Schaum Sight Reading (Schaum Method Supplement) [Paperback] Review

Helpful with regular piano books to help teach sight reading. No note numbers or letters on it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Schaum Sight Reading (Schaum Method Supplement) [Paperback]

Product Description:
A progression of book one, this is a valuable teaching tool.There are a variety of styles, rhythms and keys, making sure that the student cannot just guess and play. Of course, there are no finger numbers, so students must read the notes. And there is the typical Schaum mix of serious and humorous lyrics. Revised, newly engraved, beautifully illustrated in full color - it's a fine book!

Want to buy Schaum Sight Reading (Schaum Method Supplement) [Paperback] at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Barry Manilow 1 Review

As a child I fell in love with Barry Manilow..his music..lyrics..the way he sang a song. Although I'm now an adult and my musical tastes have broadened considerably, I still appreciate all that Barry gave and gives to his music. I've always loved his first three albums, in particular..and this one tops my list for "Could it Be Magic" alone. "One of These Days", "Oh My Lady", "Sweet Life" and "I am Your Child" are among the standouts in my opinion..as much for the heartfelt way Barry sings them as for anything else. This may have been his first album..and produced even earlier than I had realized (1972)..but it is by no means a sad effort. I recently ordered the CD version, having lost my vinyl to a flood years back..and I can't wait to hear it, again. For simple, heartfelt melodies, Barry's your man.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Barry Manilow 1

Want to buy Barry Manilow 1 at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Music for Little Mozarts: Music Discovery Book 1 Review

I'm a music teacher with over 12 years experience teaching young children.I useThe Music For Little Mozart's Series for my youngest students first.To ensure that you have adequate coverage of all the materials presented, make sure you get most of the books in the series.The Lesson Book is a great start, but this is the next most important book.It has Great songs to sing and play along with.Don't worry if you don't sing, your child will, with encouragement, and the help of the CD that comes as a two CD set (the other CD goes with the Lesson Book).These are very important for teaching steady beat and the joy and fun of music, and can "bring them back" to the keyboard when interest wanes.No kid can resist the racing car song with the Glissando's where they run their fingers over the keys after the song says, "Ready, set, go!"

The next most important book is the workbook that gives the student the chance to show off their new skills and has some great listening exercises you can do with them.It is not the coloring book, which is really just a coloring book. Lastly, I recommend also the Recital book.It tells you at the top of the page which page in the Lesson book it corresponds with (they all do), and it gives the student one more song to practice their skills with.

I recommend sitting down with the student for no more than 1/2 hour breaking it up into 5 min. each of review of previous topics, lesson book, recital book, workbook and Music Discovery Book with CD.You can play the CD with the lesson book to review the material on a later date and the CD of the Music Discovery Book at any time while they are playing with their toys or doing "homework" in their workbook.

I like Book 2 set as well, and you can continue through 3&4 or move to Alfred's other Piano books 1A-6 .

Click Here to see more reviews about: Music for Little Mozarts: Music Discovery Book 1

Product Description:
The unique Music Discovery Book contains songs that allow the students to experience music through singing, movement and rhythm activities. Music appreciation is fostered through carefully chosen music; Mozart, Beethoven and Sousa are introduced. Melodies to sing, using either solfege or letter names, help students learn to match pitch and discover tonal elements of music. Correlates to the Music Lesson Book 1. Familiar songs include If You're Happy and You Know It, Mexican Hat Dance and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

Get 1% OFF

Want to buy Music for Little Mozarts: Music Discovery Book 1 at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Heifetz As I Knew Him (Amadeus) [Paperback] Review

Having read all available books about Mr. Heifetz, I was so happy to find this incredible book. Yes, Ayke Agus does give us her background so we can comprehend how she was able to work with, and most importantly, UNDERSTAND him. It is wonderful to read about the man who raised up the art of violin playing to new heights. He also wrote enjoyable and artful violin and piano transcriptions of works for other instruments(or songs). In the book, the story of her care-giving is so vivid that I have been told that in many major hospitals the book is being used as a teaching tool about caring for the aged. When you reach the end of the book you will know so much more about this giant of an artist than you believed you could ever learn. Being a very private person we have never before been allowed into his world. Her description of his last days and her commentary brought me to tears. I was privilidged to hear Mr. Heifetz in performance when I was very young and it was unforgettable! Read this book and understand the man and his art.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Heifetz As I Knew Him (Amadeus) [Paperback]

Product Description:
For the last 15 years of Jascha Heifetz's life, Ayke Agus was his closest companion. She came to him as a violin student in his master class at the University of Southern California, but he singled her out when he heard her play the piano. She became his private accompanist and ultimately his assistant and confidante. A sensitive and astute observer, Agus takes up where previous biographers left off; her book is a loving yet unblinking portrait of an aging master by his disciple.

Want to buy Heifetz As I Knew Him (Amadeus) [Paperback] at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Hugh Tracey Alto Kalimba 15-key Alto Kalimba Review

When I was growing up, a family friend had a Hugh Tracey Kalimba on their coffee table, and I used to love to plink on it, but I never really knew the magic it had in it until one day 20 years ago when some of my friends were fooling around with a brand new Alto Hugh Tracey Kalimba.A stranger walked into the house and started playing the kalimba, and the most amazingly beautiful music started pouring out of this thing!I immediately ran out and bought one myself, and have spent 20 years chasing the memory of that fateful day.

OK, some specifics: this is the first kalimba to be marketed outside of Africa, starting around 1960, and this is the instrument that started the Kalimba Craze.It is STILL made in South Africa, and it is STILL among the top quality kalimbas commercially available.Abundant instructional material now exists online.The wood is Kiaat, a resonant hardwood that is abundant in southern Africa.The tone is clear, the tines are delicate and smooth, easy on your thumbs and nails; the two octave range from low "DO" to high "DO" is easy to wrap your brain around (the Treble kalimba starts on the 3rd of the scale, or "Mi"; BTW, this kalimba is LARGER than the Pakistani-made immitation of the HT Treble kalimba which is marketed as the "Large Rosewood Kalimba").The tines are wider than the Treble, which makes it easier to play.The one drawback is that children and women with small hands are not so comfortable with this model.For them, I do suggest the Hugh Tracey Treble kalimba or theTM Alto, a newer model with the same tines as the ALTO, but mounted on a 0.5 inch kiaat board.The TM ALTO is easy for small hands to hold, but then you don't have the wonderful "Wah Wah" effect from the sound holes in the resonant box.

This instrument has been the joy of my life, and I cannot recommend it enough.I have found it deeply disturbing that the US market has been dominated by inferior kalimbas for the last several years.In this rush to globalization and Walmart-ization of consumer goods where the bottom line is just about how much money a product costs, we risk losing the real quality products out there.YES, the African-made Hugh Tracey Kalimba costs a lot more than the Pakistani-made immitation, but its WORTH it!It is a real musical instrument, capable of bringing great beauty and joy into the world.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hugh Tracey Alto Kalimba 15-key Alto Kalimba

Product Description:
Hugh Tracey Kalimbas are hand made thumb pianos from South Africa, known the world over for their beautiful tone. These instruments are truly authentic both in construction and sound. The Kalimba - depending on the region also called Thumb Piano, Finger Piano, Mbira, Sanza or Likembe - is a wood box on which a collection of metal strips are mounted. The Kalimba is held in the hand or on the knee and the musician plucks the free hanging strips with the thumb or fingers.

Get 22% OFF

Want to buy Hugh Tracey Alto Kalimba 15-key Alto Kalimba at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Casio LK110 Electronic Keyboard Key Lighting / Midi Review

This exact Casio LK 110 can be purchased new for $69.00 at Guitar Center, Musician's Friend---just to name a few.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio LK110 Electronic Keyboard Key Lighting / Midi

Product Description:
The LK-110 is a perfect starter-keyboard for any player at any age. The key lighting feature helps players develop timing and accuracy, highlighting areas of concern so you can direct your practice for more efficient learning. With 100 songs, an interactive lesson function and a wide variety of tones and rhythms, you will be able to play a host of different musical styles and time signatures in no time

Want to buy Casio LK110 Electronic Keyboard Key Lighting / Midi at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

The Reader's Digest Children's Songbook [Spiral-bound] Review

I was very disappointed in this book.It includes many popular songs, but excludes many many more.I was looking for a classic collection of children's songs (Home on the Range, O Susannah, On Top of Old Smokey, There's a Hole in my Bucket, Down in the Valley) none of which are included.The binding is adequate, the lyric book is flimsy.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Reader's Digest Children's Songbook [Spiral-bound]

Product Description:
The liveliest, most varied collection of songs for children ever. 131 enduring favorites including songs from movies and shows, nursery rhymes and rounds, holiday songs, folksongs, nonsense songs, and more. Spiral-bound to lie flat plus a sing-along lyric book.

Want to buy The Reader's Digest Children's Songbook [Spiral-bound] at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

The Definitive Blues Collection (Definitive Collections) [Paperback] Review

This is purely a book of blues songs.This books contains well known as well as some more obscure blues pieces.The arrangements range from very basic to very complete. None of the arrangements provide extended"blues solos" or blues riffs"....(this sort of improvisationwill be up to you). The arrangements do however give you complete songs,with key, time-signature, and tempo markings. It also includes chords aswell as single note melodies AND it inclues bass lines.
NOTE:This isNOT a "how to" book.If you want blues theory and/or instructionlook elsewhere.This is a song book.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Definitive Blues Collection (Definitive Collections) [Paperback]

Product Description:
A massive collection of 96 urban blues classics as well as works by legends Willie Dixon, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and more. Songs include: Baby, Won't You Please Come Home * Basin Street Blues * Everyday (I Have the Blues) * Gloomy Sunday * I'm a Man * (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man * Milk Cow Blues * Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out * The Seventh Son * St. Louis Blues * The Thrill Is Gone * and more.

Get 10% OFF

Want to buy The Definitive Blues Collection (Definitive Collections) [Paperback] at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below: