Book Description
The Special Edition is the first two volumes of the Fretboard Logic guitar series combined with a special discount. Part One deals with the pattern organization of the fretboard which results from the guitar's unique tuning system. Part Two teaches the tone groups of music - Chords, Scales and Arpeggios - by building them in the context of this pattern organization, and thereby eliminating the usual guesswork and rote memorization associated with these areas of a guitarist's education. This alone can take years off the learning curve. Combined, the two parts form a solid foundation by which a guitarist can intelligently pursue the music styles of their own choosing, and play them on the guitar types which they prefer.
Customer Reviews:
Let me save you some time and money, again . . ........2007-08-15
I originally wrote this review for Volume I, but it applies here too.
The reviews below all sound wonderful, even the ones that weren't five stars. Too good to be true I thought, so I only bought Volume I, rather than the box set. After a week of study, and occasionly rereading the same paragraph over and over until I got it, I too will say that this book did more for me in a week than all the decades of playing guitar and buying countless other books.
Still I was skeptical about the other volumes, so I decided that rather than buy the box set with the DVD I'd just buy the combination of Volumes I and II, and give Volume I to a friend. After spending some time with Volume II, I realized I needed the DVD. Amazon just emailed today saying the box set of three volumes plus the DVD has just shipped.
Let me save you some time and money - buy the box set with the DVD. I say that without having seen the DVD, but from what I see with Volumes I and II, I think you're going to want to do that. Like everyone else, I only wish that I had discovered this book when I was a kid.
Fretboard Logic SE: The ultimate guitar book !!!.......2007-07-10
Simply said this is a must... I played the guitar for 6 years and I was blind as regard as the fretboard... Not anymore :-))
DON'T BUY THIS BOOK IF YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY GUITAR!.......2007-07-07
First let me say this he takes some stabs a Mel Bay books but the thing is Mel Bay books teach you how to READ MUSIC. I wasted weeks reading this book and its cryptic if you ask me.You can learn the notes on the fretboard way faster if you know all your octaves IMHO. This book is a waste of good paper.
Very tough for a complete novice.......2007-05-13
As I v'e read in other reviews, this book goes from major open string chords straight to barre chords which at this stage in the game I am not capable of doing. I like the logic presented here and will come back to this book once I've developed more hand strength and basic skills.
A Real Eye Opener!.......2007-05-03
I have been teaching concepts from this book for 7 years now. I still consistently have lessons where the students go "Ahhh, I get it now." Everything you need to know about organizing and understanding the fretboard is in this book. The only drawback is, if you're not "ready" to understand it, then this book might be tough to get through.
If you:
1. are at a plateau and you have trouble telling someone what note you are on, or
2. you want to know how to connect all those scales together, or
3. you don't truely understand what I mean when I say "the CAGED system is one of the most powerful tools for any guitarist,"
Then, you need this book.
Book Description
A comprehensive source designed to help guitarists develop both lead and rhythm playing. Covers: Texas, Delta, RandB, early rock and roll, gospel, blues/rock and more. Includes 21 complete solos; chord progressions and riffs; turnarounds; moveable scales and more. CD features leads and full band backing.
Customer Reviews:
Solid Instruction.......2007-08-15
I bought this for my niece to learn the Blues and she loves it. Practice and learning skill sets is so important. I would also like to recommend for the Blues Guitarist a new great DVD that we use at our house all the time, "I Am The... Blues Lead Guitarist" I Am The... Blues Lead Guitarist once you can play some get this and enjoy playing with a real band in their jam sessions, this will make you a great player.
Book with good lessons.......2007-07-11
I originally skipped the lessons in this book, in favor of just playing all of the tabbed out studies. Big mistake! The lessons are very well graded, and move at a comfortable pace (the studies kind of throw you in to the thick of things, a bit overwhelming for a beginner). As a teacher, I have used this book to help students out with their technique, performance, and theory.
The actual blues that it does teach is very much on the cliche side of things, but the lessons will have a universal appeal towards other types of music, especially as far as the theory goes. Because of this I have to grade this book with 5 stars, because it is really one of the best in this regard, and with a good mix of learning and playing, it is a great choice for learning and understanding the guitar.
Daniel Page, Guitar Instruction
Great book for learning to play guitar and blues.......2007-05-31
This book is recommended by teachers and advanced guitar players for learning blues although it also allows to improve general aspects not only related to the blues. It is a good way to understand the basics of blues and some of its styles. Some previous knowledge and experience are needed but the book can be followed by beginners.
Each chapter is divided into three parts. Part one is dedicated to scales. Minor and major pentatonic scales are described and studied. Part two shows how to play chords and progressions and to apply them to blues and other songs. Part three is a study or song in which the author introduces techniques as bending, sliding, and so on. The studies are given in musical notation and also tablature.
An advantage of this book is that the author, John Ganapes, answers some questions in his own web and also gives some tips on how to practice and how to play the studies. The learning can be continued with More Blues You Can Use or Jazzin' the Blues by the same author.
Stellar learnings on blues rock!.......2007-05-14
I have only been playing guitar for about a year so am still entry level. I knew the major chords and some others before picking up this great book. I would say it is NOT a raw beginner's book as others have said but it is an entry-level book for those who have at least tinkered with the guitar for a couple of months. The content is very easy to comprehend and simply takes some practice to master. It is laid out perfectly and the instructions couldn't be more straight forward...just do what Mr. Ganapes says and you'll be on your way! This is definitely a blues rock course though and not traditional acoustic blues. I play it on my acoustic (as well as the electric) and it sounds great, but not traditional. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in playing blues rock music on guitar!
Good Workbook.......2007-05-12
This is a good workbook for an advanced beginning guitar student. It's not for the pure beginner. Anyone just starting should learn the basics first: open position chords, bar chords, scales, etc. before they crack open this book.
As you can imagine the book starts off pretty easy with some simple rhythms and chords. It introduces different scales along the way and said scales are then used in the sample tracks on the accompanying CD. Some of the exercises are very easy. Those towards the end of the book are much more difficult.
There is not much in this book about chords. Most teaches and provides exercises for picking. The student will learn various scales, alternate picking, string bending, slides, shifts among other fundamentals. After having worked through this book, the student will have developed the skills necessary to do some awesome blues soloing.
Product Description
Drumstick Spinology Book and DVD will be replaced by DRUMSTICK SPINOLOGY PLUS in NOVEMBER 2007, as we decided to become more environmentally friendly and stop printing in paper. You will find the book in PDF Format in the new DOUBLE DVD set, as well as new spins, added material, and the complete old DVD.
Customer Reviews:
Gift for my son.......2007-03-08
This book was a gift for my son, who wanted to learn "spinology." It is one of maybe two books on the subject. The fact that it comes with a cd is a big plus.
Be happy.......2007-01-22
I gladly recommend this book.And it,s up to you, to get the results.
Best regards
Leif Fredriksson
Drummer from Sweden
Good Instruction.......2005-10-06
I practice spinning my sticks all the time, but it was good to see that someone put some organization and structure to it. I learned a lot from this book and dvd. I learned a few moves!
Pleased.......2005-08-12
I really wanted to see if what I had learned long ago could be easily explained. To my surprise this book was right on target. Easy to follow, excellently demonstrated, and made quite simple. As in anything that looks easy...practice divides the can from the can't.
Spinology for Spinologists.......2005-08-03
Great book.. even better DVD that comes with it! But be warned, the techniques are deceptively simple but hard to do and harder to master.;. but there's no book around like it so he's got a monopoly on the subject right now...
Average customer rating:
- Song Writing for Dummies
- A Book Written by Dummies
- Nice book.
- Very useful book
- Smart Book for the Songwriting 'Dummie'
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Songwriting for Dummies
Jim Peterik ,
Dave Austin , and
Mary Ellen Bickford
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Similar Items:
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The Art of Writing Great Lyrics
-
Singing for Dummies
-
How to Write Songs on Guitar: A Guitar-Playing and Songwriting Course
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Music Theory For Dummies
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Melody in Songwriting: Tools and Techniques for Writing Hit Songs (Berklee Guide)
ASIN: 0764554042 |
Book Description
Want to know how to make it as a songwriter? Songwriting For Dummies gives you a chance to learn from the best. Performer, songwriter Jim Peterik is a 35-year veteran in the business and author of dozens of top-40 hits, including “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up In You” “Rocking Into the Night,” “High On You,” “I Can’t Hold Back,” “Is This Love,” “Burning Heart,” and “The Search is Over.” Dave Austin is CEO of Transcension Music Group. He’s produced and promoted some of the greatest talent in the industry, including Carlos Santana, Eddie Money, REO Speedwagon, and Queen. And Mary Ellen Bickford has been involved in music and film production for more than two decades.
Whether you’re a first-time songwriter or songwriting vet looking for a fast-track into the recording industry, this friendly, easy-to-follow guide is the source for you. Using well-known tunes as examples, the authors walk you through everything you need to know to:
- Choose a musical style
- Develop a song idea
- Compose high-impact lyrics
- Create melodies that are memorable
- Use rhyme and rhythm
- Understand song from, from blues to jingles
- Create a demo and shop it around
- Find an agent and publisher
- Find and work with collaborators
From assessing your strengths and weaknesses as a songwriter to signing contracts, Songwriting For Dummies covers all the bases. Among other key topics, you’ll explore:
- Various song forms, including the AABA form and various ABAB forms
- Snagging your listeners with a lyrical, melodic, musical, rhythmic, or sound-effect hook, or a combination of hooks
- Concept-driven, story-telling, parody, love and other types of lyrics
- Using rhythm, melody, and chords in writing songs
- Rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, and many other song styles
- Writing songs for stage, screen and TV
- The business end—from putting together a business team to getting a lawyer and an accountant to finding a publisher
Whether you want to know how to compose a love song for that special someone, or you’re looking break into the industry, big-time, Songwriting For Dummies is a gold mine of inspiration and how-to information.
Customer Reviews:
Song Writing for Dummies.......2006-11-10
It's okay for lyric writing, but it is not really what I had hoped for. It's okay, but not the best reference for music students.
A Book Written by Dummies.......2006-11-03
This book should have been entitled how to sell your song writing professionally. This book has little to do with creating or writing music. The title is very misleading and I feel like I just flushed a wad of hard earned money down the toilet. About the only thing useful in this book is some of the information on how to get your music noticed and circulated, which doesn't interest me since I have no ambition to become a professional musician.
Nice book........2006-08-10
If you write any type of music, get this, sit down with pen & pad, and enjoy yourself. There are helpful tips and lessons to keep you absorbed and hungry for more.
Very useful book.......2005-09-26
Interesting, useful, well done. If you are iterested in songwriting this is an indispensable tool; doesn't matter if you know nothing about music theory. Don't miss it.
Smart Book for the Songwriting 'Dummie'.......2004-12-10
I bought this book when a musician friend recommended it to me. As someone who writes lyrics and who doesn't have even the most basic knowledge of musical terminology, I was looking for something that wasn't too technical and something that wouldn't completely confuse me when I tried to read it. This book definitely fit the bill.
Songwriting for Dummies isn't perfect. It could have done without all the self-promotion of Survivor and 38 Special and it could have done with more late '60s, early '70s music. I was disappointed to find that Stevie Nicks was mentioned in connection with "Bootylicious." Plus, the more technical explanations of writing music caused me to skim over a couple of the chapters. But the overall package gave me what I was looking for.
Despite going through a long period when I would start reading a book, put it down and then forget about it, I concentrated on reading this book and finished it in a matter of days. I enjoyed picking it up and reading it and going back over certain chapters again when necessary.
If you want to find a book that covers chord progressions in great detail, this book isn't for you, but if you want something that touches on the basics of lyrics and melodies, plus gives you an example of the kind of artist rights issues many songwriters face, this is a good reference.
Book Description
This second edition of the best-selling piano pedagogy book provides future piano and keyboard teachers with the essential tools to meet the challenges the next century. Fundamental to every keyboard teacher, the text examines current learning theories, offers a historical overview of keyboard pedagogy, reviews educational materials, and describes specific teaching techniques. It also discusses specific repertoire and technique for beginning, intermediate, and adult students.
Customer Reviews:
I think all piano teachers should own this book.......2002-08-16
This is a great reference for teachers at all levels. In it's well layed out pages it explores differant methods, types of students and gives practical advice on running a studio. I don't own it, but have checked it out from the library 3 or 4 times!
Book Description
Its Spirit Week at East High, and everyone is excited. There will be costume days, a pep rally for the basketball game, and finally, the crowning of the Spirit King and Queen. But the most exciting part of the week is the Sadie Hawkins dance: The girls get to ask the boys! Gabriella is planning to ask Troy, but Sharpay advises her not to look too eager. After all, Gabriella wouldnt want Troy to think shes desperate, would she? Meanwhile, Troy is fending off invitations left and right, and wondering why Gabriella hasnt asked him yet. But when Gabriella overhears something her mom says on the phone, she is too devastated to even think about the dance. Could it be that theyre moving again? Gabriella is so happy at East High. Would her mother really take her away from all her friends?
Customer Reviews:
this book has spirt.......2007-10-01
I know these are not the most amazing books ever written but i enjoy them. I love catherine hapka's series star power it is alot like this story. they are both about "down to earth teens" it makes them seem unreal, but is nice for people who want a sweet story instead of most storys about teens. In this book it is school spirt week and at the end of the week there is a sadie hokins dance. Troy is waiting for Grabreila to ask him, but there is something else on her mind. She over hears her mom on the phone talking to her boss. And grabriala thinks they are going to have to move again. The ending is not queit what i thought it would be but it does have that super sweet happy ending.
hsm books rock!!.......2007-10-01
This is a short and sweet book. I read it in a day (plus or minsus a few hours.) It was a sweet story. I think that it is very nice for young girls to read i would recommened it to anyone who likes disney or the movies (high school musical 1 or 2.) This book takes place inbetween the two movies. And at the moment there is a battle of the bands, troy is doing it with his b-ball friends. Sharpay is doing a girl group, with her devoted "fans" (and taylor.) so where does that leave gabreila and ryan?? the book of course has a happy ending but is very nice.
Average customer rating:
- One of the better 'High School Musical' books
- A Parent who really liked the first one...along with my children
- the musical
- High School Musical
- High School Musical
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Disney High School Musical Junior Novel (Junior Novelization)
N. B. Grace
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Accessories:
-
Disney Channel's High School Musical DVD Board Game
ASIN: 1423104226 |
Book Description
Until Troy met Gabriella, his big dream was to win the basketball championship. But ever since they sang karaoke together on New Years Eve, Troy cant get his mind off trying out for the lead role in the school musicalwith Gabriella as his partner! Gabriella is struggling too. The Scholastic Decathlon team could really use her help, but it would be fun to sing with Troy again. All their friends say its a bad idea and that Troy and Gabriella should stick to the status quo. In their hearts, Troy and Gabriella know theyve got the talent to play the lead roles in the musical, so why is everyone standing in their way? Will Troy and Gabriella follow their dreams of being on the stage? Or will they have to give it all up so that they can lead their teams to victory?
Customer Reviews:
One of the better 'High School Musical' books.......2007-08-21
A nice 'tween read, this little paperback makes it easy for your child to relive the story of High School Musical 2 (Extended Edition) (2007) without having his or her eyes glued to the tube. It's plenty visual, as it even incorporates the film's dance routines into its plot. For example, here's how it covers Ryan's baseball game:
"Even as the Wildcats tried to explain that they didn't dance... Ryan had them do some baseball moves... Then he turned the action into a high-energy dance step, and pretty soon the Wildcats were moving and grooving all over the baseball diamond. The improvised dance ended with Chad sliding into home plate."
With about 100 words per page, this is a book that will last, oh, maybe two days tops. There are also eight pages of color photos.
-- By Julie Neal, author of The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World.
A Parent who really liked the first one...along with my children.......2007-08-19
Wow - how bad is it...........REALLY, REALLY, .....REALLY bad!!!!!!! I know that Disney has made and will continue to make money on High School Musical... but part 2 should NEVER have been made or put to film.....
the musical .......2007-03-06
This book is a great book. It has lots of excitement. The main characters are Troy and Gabriella. They met at a vacation sweet and sang a song. They loved singing together and couldn't stop looking at each other and then every once in a while would look at the lyrics so they new were the rest of the song.
After the summer Troy went back to school and went back to playing basketball, Gabriella went to a new school. Her mom and she went to see the principal and Gabriella's mom to her to class. Troy walked in the room and saw a glimpse of Gabriella but he couldn't tell if it was her or not. He called Gabriella's cell phone to see if the girl that looked so much like Gabriella would answer her phone. When call began all you herd was a phone go off and Troy's picture popped up on the screen. The musical teacher Mrs.Darbus went over to all the students and gave Sharpe, and Ryan a detention for no reason. She told them to give her there cell phones. She walked over to Gabriella and told her they have zero tolerance of cell phones and welcome to your new school. Troy sew Gabriella walk out of the room and followed her. He said hi and Gabriella's face light up with relief. They walked to there next ask and saw the auditions. Troy asked Gabriella if she was going to troy out she replied with a big no. It's my first year I'm going to wait a while before jumping into anything. She asked troy the same he same I'm not really the singing boy at this school I'm the basketball dude.
Sharpe was there signing the paper very big SHARPE. She left and said oh hi Gabriella nice to meet you. Oh hi troy nice to see you did you have a good summer break. At practice for the play Gabriella looked from the back to see the people that were auditioning. She hid behind the janitor's cart. Troy came and hid with Gabriella and she said come on troy they are about to wrap it up lets go try. No way will Gabriella im not trying out well fine me will.
High School Musical.......2007-01-11
This was a gift for a 9-yr-old. She loved it! As it turned out,
she had already read a library copy and was positively thrilled
to have her very own copy.
High School Musical.......2006-11-18
In the book High School Musical Troy Bolton and his dad were playing one on one basketball and his dad is also his b-ball coach (which I would find very hard!) the way to keep Troy going is "He'll look middle, you take it downtown!" is always what Coach Bolton says to Troy. My opinion on this is GREAT because I LOVE the movie too I give them both 5 stars. The drama teacher Ms. Darbus also Troy and Gabriella's homeroom teacher is always a grumpy gills and too full of herself. She feels that no one has any homeroom manners because the class is too talkative when there really not. Her exact words were "I expect we all learned our homeroom manners yesterday?!" If I had a teacher like that I would probably never go to that class or even school!
Whenever Ms. Darbus talks it just troughs me off because she absolutely no sense to me like when she says "Musical Arts is cleansing for the soul" seriously she needs to get a grip and not only think about musicals and herself and the drama club members. Another thing that I don't like about this book is how Ryan and Sharpay only think about how they are going to win the musical and that they've been in 17 school musicals and are never going to lose against anybody ever! Then somehow one day all the cliques and groups came together all as one big group. I would recommend this book to anybody who loved the movie!!!
Book Description
"If I could learn to play the cello well, as I thought I could, I could show by my own example that we all have greater powers than we think; that whatever we want to learn or learn to do, we probably can learn; that our lives and our possibilities are not determined and fixed by what happened to us when we were little, or by what experts say we can or cannot do." Best known for his brilliant insight into the way children learn, John Holt was also an intrepid explorer of adult learning. At the age of forty, with no particular musical background, he took up the cello. His touching and hilarious account of his passionate second career demolished the myth that one must start an instrument (or a sport, or a language) in early childhood, and will inspire any reader who dreams of taking up a new skill. Reviews "Very often when I travel adults come to me and longingly say they want to play a musical instrument but are now too old. I always and with great delight refer them to John Holt's book Never Too Late. The beauty of Holt's book is that he himself set his own standards for music making. The reason for playing music is not to compare yourself to anyone but to bring forth what is inside of you." - Yo Yo Ma "A deep love of his instrument sparkles on the pages of his life story." - Christian Science Monitor "Taps the Walter Mitty dreamer is all of us." - Los Angeles Times
Customer Reviews:
Changed my Life.......2006-11-03
I loved this book. I've read it many times and I continue to be inspired by the wisdom Mr. Holt has left with us. I wish I would have read it when I first started playing an instrument (guitar) in my teens. Its perfect for an adult student but equally appropriate for younger students also.
John Holt (through this book)inspired me to learn/play Chess. .......2006-05-14
This book, to me, inspired me to pick up chess. I have never in my life learned to play chess because to me it was quite hard, but i gave it a go. I searched for a good cd rom as compared to finding a teacher or a book and in the end learned to play chess in about a month. It took me about a month to play because chess was something so new to me, but once i got the hang of it, everything was like childs play. John Holt proved to me that certain things can be overcomed-if one tries very hard. At times, it won't work but in others it will. The program that i buoght was" how to play chess with fritz and chesster-part 1".
On music, about playing an instrument. Mom's and Dad's should take them at an early age to music school. The other area is about pregnant ladies listening to alot of classical music as well as them having a positive environment while there babies are still in the womb. This will produce smarter, and intelligent babies. If mom's read alot of books while they are pregnant, this too benefits the child.
Holt's book is inspiring. This may inspire me to take flight cessna lessons some day soon. Oh yes, for me, chess has been my musical instrument you could say. For me, chess has enhanced my IQ. It is a great stress releaser....
This book is inspiring. Give it a try, in reading it, it could help you take up the French or Russian language or it could help you -motivate you to become an Anesthesiologist.
Musical Memoirs.......2006-01-14
This book contains the musical memoirs of John Holt, amateur cellist. Throughout his life, Holt was fascinated with the process of learning and of education. He taught classes in elementary schools, and he published a number of books including "How Children Fail." In this book, Holt presents many observations about his own struggles to learn music. Holt didn't come from a musical family and had practically no training in music as a young person. However, starting in his teenage years, he developed a great love of listening to music. Over the next few decades, he dallied with learning the guitar and flute, but it wasn't until he was 40 that he began studying music in earnest on the cello. Of all instruments to choose, the cello is not one to be taken up lightly, for it is notoriously difficult in its fingerings, bowings, and tone quality. Holt found that his musical studies were requiring more and more of his time, but he also found the time spent on working with his instrument to be so rewarding that he was willing to give up many of his other activities so as to have more time to practice and learn.
In this book, Holt presents a lifelong analysis of all the types of music he had been exposed to, and what they meant to him and his development in music. He takes us from learning songs with his aunt on summer vacation through how he figured out musical notation by fiddling around with piano keys, through intensive summer music camps he attended as an adult with his cello. At times, this seemingly exhaustive enumeration of musical experiences can drag a bit. On the other hand, each anecdote does eventually play an important role in the big picture as Holt unfolds his story.
As a struggling amateur musician, I found Holt's story to be quite inspiring. Since Holt was neither a trained musician nor a music educator, he was able to offer an uncommon perspective on music practice and learning. I was struck by his insistence that musicians at all levels should include in their daily practice pieces that are much too hard for them, rather than just sticking to material that is appropriate for their current level. He also stresses the need for playing real music, and not just exercises or pedagogical pieces (although he does note that sometimes these, too, are useful). He stresses the importance of playing pieces in their entirety as well as working on individual trouble spots. Holt makes it clear that musicians of all levels should be playing music that speaks to them (rather than to their teachers). Through his example, he shows that it doesn't matter what age you are when you first begin to study music-if you are serious about your practice, you will progress and find immense enjoyment as you play.
Not Happy.......2005-08-02
This book really did not meet my expectations. The author, an educator actually gave very little insight into his learning of the cello as an older adult. Much of the book is biographical and is disappointing because the author really is not much of a musician. He really had very little musical background. It is confusing because one moment he is talking of his proficiency playing difficult pieces and the next it is clear that he is having trouble with the basics of reading music or understanding music theory.
...a bit boring..........2005-07-28
Found it a bit difficult to keep on reading this one. Really just an everyday memoir with few interesting highlights. The context in which the story is told is rather dated, there are few music-related gems to be found and it is hard to empathize with the author's whining.
Book Description
Sound Advice is a valuable resource for college students, beginning teachers, and experienced conductors of children's choirs. It covers the vast array of skills needed by today's conductor and will benefit all choir directors who want their choirs to reach a higher level of artistry. This book will be useful on many levels: for the college student studying the child voice and elementary teaching methods; for the teacher beginning to direct choirs in schools, synagogues, churches and communities; for experienced children's choir directors who wish to know more about orchestral repertoire for treble voices, conducting an orchestra, and preparing a children's choir to sing a major work with a professional orchestra. The underlying educational philosophy is sound; the author sees development of musicianship through singing as the primary goal of a children's choir program. This philosophy differs dramatically from the traditional concept of the conductor as all-knowing and the singers as receptacles. An outstanding aspect of the book is how the author leads the reader to an understanding of how to teach musicianship. Developing literacy in the choral setting is a mysterious, amorphous process to many conductors, but the author clearly outlines this important process with practical suggestions, well-documented examples, and a clear reading style which will reach readers on many levels. The comprehensive repertoire, skill-building sheets, and programs for all types of children's choirs will provide teachers with immediate and highly valuable resources.
Customer Reviews:
Great Resource for Children's Choir Conductors.......2005-12-17
Jean Ashworth Bartle is the director of the Toronto Children's Chorus, an excellent children's choir and one of the best in the world. This book is a wonderful addition to children's choir conductors around the world.
The first few chapters are about teaching children to sing. They cover aspects such as teaching style and delivery, lesson content, and common problems found in children's singing. Following chapters cover a checklist for ideal rehearsals and performance preparation, developing music reading literacy, discipline, organization, auditions, conducting an orchestra, touring and recording, and great appendices.
As one can see, most of the book is dedicated to things which are NOT actually conducting, for very little of conducting is actually conducting. Bartle's writing style is densely packed, and the reader should take care not to gloss over important sections.
One of Bartle's main theses is that children can achieve great artistic performances and don't need to sing "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" or Johnny Goodguy's latest arrangement of "Y.M.C.A." They can sing Bach, Leonard Bernstein, and folk songs/demanding music from cultures all over the world.
Often a new choir director finds that their training has left them somewhat unprepared when it comes to the subjects of discipline, rehearsal pedagogy, auditions, conducting an orchestra, and various other administrative aspects of "running a program." This book seems designed to focus on those skills.
Consequently, there is little in the book regarding vocal technique, conducting gesture, score study and analysis, and other related topics--there are other great books out there on those subjects.
For other books on church choir directors, consult books by John Bertalot. Other related books are Directing the Choral Music Program by Kenneth Philips and Chorus Confidential by William Dehning. Great books on vocal technique include those by James McKinney, Oren Brown, and Clifton Ware.
Though church conductors will also find great ideas, I think Bartle's book is an excellent resource to any children's choir or community choir conductor, especially beginners. Enjoy it!
Customer Reviews:
Excellent! Considered the best text by many piano teachers........1999-09-15
This is a wonderful comprehensive instuction manual for teaching a child the art of piano playing.
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