Book Description
Now anyone can write and play their own songs on the guitar - with no prior training! This inspirational handbook teaches readers how to play guitar, while providing a solid foundation in songwriting techniques, using well-known songs as examples, easy-to-follow text, and graphics that explain and demonstrate lyrics, melody, harmony and rhythm. This book's straightforward style will have even those who've never played a guitar or written a song making music with ease.
Customer Reviews:
excellent.......2007-08-15
The book is 90% about writing songs with guitar chords. Sections on lyric writing didn't impress me. The very short chapter on making a demo recording was excellent and almost a great (though very very short) book on its own.
Best real-world, practical explanation of chords and chord progressions I've ever read. (in the rock and pop genre.) Really breaks down song and musical structures of popular songs. Another great point is inclusion of recent as well as 60s and 70s rock songs. For example, one page analyzes a Fat Boy Slim song.
My knowledge and understanding increased greatly from this book.
There are so many great example progressions that you can open the book at random, play around with something on the page and come up with something.
This book does not go into the "front end" of the psychology or craft of creativity.
One of the best books on creating music I've ever read.
Also check out "The War of Art" for a brilliant and inspiring book about creating.
Superb Book.......2007-01-09
I have been playing guitar, and writing songs for 15 years. I learned a good bit from this book that I wish I would have known when I first started 15 years ago. You probably think you know how to write a song, but unless you have been trained in music theory, you probably have just been doing things that sound good without understanding why. This book does not go into extreme detail on any one subject in songwriting, its sort of like an really good overview on information such as melody, lyrics, chords, progressions, song types, etc.. It shows you all the pieces you need and more importantly WHY they sound the way they do or go together. It is for the person with beginner-intermediate music theory skill, or for any skill level guitar player. Information is well organized, easy to understand, and backed with examples from popular songs. Not songs like "Greensleeves" and "mary had a little lamb", but beatles, nirvana, oasis, madonna,etc.. Check out this guy's other books- I was very interested in the chord progression section and got his book on that subject. I think it is even better than this one.
Great Book on Songwriting.......2006-11-02
This is a must have for any guitar player trying to write songs, especially the singer / songwriter type. This book is filled with ideas for songs and how to incorporate the guitar into your songwriting. What I like most about this book was the numerous chord progressions listed and what mood each progression can create. It gives examples of songs that use the progressions and what genre of music they fit best. I loved this book and use it regularly. If you are looking to write music and lyrics this is a must.
Stunningly bad.......2006-10-06
To be honest, I've owned this book forever but after seeing someone ask about it on another forum, I just wanted to log in here and write a quick review of it as a warning to potential customers because I found it so poorly executed. This book basically consists of Rooksby very quickly presenting a topic in overly simple terms and then citing hundreds of examples of existing known songs that are supposed to illustrate his idea. This sounds like a great idea in principle but in execution it all falls apart. The examples read like pure fluff and do not cover any detail whatsoever, he does not even go into high level things like chord progressions, etc, from the examples. I presume this is due to copyright restrictions, etc. It would have made much more sense to license a few decent examples and really show how they illustrate the point. Or heck, the book is about song writing, why not actually WRITE a few over the course of the book??
The CD that came with the book is literally content-free, too. There's almost nothing on it. Again, this is in spite of all of the external music cited (some of it obscure) and due to the lack of specifics in the book. The CD can literally be thrown away without harming use of the book. It appears to be included in the book as reassurance that there is something there... i.e. a marketing move more than a useful resource for the customer.
So, really, in spite of the hundreds of general examples cited in the book, there is not a single specific detailed piece of information I can remember off hand. Ie. almost no tab, chord diagrams, or sheet music style content. Almost nothing specific about the guitar's interaction with the rhythm section and the specifics of writing for the rhythm section or vocal melody are covered either. And of course, the tell-tale item: nothing is composed/written by Rooksby for the book.
Looking at the presentation, its very slick. The book looks nice, the layout is great, the writing style is enthusiastic, its easy to WANT to like it but when it comes down to it it's good looking book that doesn't achieve its objective. I regretted the time I spent reading this book hoping for it to get better... Thankfully it's extremely short too, but I won't even bother going there at this point. ;)
So, basically, this book is just flat out not useful and the time spent looking for a different, more suitable, book on the topic will be rewarded many times over.
Also, avoid Rooksby's "Riffs" book as well, it suffers nearly the exact same set of problems as this one.
Neither fish, nor flesh........2006-09-04
It's not a guitar method neither a complete songwriting book. Perhaps it's both, but I find it quite boring and not focusing.
Book Description
Janice Tucker Rhoda's phenomenally successful series, The ABCs of Cello, owes much of its success to the wonderful original material and to the sensitive arrangements of classical, folk, fiddle and other popular melodies. After many years of teaching children and adults the author has developed a simple and enjoyable approach for studying the Cello.
*The ABCs of Cello for the Absolute Beginner, Cello Book 1 contains 29 Melodies, Finger Graphs, Warm-ups, Scales, Easy Duets, a worksheet for note-recognition, a glossary and practice chart.
*The ABCs of Cello for the Intermediate, Cello Book 2 features 2nd Position and has 42 Melodies, Finger Graphs, Warm-ups, Scales, Arpeggios, a worksheet for note-recognition and practice chart.
*The ABCs of Cello for the Advanced, Cello Book 3 features 3rd Position and has 43 Melodies, Finger Graphs, Warm-ups, Scales, Arpeggios, a worksheet for note-recognition and practice chart.
*The ABCs of Cello Easy Piano Accompaniment for Books 1, 2 and 3 are also available!
Customer Reviews:
A really good system........2007-08-01
I used to play cello in highschool and then dropped it completely for 20 years. I am finding these three, beginning, intermediate, & advanced books very useful.
The beggining book has a nice mixture of melodies and instructions, and I quickly got back up to speed. To get the most out of it, you really need to sit and read it as well, small phrases can be passed over that are very important, such as "try to think about the musical phrase while you play" is easy to overlook while practicing, but important to keep in mind.
Having played before I am finding myself flipping back and forth between books, but even the begginning book has some lovely pieces that with changes in emphasis or repeats become compelling pieces for performance.
Good for the absolute beginner!.......2007-05-10
We recently ordered this book for my adult (40 something) son who had never played cello before. He finds the book to be more than adequate and he is enjoying learning from it.
Best system for an adult beginner!.......2006-03-24
I wish I had studied the cello years ago, but it's better late than never! I started with this book for the Absolute Beginner and 'am now in ABCs of Cello book 3. This cello book 1 starts out easy with familiar tunes and warm-up exercises. It explains the staff and bass clef which is not the same as a violinists clef, the treble clef. You learn all the basic notes on all the strings in this book in 1st position and as you move along in the upper books you learn "shifting" which means you move your arm and fingers up the neck of the cello. All these books cover alot and are very basic at the same time.
Cello is the best!!
Treat Yourself to the ABC's of Cello for the Absolute Beginner!.......2006-03-20
Whether you are an adult beginner or a parent who is looking for a good introductory book for your child, definitely get this book. Janice Tucker Rhoda is a well-known musical educator, and I purchased this book based solely on her name. Her instruction gives the warm-ups, scales and rhythm exercises that you need to learn any instrument, but she quickly gives you real music to play.
The graphics pick up on the simple, easy-to-understand approach, with no cutsie-pie graphics to distract. You need that when you are sitting so far from your music.
I initially started with a Suzuki book, but think that this is much better because it has a more structured approach.
I highly recommend this book. I was especially pleased with it because, as a violinist, I didn't read the bass clef and, quite frankly, was afraid that I would have difficult with it. I'm pleased to find that, with this book, I'm finding it quite easy.
As with learning any musical instrument, having the help of a professional instructor--along with this book--can help you learn much faster--and avoid picking up bad habits.
I found it easy to learn cello!.......2006-03-04
I never read music before but was able to learn it with the simple instructions in the beginning. As an absolute beginner on the cello it seemed easy for me to figure out. It shows where the notes are in relation to the strings. Great songs too!!
Book Description
How Muscles Learn provides information useful in helping teachers find productive techniques in teaching based on how muscles learn movement patterns. Muscles and bodies can and should be thoroughly trained before concentrating exclusively on musical outcomes.
Contents include:
* The importance of good posture
* Range of motion and movement
* Muscles have memory: how movement patterns are acquired
*Proactive interference: its issues and effects
Customer Reviews:
A small little gem.......2007-09-09
Teh book is a little lightweight. I finished it in less than 2 hrs. Basically, it is scientifiaclly explained, all the stuff your child's violin teacher told you about. Now that you know the reasons, you would probably be a little more vigilent when guiding your child. I recommend this book to all parents of young children learning the violin.
Excellent teacher's resource.......2006-09-18
The author approaches the subject with unique knowledge of how muscles learn. She applies this to the WHY and HOW of playing a violin in ways that make great sense. I've read the book twice and heard her speak twice. I'd like to know more! It is a great resource to me in teaching beginning string players in public school.
Customer Reviews:
Every Musician Should Own This Book.......2006-03-17
I would recommend this book to any musician. Although it extensively covers bowing and left hand technique, the most important aspects are in how to practice and master your art. The variations suggested can be used by any musician on any instrument and will take you to a new level of technical control.
I would not suggest this book for a beginner, this material is best learned from an experienced teacher. Advanced students and teachers should all have this book in their book collections.
a priceless purchase.......2003-03-05
this is a MUST for any violinist who is serious about playing the violin. This book has solution to all of the problems that a violinist faces, in addition, this is a great leaning tool, lines from major concertos are used as exemples. again, this book is a must for anyone who's serious about playing the violin or even becoming a concert soloist.
Also Superb for Parents of Violin Students.......2002-10-14
As a former violin student of 9 years who moved towards piano instead, I have found this book immensely valuable in helping me as a Suzuki parent of a young violinist myself. If you have a child moving into the Kreutzer etudes, or in Book 7 or later in the Suzuki series, this book is a godsend. At this point in your child's studies, you have no doubt been listening to many great artists, and wondering how they attain the immense variety in tonal coloring, or how they actually implement such amazing shifts, or complex bowing techniques. This book, with its pictures, is outstanding in deconstructing these motions. While it is highly analytical in parts, the book is also excellent in addressing the body's motion as a whole - in showing the coupling between the hand, elbow, shoulders, violin... using well known extracts from etudes, caprices, and solo works as practical examples.
It most definitely helps to be an advanced instrumentalist in reading this book, as the author certainly presumes that the reader has a trained ear. The sections on how to practice will also be appreciated by those who have worked in intensive Master Classes, and have carried back from these classes some improved practice habits.
All-in-all, this is book not to be missed, particularly by the supportive parents of maturing artists.
Wisdom of a master teacher.......2001-11-21
Ivan Galamian (1903-1981) was one of the great violin teachers of the 20th century. He taught people like Perlman and Zukerman, as well as countless other professional players of today. This book sets forth the essentials of his method. The text was written by Elizabeth Green, herself a Galamian student and a noted author and teacher in her own right. But the ideas are Galamian's. The small number of pages (100+) is deceptive; every sentence is packed with information and must be read carefully lest some important feature be missed. Violin playing is a complex mental and physical activity, and to learn it well demands the ability to focus on many small details as one trains the ear and the hands. This book is not really intended to be a self-tutor so much as a reference for the teacher and the student who is advanced enough to understand what Galamian is saying. It is not for beginners. A beginner book might tell you where (approximately) to put your fingers on the string to get certain notes. This book tells you (in words and photos) what your finger looks like when it is on the string, what part of the fingertip is pressing on the string, how hard it is pressing, how fast it should be traveling as it hits the string, the musical effect of different methods of lifting the finger, and so on. And that's only a tiny bit of what is written about what the left hand and fingers do. This is followed by a complete analysis of the mechanics and musical effect of every conceivable bow stroke. Matters of bow speed, pressure and point of contact with the string are all considered in light of the effects they produce, along with many more ideas concerning placement of thumb and fingers on the stick, angle of bow to string, and more. The book concludes with an analysis of effective practicing and teaching. There is much useful material on the relationship between technique and artistic interpretation as well. The many excellent photographs and musical examples add a further measure of depth to the book.
One small quibble: I don't think he spent enough time discussing how to play in tune. What he does say is all correct--he mentions that one must "think the sound" of the desired pitch as well as mentally prepare the hand and finger motion--he is speaking of shifting--but thinking the pitch needs to be stressed more, I think, and extended to thinking the actual sound of a beautiful violin tone as well.
This is a book for teachers and players who are advanced enough to know the areas they need to work on. It is considered one of a handful of classic books on violin playing, which include the famous treatises by Leopold Mozart, F. Geminiani, and Carl Flesch. First editions of this book (1962) are scarce and cost anywhere from ..., which says something about its importance, I think.
A great guide for aspiring teachers!!!.......2001-02-01
From the first few words in the introductory portion of this book you start to remember everything that was wrong with the approach of your past teachers. I once spoke about Galamian's teaching methods with one of his former students. I actually saw the notes that Galamian himself made in a notebook. For years I've wanted to get my hands on those notes again. And now I can.
This book is an "All-you-need-to-know" guide to violin playing and teaching. Every possible detail is mentioned and, what I love best about this book, references are given to etudes to apply them in practice.
Of course, as Galamian himself said, no book can replace a live interaction with a teacher. It can only help with ideas. Well, this book can help anyone find another approach to problems they may have.
Book Description
Janice Tucker Rhoda's phenomenally successful series, The ABCs of Cello, owes much of its success to the wonderful original material and to the sensitive arrangements of classical, folk, fiddle and other popular melodies. After many years of teaching children and adults the author has developed a simple and enjoyable approach for studying the Cello.
*The ABCs of Cello for the Absolute Beginner, Cello Book 1 contains 29 Melodies, Finger Graphs, Warm-ups, Scales, Easy Duets, a worksheet for note-recognition, a glossary and practice chart.
*The ABCs of Cello for the Intermediate, Cello Book 2 features 2nd Position and has 42 Melodies, Finger Graphs, Warm-ups, Scales, Arpeggios, a worksheet for note-recognition and practice chart.
*The ABCs of Cello for the Advanced, Cello Book 3 features 3rd Position and has 43 Melodies, Finger Graphs, Warm-ups, Scales, Arpeggios, a worksheet for note-recognition and practice chart.
*The ABCs of Cello Easy Piano Accompaniment for Books 1, 2 and 3 are also available!
Customer Reviews:
A good system.......2007-08-01
I used to play cello in highschool and then dropped it completely for 20 years. I am finding these three, beginning, intermediate, & advanced books very useful.
The beggining book has a nice mixture of melodies and instructions, and I quickly got back up to speed. To get the most out of it, you really need to sit and read it as well, small phrases can be passed over that are very important, such as "try to think about the musical phrase while you play" is easy to overlook while practicing, but important to keep in mind.
Having played before I am finding myself flipping back and forth between books, but even the begginning book has some lovely pieces that with changes in emphasis or repeats become compelling pieces for performance.
I actually moved into book two before I was finished with book one completely, but I still go back into book one for refresher exercises. At least once a week I have a practice session where I go back to basic things to work on fine tuning technique, and this graduated system is very good for that.
Listening to good cellists and a teacher can help you with phrasing and musicality, but this book is very good on basic technical information with an ephasis on getting the finger placements correct and working each one.
Learned so much in this INTERMEDIATE book!.......2006-03-24
This cello book 2 covers so much. It has an intense introduction of 2nd position on the cello, over 40 tunes including familiar fiddle tunes like Turkey in the Straw. Lots of preparation exercises (called warm-ups in the book), scales and arpeggios, triplet and 16th note rhythms, etc. As a beginner a year and a half ago, I never thought I'd be this advanced, but I owe it to this series of books. I am now in ABCs of Cello book 3, a real gem, but you have to follow the system and begin with book 1 of the series which I did.
Cello is the best!
Book Description
Let’s face it – in the music world, guitars set the standard for cool. Since the 1950s, many of the greatest performers in rock ‘n’ roll, blues, and country have played the guitar. Playing electric guitar can put you out in front of a band, where you’re free to roam, sing, and make eye contact with your adoring fans. Playing acoustic guitar can make you the star of the vacation campfire sing-along or allow you to serenade that special someone. And playing any kind of guitar can bring out the music in your soul and become a valued lifetime hobby.
Guitar For Dummies delivers everything the beginning to intermediate guitarist needs. The information has been carefully crafted so that you can find exactly what you want to know about the guitar. This clearly written guide is for anyone who wants to know how to
- Strum basic chords and simple melodies
- Expand your range with advanced techniques
- Play melodies without reading music
- Choose the right guitar
- Tune, change strings, and make simple repairs
Figure out how to play anything from simple chord progressions to smokin’ blues licks. Guitar For Dummies also covers the following topics and more:
- Hand position and posture
- Basic major and minor chords
- Adding spice with basic 7th chords and barre chords
- Playing melodies in position and in double-stops
- Different styles including rock, blues, folk, and classical
- Buying a guitar and accessories
- Taking care of your guitar
Guitar For Dummies also contains a play-along audio CD that contains all 97 songs and exercises from the book. Whether you’re contemplating a career as a heavy metal superstar or you just want to strum a few folk songs for your friends, this friendly book-and-CD package makes it easy to pick up the guitar and start playing.
Download Description
Guitar sales are on the rise, jumping from 1.7 million sold in 2000 to nearly 2 million in 2003. Now revised and updated, this is the perfect introductory guide for all those novice acoustic and electric guitar players. It offers easy, step-by-step instruction on fingering chords, strumming and picking, using specialized techniques like the slide, and playing in a wide range of guitar styles--from rock and blues to folk and classical--plus tips on selecting the right guitar, maintaining it, and finding the best accessories. For this new edition, the authors provide expanded coverage of guitar styles including a whole new chapter on jazz guitar--well as fresh practice pieces and techniques, and updated charts, illustrations, photographs, and resources. Mark Phillips (Bayside, NY) is a guitarist, arranger, and editor with more than 30 years in the music publishing field. Phillips has served as Director of Music and Director of Publications at Cherry Lane Music, where he has edited or arranged the songbooks of such artists as John Denver, Van Halen, Guns N' Roses, and Metallica, and has served as Music Editor for Guitar and Guitar One magazines. Jon Chappell (Rye, NY) is a multistyle guitarist, transcriber, and arranger. He is currently Editor in Chief of Guitar magazine, Technical Editor of Guitar Shop magazine, and musicologist for Guitarra, a classical magazine. His other books include Rock Guitar For Dummies (0-7645-5356-9).
Customer Reviews:
well-rounded for guitar newbies, but weak on theory.......2007-08-07
I have the First Edition of Guitar For Dummies, so my comments apply to that one. Guitar For Dummies really is geared to beginners; it's friendly, sometimes funny, and it more or less leads you through by hand in a tutorial style. I especially appreciated the tips it gives about physically playing open chords and especially barre chords - newbies often find these difficult and need all the help they can get.
In my opinion, the main weakness is that it is poor at explaining music theory. It's intentionally written to get you playing right away by avoiding the un-necessary theoretical stuff as much as possible, but it leaves out much of the important basics. For example, while it does show you how to find and play the most commonly used scales on the fingerboard, it barely explains what a scale or interval really is in terms of theory. Another weakness (ironic considering the above) is that it often takes an entire page to explain a concept that can be taught equally well in two paragraphs. It teaches in such an over-worded, over-embellised way that it can make things more difficult to understand than they have to be.
Back to the good. I was happy to discover that some of the licks you are taught are later incorporated into practise songs at the end of the chapter. Some of the practise songs are simple folk songs that we've all known since childhood, others are just plain good, even though they're mostly short. I actually like songs to be short so you learn them quickly and don't get 'burned out' trying to learn them. Guitar For Dummies does a good job of introducing the basics of the important genres of western guitar music, it touches upon a little bit of everything.
Most parts of the book can be learned with acoustic or electric guitar, but the section on classical guitar really should be done with a classical guitar. It's a pretty thick book so if you're a complete beginner, be prepared to take several months at the very least, and probably a lot longer, to go through it without rushing.
Playing for 25 Years And I've Learned Good Things From This Book.......2007-06-30
I've been playing acoustic and electric guitar - in bands and solo - for 25 years, and while I'm not that technically accomplished, I can hold my own jamming with others in rock and blues contexts.
I bought 'Guitar For Dummies' recently and have been pleasantly surpised by how informative and helpful it is, and I don't understand the comments of some reviewers who fault the book (particularly the fellow who has been trying to play for 50 years and finds this book unhelpful). The book covers rock & roll rhthym and lead playing, blues, folk, jazz, classical, and other styles - all in an introductory, but very useful way, in my opinion.
There are gems of advice in here, such as the fact that you can play arpeggios faster by using alternate picking (try playing the riff at the end of the chorus in The Beatles' 'Help!' without using alternate picking and you'll see why this piece of advice is so useful).
It is true that there are things that could have been done better, such as advice and photos about how to hold the guitar (I've been trying to re-train myself to get my thumb down the neck more, rather than have it creeping over the top, except for jazz and specialized folk and rock playing).
There are other things which could have been explained better, but a half intelligent search of the net could clear up any ambiguities, and this criticism is a minor one in the context of the richness of experience and advice in this book.
The mp3 examples on the accompanying CD make real the tab and music examples contained in the book for anyone not being able to imagine them (me, before I learned the rudiments of music, as tab doesn't have any indication of the length of notes).
The best I can say is that I wish that I'd had this book when I started out playing many years ago: it would have encouraged me in ways that other books have not (by using simple tab and music notation - the latter is a complement to the former, not an essential to reading the examples) to illustrate various genres of playing.
The rock & roll examples contain everything one needs to know to play Chuck Berry (but you need to practice, because phrasing is all in that style of playing), and the examples from other genres give one a good flavour of how to go about learning more.
In short, I have found this book to be the most useful book and CD video that I have ever seen (taking into account that I already knew a lot of the stuff contained therein - but I also picked up a lot of other good advice).
If you're interested in getting started with guitar in a way that will have you up and playing songs in no time, other than nursery rhymes, and that will give you a flavour of how various styles of Western music are played, I highly recommend this book.
Good luck.
Truly, a book for the rest of us (dummies).......2007-04-19
I always wanted to learn how to play the guitar. To me (and many others I'm sure)the guitar is the world's 'coolist' instrument. But it always seemed impossible, that is until I found this book.
I purchased it in October 2006 and today, April '07, I am playing in a small band and living my dream! The teaching methods are easy to follow and at times funny which makes learning fun and easy. The many illustrative diagrams also aids in the learning process.
Buy this book folks and who knows, you'll probably be living your dreams like I am.
Guitar for Dummies.......2007-02-02
I bought it for my daughter and it was the one that she requested. Th book arrived quickly and she is already starting to practice.
Guitar for Dummies.......2007-01-12
I should have known better than ordering another worthless guitar instruction book. I have been trying to learn how to play the guitar for over 50 years now and I have yet to find an instruction book that tells you how really to play more than simple chords and strumming. I have stacks of such books that have not helped me at all. It seems to me that there in a conspiracy to try to keep people from learning what all the great guitar players know. Even the private instructors keep you taking lessons for years without really teaching you anything of value. When I learned to play wind instruments the lessons were concise and they followed a definate pattern to help you achieve a high level of ability. All the guitar books I've seen so far start somewhere in the middle and go nowhere. It is my firm belief that a person is born to be a real, all around, good guitar player and if he isn't there is very little anyone can do to teach you.
Book Description
Janice Tucker Rhoda's phenomenally successful series, The ABCs of Cello, owes much of its success to the wonderful original material and to the sensitive arrangements of classical, folk, fiddle and other popular melodies. After many years of teaching children and adults the author has developed a simple and enjoyable approach for studying the Cello.
*The ABCs of Cello for the Absolute Beginner, Cello Book 1 contains 29 Melodies, Finger Graphs, Warm-ups, Scales, Easy Duets, a worksheet for note-recognition, a glossary and practice chart.
*The ABCs of Cello for the Intermediate, Cello Book 2 features 2nd Position and has 42 Melodies, Finger Graphs, Warm-ups, Scales, Arpeggios, a worksheet for note-recognition and practice chart.
*The ABCs of Cello for the Advanced, Cello Book 3 features 3rd Position and has 43 Melodies, Finger Graphs, Warm-ups, Scales, Arpeggios, a worksheet for note-recognition and practice chart.
*The ABCs of Cello Easy Piano Accompaniment for Books 1, 2 and 3 are also available!
Customer Reviews:
A good system.......2007-08-01
I used to play cello in highschool and then dropped it completely for 20 years. I am finding these three, beginning, intermediate, & advanced books very useful.
The beggining book has a nice mixture of melodies and instructions, and I quickly got back up to speed. To get the most out of it, you really need to sit and read it as well, small phrases can be passed over that are very important, such as "try to think about the musical phrase while you play" is easy to overlook while practicing, but important to keep in mind.
Having played before I am finding myself flipping back and forth between books, but even the begginning book has some lovely pieces that with changes in emphasis or repeats become compelling pieces for performance.
The emphasis on these books is on finger positions and placement, and by the time you get to the third book you may have outgrown this series. (They say a virtuoso cellist doesn't think about placement, just uses the finger that best fits the flow of the piece and the transitions needed - but it is important to learn these things, then take liberties.) I don't think any book can help you with intonation, phrasing and musicality (listen to YoYo Ma CDs for that), but this is a very good practice series with a good variety of pieces.
Learning so much in this ADVANCED Cello book!.......2006-03-24
I made it to this ABCs of Cello Book 3 and as an adult beginner a year ago and a half ago, I thought it would be impossible for me to make it this far on the cello, but I have. I owe it to the ABCs of Cello books! I started out with book 1, then 2. This book 3 has an intense introduction and coverage of 3rd position. It covers double-stops (playing 2 strings at once), fiddle tunes, forward extensions, shifting exercises, 3 pages of scales and spicatto bowing. Alot of warm-up drills and over 40 tunes!
It's great! Cello is the best!
Feedback.......2006-03-23
For the beginner , this book is a waste of money. For some one who is more than a beginner, it is acollection of musical pices ranging form the beginner to advanced, and there fore may be useful. It is essentially devoid of instruction.
Customer Reviews:
More pedagogy than guide.......2007-08-28
Another book with a misleading title, this one is a rather academic review or summary of "best" approaches to teaching the physical aspects of playing the viola (or violin). Whether the "best" approaches are in fact being presented is open to question. Certainly, the physiology of playing the violin or viola is an important subject; but more and more my observation tells me that actual superior players of these instruments in our string ensembles are getting away from "classical" instrument-holds and moving toward the fiddle-player's tendency to "play" with the instrument in a forward position. That is what I have seen in the past few weeks from Midori and other well-known players. I cannot recommend this book to a beginning player of violin or viola. The intended audience is more for would-be teachers of the instrument; so it is all the more important perhaps to sound a cautionary note. There are many questions about the ergonomics of playing the viola (or violin) that need to be addressed, including even the reintroduction of the cello-style playing position. What the "majority" of teachers of these instruments are recommending to their students, or at least what is endorsed in this book, could push many young players to unergonomic and physically harmful techniques. Because this aspect of playing the viola, the ergonomics, is not directly addressed, all the recommendations as to development of technique are slanted toward a rather rigid style of play, one that is contradicted by the early historical illustrations we have of string players and by "folk" practice. This book should be approached with caution.
Excellent resource for Viola Teachers.......2007-08-25
I have been using this book with my Viola Studio for several years. Some of the most useful parts I find are the graded repertoire list, his discussion on technical set up issues, and he goes into several useful techniques on relaxation and breathing exercises and incorporating those ideas into making the "compleat" violist. I highly recommend it, and I include this as an optional text for my viola studio at the University of Florida.
Good Viola Book.......2007-05-28
Yes, it's a good book for anyone interested in the viola and the extensive literature for it. It has a lot of valuable tips on technique, etc. However, it is not a complete method for the instrument in the way that the Potter book is for the cello, which I was kind of looking for. It's more for reading than for practicing from. It's a valuable addition to the literature and would seem to be valuable also for violinists.
The viola handbook.......2007-03-21
Very knowledgable book. The best book that I could find on the internet.
Outstanding Resource!!!.......2005-09-30
I am a violinist, but picked up this book looking for tips on technique and practice. This book is as helpful and relevant for a violinist as it is for my Brothers of the Bow of the Alto persuasion. Well-written and amply illustrated, this is a must read for serious viola students and a strong recommendation for violinists as well. It covers everything from how to hold the instrument to bowing technique to reading music and even (to my horror) transferring from violin to viola! If you are a strings teacher and haven't read this book I urge you to look it over. I don't believe you'll be disappointed...I sure wasn't!
Book Description
This instruction book is the perfect start for an Absolute Beginner of any age on the Viola!
There are many familiar folk, fiddle, sacred and classical melodies with short warm-up exercises and study pieces to advance students technically in an easy and enjoyable way! Simple duets, scales, a note-reading worksheet, glossary and practice chart are also included along with many graphs to show left-hand finger placement.
This ABCs of Viola Book 1 is the first in a series of three Viola books. This series features melodies by composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Dvorak, Mozart and Tchaikovsky. Popular fiddle tunes like Arkansas Traveler, Irish Washer Woman and Turkey in the Straw, and some of the world's most loved melodies like Amazing Grace and Home on the Range appear. Christmas Carols Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, O Come All Ye Faithful, The First Noel and Deck the Halls, and Hanukah favorites My Dreydl and Hanukah are all included.
Each book in the series has its own piano accompaniment book to help facilitate practice and recital performance. The ABCs of Viola Easy Piano Accompaniment for Book 1 is the ideal companion to The ABCs of Viola Book 1.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful book for beginning adults..........2003-12-31
This book is a great start to beginning adults' relationship with the viola. The exercises and warm-ups provide students with various opportunities to master specific skills before approaching the complexities of a piece. The selection of pieces are vast: folk songs, familiar tunes, ethnic songs and classical pieces. This makes it interesting and exciting for the adult student, whose musical taste can be diverse. I find that this book is a great introduction to the instrument without being scary, too easy, too childish or too complicated.
Average customer rating:
- Best understanding yet
- which self do you defend?
- Karate Do in Poetry
- Good book for personal renewal of the spiritual Karate.
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Three Golden Pearls on a String: The Esoteric Teachings of Karate-Do and the Mystical Journey of a Warrior Priest
Thomas White
Manufacturer: North Atlantic Books
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Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles, and Secret Techniques
ASIN: 1556431074
Release Date: 1993-01-12 |
Book Description
"Budo is the way to cut oneself from one’s first step to the point one can reach. To cut oneself means to face our own mind directly, honestly, strictly; to polish the mind by cutting away cowardliness, selfishness, ugliness, and weakness. To have the mind’s eye, me must have a strong mind. At the same time, it is absolutely necessary to be very humble."
-From the Foreword
Customer Reviews:
Best understanding yet.......2004-08-30
This small volume does more to explain the understanding of the benefits of a martial art than many larger books. From the very begining the simple and clear journey of one man to understand himself by following a way makes this a welcome addition to any serious student's library.
which self do you defend?.......2001-11-29
Sometimes the mental side of the martial arts gets lost in training. Mr. White's book attempts to put back some of the earliest lessons of the martial arts. It is one book that should be reread the longer you train. My copy is now falling apart, but after first reading it some ten years ago I am still learning from this small book.
Karate Do in Poetry.......2001-03-17
As a 16 year practitioner of the martial arts I found Thomas White's words to be inspiring. He has captured the essence of budo training in what normally must be read between the lines of technical manuals - The non-physical elements of Karate Do that are always assumed to be there, but most cannot explain...because no technical manual can guide one to the spirit of the arts. Thomas White has created a wonderful book that describes these mystic elements in what is the only literary form that could capture such an essence - poetry. Sometimes direct to the point, other times more abstract, but always with purpose. All passages reflect the experiences of this humble man on his journey toward self perfection through the martial arts. I have brought this book out countless times to share appropriate quotes and passages with my students. Buy this book. Share in the journey.
Good book for personal renewal of the spiritual Karate........1998-03-10
As stated in the title, this is one mans journey for understanding through Karate. The book is an excellant rendition of the thoughts and awakenings felt by some one deciding to take the journey for understanding through a Martial Discipline. Beginners in Karate may have some difficulty in grasping the content, but beginner and teacher alike can enjoy the shared feelings of gained knowledge. For further study I suggest; Nicol's Moving Zen or Jay Gluck's Zen Combat, although both are more technique extensive, the end is the same.
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