Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course, Book 4 [Paperback] Review

very good book...some nice songs (although I wouldn't play most of these songs at a professional booking). Good for instructional methods though.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course, Book 4 [Paperback]

Product Description:
This comprehensive method of music instruction enables the beginner to progress to an advanced stage of technical skill.

Buy cheap Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course, Book 4 [Paperback] now

Piano Wizard for PC With 49E Keystation Review

Be aware, before buying this product, that the Piano Wizard software is not compatible with at least two widely available models of Yamaha keyboards. The company does not specify this on their website but admitted it in an email when my system did not work. I had to buy a different keyboard.Check with the Piano Wizard company before investing in a keyboard.

The kids are having fun with it, however, there is no real lesson plan of any kind and it doesn't teach you proper technique.There is zero structur in that you just pull up a song and try to hit the notes.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Piano Wizard for PC With 49E Keystation

Product Description:
A fun and educational PC video game that will have you playing your piano or keyboard in virtually minutes. Turns piano practice into a game with vibrant colors, multiple game choices and instant gratification for kids.

Buy cheap Piano Wizard for PC With 49E Keystation now

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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: USB Teach Me Piano Kit

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
Customers also search for: Discount USB Teach Me Piano Kit - Complete Package, Buy USB Teach Me Piano Kit - Complete Package, Wholesale USB Teach Me Piano Kit - Complete Package, 0731855035229, VTS-3522-100, Education and Training

Buy cheap USB Teach Me Piano Kit now

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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Play Piano Today - Level 1: Play Today Plus Pack (The Ultimate Self-Teaching Method) [Paperback]

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..

Buy cheap Play Piano Today - Level 1: Play Today Plus Pack (The Ultimate Self-Teaching Method) [Paperback] now Get 10% OFF

Alfred's Piano 101: An Exciting Group Course for Adults Who Want to Play Piano for Fun (2 Volumes) [Plastic Comb] Review

This book explains everything really well and has some great practice songs in it. My only complaint would be that it's a little too easy - I had taken a little piano before and I could pretty much play everything in the book with some practice. If you are just starting out though, and have never played before, it's a great resource. Highly recomended!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Alfred's Piano 101: An Exciting Group Course for Adults Who Want to Play Piano for Fun (2 Volumes) [Plastic Comb]

Product Description:
This comprehensive approach to functional musicianship at the keyboard includes varied repertoire, theory, technique, sight-reading, harmonization from lead sheets, ear training and ensembles. Great for college non-music majors, continuing education classes, music dealer in-store programs and group piano classes at the middle and high school levels. Book 2 contains 15 units each with a variety of repertoire, exercises, unit review worksheets and an assignment page.

Buy cheap Alfred's Piano 101: An Exciting Group Course for Adults Who Want to Play Piano for Fun (2 Volumes) [Plastic Comb] now Get 34% OFF

Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Piano Course: Level 3 (Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course) [Plastic Comb] Review

I am nearing the end of Alfred's All-in-one Book 1, so have only browsed this book. But, I can comment on what I like about the methodology and the books:

1. The progression of theory, exercises, and performance materials is very well thought out. When Palmer says this exercise should be practiced daily, do it. It really helps improve your technical skills.

2. The quality of the construction is high - big easy to read notes and spiral bound so the book lays flat on the piano music stand.

3. The songs are interesting and varied, introducing different genres of music.

The only slight drawback is there is ample opportunity to improvise on a number of the songs and try your hand at composing, but Palmer does not point this out. It is definitely worth doing, really reinforcing a thorough understanding of chords, keys, chord inversions, and other concepts introduced in the text.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Piano Course: Level 3 (Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course) [Plastic Comb]

Product Description:
Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Course is designed for use with an instructor for the beginning student looking for a truly complete piano course. It is a greatly expanded version of Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course that will include lesson, theory, technic and additional repertoire in a convenient, "all-in-one" format. This comprehensive course features written assignments that reinforce each lesson's concepts, a smooth, logical progression between each lesson, a thorough explanation of chord theory and playing styles, and outstanding extra songs, including folk, classical, and contemporary selections. At the completion of this course, the student will have learned to play some of the most popular music ever written and will have gained a good understanding of basic musical concepts and styles.

Buy cheap Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Piano Course: Level 3 (Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course) [Plastic Comb] now Get 32% OFF

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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Lesson Book, Level One [Paperback]

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."

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