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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Burgmuller: 25 Progressive Pieces, opus 100 (Book & CD) (Alfred Masterwork Edition: CD Edition) [Paperback] Review

Wow, this book is a treasure. I am taking lesson for 3 years and as an adult, my fall back is speed as I don't have flexible fingers like young kids.I have been doing Hanon trying to strengthen and to keep my fingers flexible, but I get so bored with the monotone.I still am at a beginner/intermediate level (4) and this book is just perfect to learn and practice. This book is definitely great until advanced level, as it will be so enjoyable to play and you will never get bored. All 25 pieces have beautiful melodies and so enjoyable to learn and most importantly...the speed.I listened to the CD and it helps so much to feel the speed; and with such lovely melodies, I could not get bored.This book is sooo worth it to have in your collection.I'm so glad I have it in my collection.
Play on :)

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Product Description:
Burgmuller's most famous work, the 25 Progressive Pieces, are short compositions with descriptive titles. Easier than his Opp. 105 and 109, each selection exposes students to a different technical challenge with the main emphasis on the phrasing, articulation, and dynamics often found in Romantic piano music. The collection includes "Arabesque" and "Ballade," both popular with many early-intermediate pianists.

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Romantic Impressions [Paperback] Review

This book is well worth the purchase and subsequent time given to the practice of individual songs will yield a pretty little repertoire. If an adult student, this book is late elementary.

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Product Description:
Warm, lyrical, cantabile melodies and rich harmonic structures are found in this expressive series.

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The Best of The Beatles (Pointer Organ) [Paperback] Review

Excellent book! My little second year Trombonist now has some great material to play that's far better than just the rudimentary stuff they're teaching in school! It essentially has him playing the melody (lyric) to the songs!

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Product Description:
This revised book features 26 favorites from the Fab Four. Includes: A Hard Day's Night* Come Together* Eleanor Rigby* Yesterday* and many more.

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The Complete Preludes and Etudes for Pianoforte Solo [Paperback] Review

Scriabin was a contemporary of Rachmaninoff, in fact, he studied under the same teacher. Like Rachmaninoff, he was a bridge composer between the late Romantic and the 20th Century period. He was far more modern, in fact, than Rachmaninoff, though his early works were profoundly influenced by Chopin (Rachmaninoff less so--he was influenced by Chopin but also Tchaikovsky.)
Despite the fact both composers shared Russian heritage and a love of the piano, Rachmaninoff did not admire Scriabin's works, saying he had gone off in a wrong direction. While I love Rachmaninoff's piano works intensely, I have to say that he was really wrong about Scriabin. This is some of the most gorgeous, introspective, Impressionist piano music ever written.
Scriabin had a tragically short life, yet he composed quite a number of etudes, preludes, sonatas and other short piano works. Dover has done a huge favor by putting all the preludes and etudes into a single volume. There is enough material here for years of exploration into the music of a piano master. The edition is a compact volume that manages to sit well on the piano music stand, and the music print is clear and easy to read.

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Product Description:
Russian composer and pianist Scriabin is best known for his perfectly spun miniatures. This volume collects his finest pieces, the complete etudes and preludes for the solo piano. Chopinesque works include the 12 etudes from Op. 8 and the 24 Preludes, Op. 11; Preludes, Opp. 33 and 48; and the Etudes, Op. 42.

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Czerny Art of Finger Dexterity, Op. 740, Complete" (Kalmus Edition) [Paperback] Review

I haven't gone much further in the book, but, based on the few exercises I have gone throu, I feel a great improvement in the security of my fingers to play.

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Product Description:
An intermediate/advanced piano study by Karl Czerny.

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Czerny -- Practical Method, Op. 599 (Complete) (Alfred Masterwork Edition) [Paperback] Review

A Brilliant Mind That Knows How To Teach...Yes it starts off in small steps....don't despise small beginnings
A person asked Oscar Peterson how he learned to play so fast he said "Czerny ! Czerny ! Czerny"
Who can aurgue with That kind of recommendation? Get the books.... Get the midi's for the books...
Learn to Learn.....have fun

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Product Description:
While Czerny's excellent fingering has been preserved, all unnecessary fingering has been removed by editor Willard A. Palmer. The book begins with lessons on learning the notes and introduces students to the various technical studies of keyboard music. In this edition, the music has been widely spaced for easy reading. 88 pages.

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Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, Opus 43" (Belwin Edition) [Paperback] Review

Many people are familiar with the 18th variation of "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini" from the movie "Somewhere in Time."It's a very romantic piece.If you familiar with the 18th variation only, youshould treat yourself to listening to all the variations played back toback in the "Rhapsody."
This book has those variations whichhave been reduced by Rachmaninoff for two pianos/four hands.I wish, ofcourse, it had been a piano solo, because I would probably get a lot moreuse out of it.
"Rhapsody" is strictly for the advanced pianist. This edition has no fingering notations which would have been helpful forall except the most advanced players.And, those players may findRachmaninoff's "Rhapsody" not as challenging or rewarding becauseof the repetition involved in its themes.However, I find"Rhapsody" very rewarding to play largely due to its romanticthemes and its capacity for expressive interpretations.The 18th variationplayed by itself is an enjoyable recital piece.I give this book myhighest recommendation.

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Product Description:
Sergei Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, for advanced piano duet.

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Songs without Words (Complete) (Alfred Masterwork Edition) [Plastic Comb] Review

I always like the layout and look of the Schirmer editions, but I ended up returning this one in favor of an urtext edition because it was so heavily edited.It seemed that nearly every measure had some editorital addition, and while I don't mind a little bit of commentary to clear up a phrasing or dynamic issue, this was really over the top.

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Product Description:
These 48 pieces were composed over a period of two decades, beginning in 1832, and published in eight groups of six each. Many of these songs were dedicated to the women in Mendelssohn's life and reflect the sunniest qualities of his melodiousness, spontaneity and invention. Maurice Hinson has skillfully researched and edited these works back to their original form and provides a very informative introduction, which includes many detailed suggestions for a stylistic interpretation and performance, as well as biographical information on the composer's life.

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Complete Lyric Pieces for Piano [Paperback] Review

I have enjoyed flipping through the book and playing pieces at random. The pieces are so beautiful and unique. Some of them are easier to play than others, but most of them could be played at first sight. It's a great addition to my classical sheet music collection.

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Product Description:
All 66 works from the ten sets of little mood pictures created for piano by the Norwegian composer from 1867 to 1901, reprinted from the authoritative C. F. Peters edition. Technically uncomplicated and reasonably easy to master, these popular works have been favorites of generations of pianists, both amateur and professional.


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Scott Joplin Collected Piano Works: Rags, Waltzes, Marches (Belwin Edition) [Sheet music] Review

This wonderful collection of the piano music of Scott Joplin (1867 - 1917) was originally published by the New York Public Library in 1971 and edited by Vera Brodsky Lawrence.With additions in 1981,the book includes the score for virtually all of Joplin's solo piano works, including 41 "original works",7 "collaborative works",3 "miscellaneous works", and 3 additional rags added to the volume in 1981 when permission was secured from the holder of the copyright.I have had this volume for many years and continue to study and learn from it, in playing familiar works and learning new pieces.The volume is an endless source of delight and inspiration.

Born in east Texas to a father who had been a former slave and to a free black mother, Joplin showed musical talent at an early age and received free piano lessons oriented towards classical music from a local white teacher who recognized his talent.At 14, Joplin left home and assumed a wandering life in hopes of furthering his dream to become a composer and musician. He ultimately settled in St. Louis and Sedalia, Missouri where he began to compose the ragtime that would make him famous.Late in life Joplin moved to New York City where he continued to compose ragtime while spending most of his energy on his opera "Treemonisha."His music was in danger of being forgotten until interest revived in the early 1970s through the use of his music in the movie, "The Sting", the revival of "Treemonisha" and the publication of this volume of his music.

This volume includes familiar and unfamiliar Joplin. The most familiar of his ragtime works are the "Maple Leaf Rag" (1897) and "The Entertainer" (1902) which became famous when used in "The Sting."Among the other rags I have enjoyed and learned to play over the years are "Elite Syncopations" (1902), "Weeping Willow Rag" (1903) , "Pine Apple Rag" (1908), "Wall Street Rag" (1909), and several others.Joplin also combined with friends and students in writing some pieces, including "Heliotrope Bouquet" (1907) with the gifted but troubled Louis Chauvin and "Swipesy" (1900) which Joplin wrote with his young student, Arthur Marshall.Joplin also wrote beautiful waltzes, including "Bethena" (1905) and "Binks Waltz" (1905). He also wrote a tango called "Solace" (1909).

Joplin's musicis varied, strongly syncopated, and melodious.Joplin tried to combine African American and classical music idioms to help create a distinctively American music.This is an elusive goal that has been pursued by many other composers.His piano music is not easy to play but is generally within the reach of determined amateurs, such as myself.Joplin wrote a set of exercises, the "School of Ragtime" (1908) to help aspiring pianists learn the skills needed to play his music.Joplin also said regarding his works:

"That real ragtime of the higher class is rather difficult to play is rather a painful truth which most pianists have discovered. Syncopations are no indications of light and trashy music, and to shy bricks at `hateful ragtime' no longer passes for musical culture."

In addition to the musical scores, this book includes a lengthy introduction "Scott Joplin: Black-American Classicist" by ragtime scholar Rudy Blesh which offers an excellent overview of the composer's life and music and of performance practices. Over the years, I have played Joplin for my own enjoyment, for friends, and at various venues on a volunteer basis. When I play for others, I generally combine classical works, with a performance of Joplin's "Bethena" together with some of the ragtime works.I find that Joplin's music is almost invariably the best-received of the works I perform by both knowledgeable and less-knowledgeable audiences.

Scott Joplin remains an American treasure. As Joplin wished, his music breaks down claimed musical boundaries between classical and popular.This volume will bring joy to lovers of the piano and to serious pianists, whether amateur or professional.

Robin Friedman

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Product Description:
In addition to the 54 original and collaborative works presented in this impressive volume, Scott Joplin: The Collected Piano Works includes 34 pages of scholarly insight and history that help the pianist determine performance practices and authentically reproduce the sound and style Joplin intended. With editions of 19 publishers reproduced in this volume, a colorful variety of music typefaces and printing styles is offered. Together with the evocative original cover designs, they present a vivid panorama of the Ragtime Era. Because study of the original publications has revealed great numbers of errata of various kinds, and since this edition is primarily intended for study and performance, the editors have incorporated corrections into the facsimile pages rather than perpetuate original errors for antiquarian interest.

Titles include: Maple Leaf Rag
* The Entertainer
* The Chrysanthemum
* Rosebud
* Eugenia
* Gladiolus Rag
* Wall Street Rag
* Solace
* Paragon Rag
* Lily Queen
* Heliotrope Bouquet
* Kismet Rag
* School of Ragtime
* Swan Rag
* Treemonisha and more.

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Etudes For the Piano: Complete (Alfred Masterwork Edition) [Plastic Comb] Review

This edition is awesome. It has a plastic spiral that lets the book open and lay flat, and in comparison to books without it this feature is definitely better.

The measures are numbered and they are spaced evenly throughout the pages. There is no crowding of notes and footnotes are kept at the bottom. The font and note color is big and black too.

Overall this takes the cake because Chopin's Etudes are so difficult the edition must be as clear to understand as possible.

I only wish that Alfred publishing would make more complete editions like this of other artists such as Beethoven and Debussy. In any case this edition is superior to the Schirmer editons.

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Product Description:
Although each study emphasizes an aspect of virtuoso piano technique, the etudes are some of the most effectively moving of all the concert works in piano literature. This 144-page volume includes the 24 Etudes, Opp. 10 and 25 as well as the three etudes without opus numbers composed in 1839 for Moscheles and Fetis's Method of Methods. Pedaling is taken from the original manuscripts and first editions, and fingering is editorial.

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The Well-Tempered Clavier: 48 Preludes and Fugues, Vol. 2 [Paperback] Review

I appreciate what the Kalmus press has done to give helpful footnotes for the ornamentation and the score layout is very clean and spaced well. A good "easy" read, that is relatively easy...if you know the pieces in this book you'll know what I'm talking about!

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Product Description:
A newly engraved edition of the 48 preludes and fugues, Volume II for piano was edited by the noted Bach expert Dr. Hans Bischoff. It includes a table of embellishments and a preface from Dr. Bischoff. KALMUS EDITIONS are primarily reprints of Urtext Editions, reasonably priced and readily available. They are a 'must' for students, teachers, and performers.

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Johann Sebastian Bach: Six Partitas and Overture in French Style (Kalmus Edition) [Paperback] Review

The book was a good condition and delivery time was
reasonably quick.
I'd order more if delivery charge wasn't so high.
If I purchase several books at a time, will I be able to save on delivery fee?

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Product Description:
Newly engraved edition of the Six Partitas and French Overture for piano.

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Jim Brickman : By Heart (New Age) [Paperback] Review

They did a pretty good job at matching the sheet music to the songs on the CD. It has great songs on it, all filled with alot of emotion.To all those guys out there, fyi the Ladies go gaa gaa over these songs they have alot of feeling in them

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Product Description:
Titles include: All I Ever Wanted * Angel Eyes * By Heart * If You Believe *In a Lover's Eyes * Lake Erie Rainfall * Little Star * Looking * Back * Nothing Left to Say * On the Edge * Sudden Inspiration * Where Are You Now?

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Jim Brickman / The Best of Jim Brickman [Paperback] Review

I purchased this book for my daughter who is taking piano lessons. The songs are beautiful and she loves to play them.

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Product Description:
Arranged by Dan Coates. The best songs from his first three albums have been collected in this exceptional Easy Piano edition. Titles are: Angel Eyes * Borders * By Heart * Heartland * Hero's Dream * If You Believe * Picture This * Rocket to the Moon * Shaker Lakes * Valentine.

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The Collection of Christmas Music: Easy Piano [Paperback] Review

I liked that this book had a very big assortment of songs and for the most part they were pretty easy to play for beginners, as promised. My biggest problem was with the printing of the book. Some of the pages were so blurry, like they had been photocopied 100 times, and the printing lost it's crispness. On a couple pages, I could barely read the notes or the lyrics. It's very unprofessional.

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Product Description:
Arranged by Dan Coates for easy pinao. 74 classic Christmas songs.

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Masterwork Classics, Level 5 (Alfred Masterwork Editions) [Paperback] Review

The Mastering the Piano series is a boon for teachers and students alike.They are good buys - the CD is certainly helpful for students who no longer are that familiar with repertoire at this level.As with the others, the selection is excellant and pretty much at the same level except for the challenging Grieg, Wedding Day at Troldhaugen.The advantage of having all the pieces at the same level of excellance and ability is that one book can cover a years study, minimizing the expense.This volume contains a Joplin rag as its contempory piece - an appealing choice.

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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 Valery Lloyd-Watts studied at the Conservatory of Music in Toronto and the Royal College of Music in London. She earned a Master of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin, where she studied with Paul Badura-Skoda.

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Etudes, Children's Corner, Images Book II, and Other Works f [Paperback] Review

For years, due to copywrite issues, "The Children's Corner" suite was only available in a French edition. Now it's here, in an affordale Dover edition, along with some rarer piano solos.
"Children's Corner" ranges from playable ("Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum" and "The Little Shepherd" and "Doll's Lullaby" to the evilly tricky "Snow is Dancing" made famous by Tomita in an electronic version. The suite was written for Debussy's daughter and is utterly charming and really fun to play. The etude's from Book II are incomplete here, but have some of the nices works, along with a beautiful berceuse.
If you play piano and love the Impressionist composers, this is a must-have.

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Product Description:
Many of the most admired of Debussy's piano works, reprinted from authoritative French editions, among them the Etudes (1915), a late work that richly displays the full range and depth of Debussy's genius for the piano, and the magical Children's Corner (1906-8). Also included: Nocturne (1892), Piece pour piano (1903-4), Images, Book II (1907), Hommage a Haydn (1910), The Little Nigar (1909), La plus que lente (1910), Berceuse heroique (1914), Six epigraphes antiques (1914) and Elegie (1915).


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