you the practice pieces to master it before going on.A very steady, satisfying rate of progress.You also learn notation, musical terms, intervals, and a smattering of music theory, such as keys, although this is not real strong.I found it useful near the end of the book to go back and review just the theory pages in one sitting; they then came together much better for me than when I ran across them one by one through the course.
The musical selections are uneven, but most are fine.They are all public domain, in a wide range of styles from jazz to folk to spiritual, and some are quite beautiful (a haunting arrangement of "Scarborough Fair," the rousing gospel "Standing in the Need of Prayer" -- and I'm Jewish ).You end with the first part of Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" (somewhat simplified arrangement, although they don't say that, but still quite nice) and "Amazing Grace."
I think it's very important to get the book with CD.The CD contains all the practice pieces, and helps you realize if you have the notes or rhythm wrong (like a teacher stopping you and saying, "no, like this.")
Alfred is a major musical instruction publisher, and they offer many companion books at all levels, from theory to technique ("Finger Aerobics") to music in all styles (and for all instruments).
A few nits:
(1) the CD is midi; it would be nicer if it were a real piano
(2) they teach three methods of chord notation -- full notation on the staff, names (i.e., G, D7), and primary chords (I, IV, and V7), but are uneven in providing the name and primary chords for the pieces throughout, so you can't always practice that
But those are minor nits.My playing continues to steadily improve, and what I'm learning makes me a much more educated listener, too.
It's time to move on to book two.

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Product Description:
A beginning course for adults who prefer a chord approach. It teaches chords for both hands so that the student can play more than single note melodies. It contains outstanding songs such as "The Entertainer," "Scarborough Fair," "Greensleeves" and "Amazing Grace."

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My Piano Review

I found this to be a great product in teaching kids to learn to play.I am 30 with no music abilities and I have learned to play part of a song in the first few mins.My daughter is 4 and she loves to watch and play the games at the end of each lesson.Then she goes to the keyboard and tries. I did not expect her to learn since it is recommended for age 6 and over, but the interest is there and she will learn someday.

I have Windows XP and no blank screens

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Product Description:
My Piano is a unique and fun way for kids ages 6 and up to learn how to play piano or keyboard! An animated character named Pam the Piano guides kids through over 100 lessons by former Juilliard School of Music instructor Irma Irene Justicia, M.A. My Piano covers the basics, such as proper hand position and rhythm, and moves on to reading music notation, playing songs and more. An animated keyboard shows kids where to put their fingers as the music plays, and the speed of the music can be adjusted with MIDI tracks so that each child can learn at his or her own pace.When used with a MIDI keyboard, kids get instant feedback on their playing, telling them which notes were played incorrectly and what should have been played instead. Separate audio tracks (left / right hand, full song / voice only) and colorful MIDI accompaniments provide exciting options to have fun with. My Piano is the complete program that will get your child playing piano!Built-in accessories: Digital Metronome: Kids can keep a steady beat with audio and/or visual feedback. Digital Recorder: Allows kids to record and play themselves back for friends and family to hear! Research has proven that children who play a musical instrument do better in school, form friendships more easily and gain self-confidence. Get your child started playing with the easy and fun way to learn - eMedia My Piano

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Piano and Keyboard Method v3 Review

I think this is a great product. It walks you through the basics through more advanced techniques and songs. It also does a great job of teaching you to read music.

It includes short videos of a person playing piano so you can see proper posture and such. Each song comes with (optional) accompaniment, which can make it funner to play (especially with the simple songs). You can also slow the songs down while learning them. The software grades your playing with a percentage score, and gives you details on your errors (if you want them).

This is a great program if youreally want to learn to play on your own.

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Product Description:

This new version of eMedia Piano & Keyboard Method offers everything you need to learn how to play! Piano instructor, Irma Irene Justicia, M.A., who has taught at the renowned Juilliard School of Music, guides you through over 300 step-by-step full-screen lessons. New Instant Feedback works with both electronic keyboards and acoustic pianos! It listens as you play melodies and shows whether you're playing correctly!


The lessons start with the basics, such as hand position, rhythm, and playing on black keys, and move on to reading music notation, sight reading, scales, and much more. Techniques are demonstrated with over 70 videos viewable in full-screen mode.


Learn songs and exercises from music notation as an animated keyboard guides you through fingerings. Songs and exercises are provided as both live-recorded audio and variable-speed MIDI tracks which let you slow the music down as needed. Colorful MIDI accompaniments help make practicing fun! You will learn over 100 popular classical, blues, pop, and rock songs, including hit songs from artists such as Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, and Elton John!


Interactive review and ear training quizzes help reinforce new concepts and develop your ear. When used with an electronic MIDI keyboard, you get Interactive Evaluation Feedback with detailed specifics on your playing, including which notes and rhythms were wrong and how to correct them. In addition, the new Note Tracker shows you what note you're playing and makes learning music notation easy. This latest version also offers fully scalable lesson screens and an option for full-screen video. Other accessories include a built-in digital metronome and a recorder. eMedia Piano & Keyboard Method is the ultimate way to learn how to play piano or keyboard!

eMedia Piano & Keyboard Method Features

Accessories include a built-in digital metronome and a recorder. Click here for a larger image

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Piano and Keyboard Method V2.0 Review

I'm a piano instructor who teaches a once a week high school keyboard class. I've started recommending Emedia to my students as a great at home piano program. As an instructor, I really like the step by step approach to the lessons. The video are very helpful in demonstrating techniques between lessons. Kids that are using the program progress a lot faster than those that don't. This is a fine program either for those that want to learn on their own or that are also taking lessons.

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Product Description:
Over 300 lessons from a former Juilliard instructor. Learn to read music and play songs. Gives specific interactive feedback on your playing.

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