Average customer rating:
- An Excellent Programmed Text for Basic Music Theory
- Self-Paced Way to Basic Music Theory Comeptance
- Basic Materials in Music Theory
- Excellent course for beginner or review
- An Excellent Introduction to Theory
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Basic Materials in Music Theory: A Programed Course (11th Edition)
Paul O. Harder , and
Greg A. Steinke
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Harmonic Materials in Tonal Music: A Programed Course, Part II (9th Edition)
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ASIN: 0131931008 |
Book Description
This classic, self-paced, auto-instructional introduction to music fundamentals allows users to work independently through a programmed format. From the wealth of clearly laid-out lessons and exercises, learners receive continual feedback and reinforcement as they work through the sequence at their own pace. Chapter topics cover the basic materials of music: time and sound, the notation of pitch, time classification, note and rest values, time signatures, intervals, the basic scales, the major scale, minor scales, key signatures, and triads. For private music studio teachers, and anyone involved in the teaching—and learning— of the basic fundamentals of music.
Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Programmed Text for Basic Music Theory.......2006-08-27
I found this book to be a great beginning text for understanding music theory. It is very easy to follow. While I sometimes find programmed texts to be tiresome, this book found the right balance between repetition and progress.
Self-Paced Way to Basic Music Theory Comeptance.......2006-01-27
Wanting to accompany my instrument lessons with some theory, asked a composer friend what he recommended. This was it.
He was right. Self-paced, well laid out, with building block approach from the outset, assuming nothing, then building through eleven chapters with exercises as one goes that assure the user that the concept is down, or time to go back and relook.
Like self-guided computerized work without screen. Nice to be in a book again.
One can see how this has become classic. Tried and tested, this will assist all who want basic music theory foundation.
Basic Materials in Music Theory.......2005-09-15
This is a required text for the intro to music class I am taking
in college. It would make a fair to average work book, worth about $10 on the open market. But it is by no means a text book,
as the reader's attention is continually distracted by questions
and "fill in the blank" trivia. Explainations of note divison,
beat and other fundamentals are rarely shown on staff notation.
The vocabulary and definitions are archaic. This is not worth
reading let alone paying $76 for.
Excellent course for beginner or review.......2005-08-10
This book is laid out in excellent, understandable, interesting order and progression. It covers all of the basics, with self paced excercises to facilitate the mastery of the concepts presented. I am using this book for myself now and will use it for my voice students in the future.
An Excellent Introduction to Theory .......2004-11-04
This is a good book and excellent way of learning the basics with how the lessons are laid out. I have really no formal training in music but was really keen on learning so I picked this one up based on recommendations from the other reviewers. Some parts were a little hard, like compound time and borrowed time but I kept ploughing through and it just got easier. As of course with any book, don't expect to get all of your information from one source. I have some other books that explain a little better the Major/Natural Minor, Harmonic and Melodic Minor scales with regards to the pattern of intervals that define each. I would recommend picking up a basic book on how to read sheet music. With this and Basic Materials in Music Theory you'll have some good introductory foundatation for further studying and other texts.
Book Description
By the best-selling co-author of Inner Tennis, here's a book designed to help musicians overcome obstacles, help improve concentration, and reduce nervousness, allowing them to reach new levels of performing excellence and musical artistry.
Customer Reviews:
An absolute necessity.......2007-03-21
I had started music lessons late (piano for me, but the book can be read by any musician), had horrible habits, and played with tension. I was not exactly material for a musician. In fact, these things plagued me all my life, and even though I have two degrees in music from top schools, I always felt I was missing something; that I could play better if only something changed.
I thought I needed more finger dexterity. But I realized dexterity was not the issue; everyone can wiggle their fingers. My issue was a mental one. My inner voice (Green refers to this as Self 1) was constantly criticising me, and I was listening. As a result, I too often botched passages that I otherwise could play. Technical mastery was difficult because I played with so much tension.
But my wife put The Inner Game of Music into my hands. After barely even 20 pages, I had shown marked progress. Having completed the book, I can testify to its usefulness and indeed, necessity. Dr Green will walk you through the problems everyone faces, and how to overcome them. Once overcome, there is no longer a mental block that prevents us from attainting to our personal best. (Further, his practice tips are unparalleled.) Now, I no longer have the problems I used to. This is not to say I changed overnight; artistry is a path, and not a destination. But there is a night and day difference between my playing *just a few months ago* and now. I'm even planning on getting my doctorate; a goal I used to feel was a pipe dream.
If you are a musician who struggles to attain technical mastery, or who suffers from performance anxiety, or a host of other ailments that hold you back from being a true artist, this book WILL help you.
Buy it. Now.
Inner Game review.......2007-02-22
Similar concepts of Gallaways other books ( I have read them all) with a good musical propective. I recommend it to musicians especially if they perform.
Probably the best Inner Game book.......2007-01-10
I've read 'The Inner Game of Tennis' which was great. Years later I read 'The Inner game of work' which I found a little harder to bring into practice. The great thing about this book is that Barry Green, a musician himself, rewrites the whole Inner Game from his standpoint as a musician. This makes it really 1 + 1 = 3.
It's full of exersizes, very practical.
inner game has more rules than stated in book!.......2006-05-27
this book has left out a lot of variables within the game of the music industry! if you want more information chekc out the works of ty cohen and his book "The New Music Industry: How to Use the Power of the Internet to Multiply Your Industry Exposure, Fan Base and Income Potential Online!" this ones a killer!
Reads like a book report.......2006-02-07
I've read this book twice now, and while I've gotten useful tips out of it, it really does read like a book report of the Inner Game of Tennis, frequently using phrases like 'Gallwey refers to...' and 'Gallwey says'. So I read the Inner Game of Tennis and found that I could have garnered much the same insights from this book without the added and sometimes confusing editorializing by Mr. Green. (And some of Green's additions just complicate things by giving your 'self 1' additional ammunition that it may not have thought of yet.)
All in all a useful book, but to do it over again, I'd skip it and go straight to the Inner Game of Tennis.
Average customer rating:
- Very clear explanations and examples, the best of its kind...
- Good But..........
- Do you know a better one? Tell us !
- Great introduction to Harmony
- Still a gem! I think. Part I of Review
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Harmony: Fifth Edition
Walter Piston , and
Mark DeVoto
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Workbook for Piston Devoto Harmony
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ASIN: 0393954803 |
Customer Reviews:
Very clear explanations and examples, the best of its kind..........2007-05-05
This is volume is basically a text on traditional harmony that is riddled with examples taken from classic music. It is well-organized, very readable and in my opinion the best of its kind.
While this book is indeed a textbook, it is a very readable one and engages the reader while systematically presenting important concepts. I looked at many books before buying this one and I have been using it for years.
If you are not looking for this much depth and instead are focused on practical concepts for modern music, I recommend Harmony and Theory: A Comprehensive Source for All Musicians (Essential Concepts (Musicians Institute).). This is a very concise and well-written book that covers a lot of territory in a small space.
Good But.................2006-12-12
This is a solid text for learning the basics of functional harmony. However, it really needs to be updated. For example most all of the modern music world uses I ii iii IV V vi Viio in Major but Piston just uses I II II IV V VI VII which makes absolutely no since at all!
Do you know a better one? Tell us ! .......2006-11-02
For so many people music is pure magick. Here is a book that uplifts beginner- and intermediate-knowledge to higher knowledge. After each of the 32 chapters there are exercises to measure your understanding of the things teached. Dont steal my copy !
Great introduction to Harmony.......2006-05-21
When I first learned Harmony in the ninth grade, I was taught on an aged and practically antique fourth edition of Piston's Harmony. The first thing I noticed is that the fifth reworked some of the chapters and the order they are in. For example Chapter 10 in the 4th edition was Cadences, but the 5th it is the six-four chord.
After many years away from practice and learning harmony, I came across it again and was tempted. Should I buy it? Would it be changed after all those years?
I am glad to say that it's like an old friend came by. Despite some of the chapters are different in order, the structure remains the same. Piston uses a lot of musical examples to show what he is trying to teach. He starts out with very easy concepts (positions of notes in a chord and intervals). It is assumed that the reader can read music and knows the difference between a whole note and a quarter note, etc.)
The concept of inversions is covered quite thoroughly, giving the reader time to ingest and start to feel comfortable with first inversion, he gets into the second. Finally, in the section on dominants, he gets into third. In between there are chapters on harmonization of a melody, cadences (the old ii-V-I, etc.), triads, modulation, seventh chords, textures, Neapolitan sixths, etc.
One of the greatest strengths of this book is the musical examples that it is drawn from. Once you start getting into triads, etc. you start seeing output from actual composers (usually keyboard reductions) for teaching the works with a piano or keyboard.
If you are a reader interested in learning the craft and the technique of composition, Piston's book will not steer you wrong. It is good to welcome back an old friend.
Still a gem! I think. Part I of Review.......2005-12-26
I received the book today and decided that I would go through the reviews again. I was always taught that if you read the Preface of a book, you get a general idea of the book's purpose. Obviously, your reviewers giving low ratings, never read the preface or introduction to the book. This is especially directed to those who are professionals. Listen to what the 14 year-old wrote. Perhaps this textbook is not intended for students requiring a lot of tutoring, or individuals not wanting a scholarly approach to musical theory. I will finish reading the book and follow-up with Part II of this review. At this time, it is still the bible of musical theory -- bar none! It is a scholarly and historical approach to the history of music theory. Please keep this in mind before writing a bad review.
Book Description
Whether from a concert stage or at the front of a classroom, Roger Kamien knows how to reach an audience--blending intelligence and passion to lift music from the page and bring it to life. His unique combination of artistic and teaching skills makes Music: An Appreciation, Brief Edition an invaluable tool for students wanting to learn more about music.
This best-selling textbook introduces students to perceptive listening and provides an engaging introduction to musical elements, forms, and stylistic periods. It is organized chronologically, but individual sections can be addressed in any order, for a variety of teaching approaches. Musical notation is included but is not required to understand the popular listening guides featured in the text, which focus students’ attention on musical events as they unfold.
Every new copy of the fifth edition is packaged free with the outstanding Multimedia Companion CD-ROM Version 5.0, which makes the study of music easier, more rewarding, and more fun. In addition, the fifth brief edition introduces "Performance Perspectives" boxes and includes revised sections on Jazz and Rock, a new section on music in film, and more!
Customer Reviews:
good.......2007-06-05
easy to understand and learn from, it is a textbook so that's what you are getting. Good pictures and diagrams so far. I bought here because it had the best price.
Music: An Appreciation.......2007-03-10
I ordered this book/ cd set because it was required text for a college class. It is well organized and clearly written. I especially like the way the listening guides in the book refer to specific portions of songs which are recorded so that the entire work can be played seemlessly in its entirity, or specific portions can be accessed individually.
The only thing this work lacks is impossible for any work that attempts to offer a complete appreciation of music to achieve, complete scope.
I recommend this set.
A Good Overview of Music in Context .......2006-10-22
This book does a good job of putting music in an overall historical context. For example, it notes how Baroque productions, whether sculpture or music, meant to "fill space." That accounts for elaborate melodies in music, and movement in painting and sculpture.
Music used to be written as much for the mind as the ear. In some vocal pieces, lyrics correspond to melody. For example, if the word "ascending" is used in the song, the notes of the melody also go up. Vice-versa for descending. If the song mentions one person, a single voice is used--three voices come in when three people are in the storyline.
The musical selections are varied and enjoyable to listen to.
great shape just as promised fast shipping.......2006-02-25
would buy from again everything just as promised and recieved book fast
If you have trouble remembering the names of the music pieces for school..........2005-10-07
I'm using this 5th Brief Edition with Brief Set Of Four CDs for my fall-2005 community college Music Appreciation class.
As a person with a few listening skills, I wish more joyful pieces were here. Some of the music seems overtly here for historic context; but, please don't exact the comment as negativity, but only for face-value. I feel Gustav Mahler had a tremendous impact on society particularly since the 1960s and '70s and is a strange omission. Also, I feel a section of one of Gilbert & Sullivan's operas belongs in this class. Students may relate the storytelling with orchestral music if they understood the language, and Gilbert and Sullivan composed in English. Gilbert and Sullivan operas are just as good as any other opera. English opera could be important because many of the people in my class have the attitude of, "What, you actually expect me to listen to this stuff?" Well, some people in the class are just idiotic, anyway. They don't know what they are saying; but, the quicker they relate, the more convinced we make them, that this music really is better. We must tell the students what makes better music; otherwise, they go back to Paula Abdul. Do you know what I mean?
One thing I noted, the CDs use multiple tracks for each single piece of music. E.g., Duke Ellington's C-Jam Blues, the second piece of music in the set, runs 2:38, but it is divided into 8 CD tracks so that teachers can goto a specific place within the song. I understand the point, but dividing the songs into different tracks confuses me, a student, because the class uses the CD set to test me on "music recognition". I have to hunt down the manual with every listen because the pieces aren't just more simply track-labeled according to piece. One piece may take up 16 tracks, and, initially, when I'm looking at the player, I can't always recognize when the song changes to a different composer. (Some composers sound very similar.) Granted, that's what the tests are for, but THE CD SET EVERYONE BUYS IS USED FOR STUDY. As far as the track divisions, the track method opts to appeal to the teachers before the students for a single reason: book sales depend on the teachers selecting their books for classes, so make the teachers happy. An author marketing his book is not negative, but affective.
Another alternative, which I recommend regardless, is track-naming the disc. I imagine the production cost may rise; or maybe not, I don't know. I play the CDs while I drive my car, and, if the track names were on the disc, I could just look at the CD player screen, instead of fumbling around with the booklet while I'm waiting at a stoplight. Tracknames would be useful, either way.
I like having booklets of information in CDs of classical music, or whatever music I buy. Usually, musical pieces with a foreign language means translation necessity. I believe, wholeheartedly, that foreign language classical music belongs in any class like mine, and excluding a translation seems unwise, since much of classical music history came from Europe. If anything, putting a translation in the set makes it certifiable as classical music. Instead, it has an eight-page booklet stating almost the exact information already on the backside of the CD case, which doesn't even include the first name of the composers: you have to get that from the textbook. Maybe the textbook is supposed to act as the CD booklet, but I still prefer the info in the CD case. Well, since it's in the book, then maybe this is okay, but I felt like putting that fact here because I want the CD information with the CD for reactive reference.
Many famous movies used the pieces referenced in the book, some more famously than others. Multiple viewings of certain films helped me know these pieces before I heard the CD set or began attending this class; particularly, Unfaithfully Yours (1948), and Disney's Fantasia and Fantasia 2000. Buying the movies help benefit your "music recognition" skills because the films paint imagery to the works of great composers, many of which are used in the CDs, making those pieces even more distinguishable for recognition when getting tested.
On an individual opinion, some may think Pavarotti is a great singer, I understand, but he only has one sound when he sings. He is generally incapable of the proper feeling outside of shtick. For the section of La Boheme, he fits into his part quite well, even if he doesn't rise above his normal self. It's a great piece for his singing, but I usually don't think he deserves his reputation.
CD1,1-2, Igor Stravinsky's Firebird was used as the finale of "Fantasia 2000".
CD1,37-41, Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2 Farandole was used in Preston Sturges' "Unfaithfully Yours" (1948), recently released by Criterion DVD.
CD1,42-44, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite was used in Disney's original "Fantasia". If I have to listen to the Nutcracker ONE MORE TIME,... I may flip out.
CD2,45-69, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is the initial segment used in "Fantasia 2000".
CD4,16-23, Stravinsky's Rites Of Spring [Le Sacre du Printemps] is used in "Fantasia", showing Earth's evolutions of early forms of life, finally including the violence of dinosaurs.
Book Description
With nearly three million copies sold over eight editions, The Enjoyment of Music is the best-selling music appreciation text of all time. Spanning the Middle Ages through the twenty-first century, the text offers a thorough introduction to the elements of music, a broad overview of the history of musical styles, and fascinating cultural contexts and perspectives. The Ninth Edition of this classic text features a stunning new design, exciting new repertory, and an unmatched ancillary and media package.
Customer Reviews:
Good, but older editions are better............2007-05-06
I really appreciated the older editions of this book and thought the language was clear and understandable. I still think these aspects of the book are good, however, I am disappointed at the content. I agree with other reviewers who have suggested that the work should be broken into two books -- one on modern music and another on classic music. It just doesn't make any sense to skip major composers and I feel this one size fits all approach misses the mark in this regard.
On the other hand, the book is well-written and has been well-received over its many years and editions. Some reviewers point to an overly politically correct stance, which I believe has some validity. Including minor women composers at the expense of major male composers is not politically correct, it is an inexcusable error. On the other hand, excluding women's contribution to the musical literature completely or leaving out a major woman composer is also an error. I am guessing that a chapter on the cultural issues around women and music with an overview of women composers that are largely unknown or underrated would have better served the target audience.
Textbooks are EXTREMELY expensive and after so many editions, I think this one should be a homerun. Unfortunately, it is now good, but not great. If you don't like this one, you may want to try Music: An Appreciation w/ Multimedia Companion 4.5 CD-ROM. This is done by a concert pianist and does justice to the major composers.
While I am not currently a professional musician, I was for 11 years and I continue to take lessons from a concert pianist. I play a variety of instruments and I've been studying music since before I could read. As such, I think I am in a good position to evaluate the merits of this text. It is still very worthwhile, but I hope they do better in the next edition. Another book worth considering is What to Listen for in Music and Music, The Brain, And Ecstasy: How Music Captures Our Imagination. The former book, gives you an inside look at music through the eyes of a composer and the second is a wonderful and entertaining journey through understanding sound and how music produces pleasure from a psychological and biological viewpoint. Both books are very readable by non-musicians and laypersons without a background of any type. The second book is one that I read in two sittings.... AWESOME! I have reviewed both, if you want more details.
If you are also looking to understand some music theory, try Harmony and Theory: A Comprehensive Source for All Musicians (Essential Concepts (Musicians Institute).). This is a great short introduction to music theory and harmony as it relates to modern music. If you are musical at all, you will find that this covers a lot of ground in a short space.
Buying the Book Online.......2007-02-07
This isn't a review about the work of the book but about ordering it online for people who might be nervous about buying this product online. I bought it for a college course. The bookstore wanted to charge me $50 downtown. I bought it online for about $25, including standard shipping. I was nervous that the book wouldn't make it here on time and I also wondered if it really would be the correct book. The book was shipping in 3 business days (5 days) which was faster than I thought. It was more than a great price, it was said to be in "good condition" and it was in great condition and it was the correct book!
The book itself is easy to understand and follow. I enjoy reading it and it has a lot of up to date information that makes it all the more interesting.
Response to "a reader" and "music teacher".......2006-07-20
After having gone through nine editions, this text bears little resemblence to the original work published in 1955. That text, and the next few editions, were solid and informative. With the addition of co-author Kristine Forney, the work has definitely taken on a more modern perspective at the unfortunate expense of truly great composers.
Having been a serious student of music in earlier life, and a constant listener since birth, I have an avid appreciation of most genres of music. Having said that, I firmly believe the study of music appreciation should remain somewhat "high-brow". By this I mean that it should limit itself to what is considered, in common parlance, as "classical" or "orchestral" music.
Modern genres of music do display moments of true musical genius and originality. But, for the most part, the majority of the material is borrowed, ultimately from the "classical." Most popular musicians have little knowledge of musical composition, or even how to record their works in musical notation. Rap and electronic are the ultimate in this area, many times outright recording a piece of someone else's music and blending the cuts together to produce their own "song."
If one seriously wants to develop an appreciation of music, a solid exposure to and understanding of the "classical" composers is a must. Otherwise, as is the case with most modern and post-modern (whatever that means) teaching materials, a true understanding of the origins, history, and development of the subject is lost. Herbie Hancock and Michael Jackson may be interesting and enjoyable, but they are hardly groundbreaking from a musical perspective.
The authors should separate the "classical" from the "modern" into two texts. Both studies would greatly benefit. After all, with the proliferation of college students downloading music and playing it on every device that can produce a sound, does anyone really think students do not have an appreciation of "modern" music?
Excellent History of Music!!!.......2006-05-12
This is an excellent book to read and study music from. It lays out the history of music in a very understandable manner for an average person. The timeline of music consisting of such musical eras as the medieval, renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, post-romantic, impressionism, early twentieth century and later twentieth century is very enlightening. It's all there from folk to jazz to ragtime and swing. The great composers would have loved to read this one. By the way, poets, make your feast on the history of the Troubadours, Trobairitz, Trouveres and Minnesingers poet-musicians from the middle ages from France and Germany. This is really an interesting book to read regarding music. It's truly educational. Also check "Trilogy Moments for the Miond, Body and Soul" with a new selection of Epulaeryu poems.
Responding to "a reader".......2006-04-09
In response to "a reader's" review, Holst and Orff did not contribute to the larger schema of music history. Although a work like "Carmina Burana" is significant only because it's been rehashed over in dramatic parts of a film, it has little value in terms of delineating trends in music. I only partially agree with his/her assessment of J.-de-la-Guerre because her work is used more to show a common example of highly ornamented French harpsichord music, rather than the composer herself. This is a well-organized book, giving a survey (keyword: SURVEY) of Western music, which means that if you want to learn about Elgar, read a book on him.
Book Description
Navigate the guitar neck better than ever before with this easy-to-use book! Designed from Musicians Institute core curriculum programs, it covers essential concepts for players of every level, acoustic or electric. A hands-on guide to theory, it will help you learn to build any scale or chord on your own and unleash creativity. No music reading is required.
Customer Reviews:
Knowledge is power.......2007-09-10
Good instructional for learning fretboard patterns. Follow the step by step workbook and you'll quickly become very familiar with note positions and virtually every scale in every key.
Great Book.......2007-09-09
It would be better if the name of this book is "The best introduction to guitar fretboard".
Much more than what I expected!.......2007-08-23
I purchased this because it was "suggested" by the "others who bought, also bought" feature on Amazon. WOW! I'm glad I did! From the first page I was navigating the fretboard in a 'new' way. A great supplement to any other fretboard techniques you might be using now. Quick paced instruction and self testing that I think would be relevant to any guitarist who still considers him/herself a student. I'm very glad I purchased this and feel my playing has improved substantially since I started studying this book.
Learning the guitar fretboard .......2007-07-26
I found this book to be very through and I am able to move through it at a nice pace. You can tell it was put together by a teacher with years of experience. He has provided the tools and the explanations to go with it. I highly recommend this book to any guitar player that does not know the fret board. I have been playing for 30 years and am finally learning what the notes are that I'm playing. This book has provided the missing piece to my ability to learn songs much faster.
If you ever wanted to learn the guitar fretboard this book will get you there. So bite the bullet and take a step back to move two steps forward, you won't regret it. I wish I had done it 30 years ago, better late than never.
What I was looking for!.......2007-07-22
This books makes it clear: this is just the beggining! However once you've completed it, you know you've made a step forward. It gives you very good tips to find your way around the fretboard, and deserves its name of workbook: it is like a crossword book! Full of exercices, you feel like you're playing a game! However, if you're looking for a theory book, that's not it. The advices at the end of the book to make you keep on going mastering the fretboard are very interesting, it is overall a very good tool, a good a start or, for people like me, another reason to say to yourself "why didn't I figure this out before"!
Book Description
Many people grimace at the sound of music theory. It can conjure up bad memories of grade school music classes, rattle the brains of college students, and make self-taught musicians feel self-defeated. Music Theory may seem tedious and unnecessary, especially since not many people can read music.
Luckily, Music Theory for Dummies shows you the fun and easy way to understanding the concepts needed to compose, deconstruct, and comprehend music. This helpful guide will give you a great grasp of:
- Note value and counting notes
- Treble and bass clefs
- Time signatures and measures
- Naturalizing the rhythm
- Tempo and dynamic
- Tone, color, and harmonics
- Half steps and whole steps
- Harmonic and melodic intervals
- Key signatures and circles of fifths
- Scales, chords, and their progressions
- Elements of form
- Music theory’s fascinating history
This friendly guide not only explores these concepts, it provides examples of music to compliment them so you can hear how they sound firsthand. With a bonus CD that demonstrates these ideas with musical excerpts on guitar and piano, this hands-on resource will prove to you that music theory is as enjoyable as it is useful. Don’t get discouraged by the seemingly complicated written structure. With Music Theory for Dummies, understanding music has never been easier!
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.
Customer Reviews:
Great for beginners.......2007-05-12
This book really helps if you want to learn the basics of music theory. I sing in a choir and I always feel like I don't belong there because they spout off all this technical music stuff and I can't read music either. This book teaches you everything you need to know.
Very good, but lots of typos and errors.......2007-05-12
Overall, the book is very good. I've never had music theory but had piano and band as a child and am learning guitar as an adult. The best parts of the book explain a lot of things together (major/minor key signatures and associated sharps/flats, chord realtionships/progressions, scale structures, and so on). Things are seeming to click in the ol' gray matter and I WOULD have given it a "5" for the coverage of the subject matter, BUT...
...there are typos/errors throughout the WHOLE book. There are incorrect references to table numbers (trivial mistakes) and there are errors on a few of the example music measures and, in at least one instance, on guitar notes on a fret chart. The editor of this book did a horrible job. I know enough to say "yeah, that's not right" as I read through the book, but the number of errors is appalling.
An Excellent Reference .......2007-05-11
Music Theory for Dummies is the best of both worlds for those of us interested in learning music theory for the first time or refreshing our musical memories. As a child music student I was inundated with music terms which meant little or nothing to me. I faked my way along, despite my ignorance of proper theory or terminology, never thinking it might pertain to me. Only as an adult, who has now written a few songs with the desire to share them, has it occurred to me that I need to know how to write music others can read rather than trying to express myself by humming my songs out. Music Theory for Dummies is a necessity for anyone who wants to truly understand the basics of music, or anyone who already does but needs an excellent reference for refresher or support in learning or comprehending the more difficult aspects of music theory. Music Theory for Dummies is essential for all students, be they beginners, or the more advanced, in need of a simplified backup source for more difficult concepts. Additionally, the drawings and CD are simply a delightful topping on a very solid foundation.
Back in the saddle again.......2007-05-01
Man, this book is exactly what I needed to get back into learning music. I took piano lessons as a kid and again in college, and didn't retain much from the experience except how to count off four-four time. That, and an incredible dislike of structured music lessons. This book starts way at the beginning of note-reading and counting off beats and takes you through to the basics of improvisation and composing your own music. The process is easy and gentle and the information delivered sticks. I remember everything I've read in this, and at no point did I feel like an idiot trying to figure any of the topics out.
The CD is almost worth the price of the book itself, especially if you are a complete beginner. Every major and minor music scale is played out on guitar and piano, and make a great practice aid to play along with. All the chords discussed in the book are played on the piano for you to listen to--which is great, because I didn't know the difference between one 7th chord to the next just by ear, but now I'm learning to.
Also, how cool is it that the book has a short interview with Steve Reich on the composition process in it? I think it's cool, anyway, I'm assuming it's an original interview--had to check and make sure Reich was still alive when I saw that, and voila, he is! There's also a fairly recent interview with the late Robert Moog in it on keyboard design (saw another interview with Moog on-line by one of the authors, so I'm thinking that's original, too). It was a pretty cool way to break up the fairly heavy-duty chapters on chord construction and chord progressions. Overall, this book left me feeling like all my previous experiences with formal music teachers were mostly wasted ones, and that I could have saved myself a lot of time and agony if I had just had this book.
Save Time, money..... .......2007-04-30
If you are interested in learning Music Theory, and you can already read Music from a Lead Sheet (or better), and you also know how to deal with both 1 /4 and 1/8 notes -- look elsewhere.
Save yourself time, effort & money by clicking on the Amazon "Search" Box above and entering Books (then) Music Theory. Among those available from Amazon, I bought, have used, and highly recommend:
:
"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory" by Michael Miller; or (for a slimmer & lighter touch) "Edley's Music Theory for Practical People" by Ed Roseman. Miller's Book is also cheaper, and either one will take you many miles farther on your Musical Theory journey.
Release of this Book "Music Theory For Dummies" was delayed several months (at least on Amazon), and IMHO (and my case) I wish its 336? Pages hadn't made it at all. Why?
If you can use a Lead Sheet you won't even need to touch pages 1-104. Also, if you know how to read/use a Key Signature you can keep skipping to Page 147 where you will be introduced to -- Major and Minor Scales in 13 Pages (and listening to 60 of them from the CD's 93 Tracks).
Chapter 13 (pg. 160) starts "Building Chords" (Triads and Sevenths) using 32 Pages with lots of white space on them (for both Piano and Guitar), including blank Page 192. The Book has lots of white space.
In truth, the educational aspects start to improve markedly (for this Book) beginning on Page 193 (Chapter 14: Chord Progressions) and goes for another 53 Pages. Then it falls off a Cliff.
Two "highlights" of the final 70 pages for me included 1. Appendix B (37 Pages): the oversized, graphic "Chord Chart" in one continuous "Stream" for 13 of 14 Keys showing both Piano and Guitar "sets" separately (I already own better ones for Piano though); and 2. (next "best") was an 8 page detailed Table of the contents for all 93 CD Tracks, but .... I did not use the Index.
I continue to (periodically) study in Miller's Book, and wonder if I'll ever be through with it. It also contains "Lessons", "Exercises" to test you, and a CD. I really hope you will be as lucky to find Music materials that will make you feel similarly. Making Music is different from Playing it, IMO, so finding the right "Teachers" to learn that -- are worth the effort.
Book Description
This superb anthology coordinates with The Norton Recordings (4- or 8-CD set) and provides scores for most of the works discussed in The Enjoyment of Music (Standard, Shorter, and Chronological versions). Orchestral scores and scores for instrumental chamber pieces are highlighted, enabling students to follow along after minimal instruction. Each score is accompanied by brief analytical commentary.
Book Description
Featuring chapters by the world's foremost scholars in music education and cognition, this handbook is a convenient collection of current research on music teaching and learning. This comprehensive work includes sections on arts advocacy, music and medicine, teacher education, and studio instruction, among other subjects, making it an essential reference for music education programs. The original Handbook of Research on Music Teaching and Learning, published in 1992 with the sponsorship of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), was hailed as "a welcome addition to the literature on music education because it serves to provide definition and unity to a broad and complex field" (Choice). This new companion volume, again with the sponsorship of MENC, explores the significant changes in music and arts education that have taken place in the last decade. Notably, several chapters now incorporate insights from other fields to shed light on multi-cultural music education, gender issues in music education, and non-musical outcomes of music education. Other chapters offer practical information on maintaining musicians' health, training music teachers, and evaluating music education programs. Philosophical issues, such as musical cognition, the philosophy of research theory, curriculum, and educating musically, are also explored in relationship to policy issues. In addition to surveying the literature, each chapter considers the significance of the research and provides suggestions for future study. Covering a broad range of topics and addressing the issues of music education at all age levels, from early childhood to motivation and self-regulation, this handbook is an invaluable resource for music teachers, researchers, and scholars.
Book Description
During the nineteenth century, a remarkable scientific instrument known as a harmonograph revealed the beautiful patterns found in music. Harmonograph is an introduction to the evolution of simple harmonic theory, from the discoveries of Pythagoras to diatonic tuning and equal temperament. Beautiful drawings show the octave as triangle, the fifth as pentagram; diagrams show the principles of harmonics, overtones, and the monochord. Anthony Ashton examines the phenomenon of resonance in Chladni patterns, describes how to build a harmonograph of your own, and provides tables of world tuning systems. This inspiring book will appeal to musicians, mathematicians, designers, and artists alike.
Customer Reviews:
Harmon-amazing.......2007-07-09
For anyone wanting to learn some interesting math related information without taking classes that make you sweat bullets then the Wooden Books are a great source to turn to. For the series in a whole, the information is easily grasped and the diagrams and pictures are intersting.
As far as the Harmonograph book in particular, I had no idea that such things existed. I used this as a source for my senior research project entitled "The Mathematics of Music". I got the information I needed, but even afterwards, I couldn't put the book down. Fortuneately, not being able to put the book down is a problem that will only last about an hour. The book is short and to the point, which Mathematics students will love.
After reading this book, all of my friends were impressed with all of the cool things that I told them about Harmonographs and other devices that geometrically plot music. They called me geek, but they were still impressed.
So my overall diagnostic is: The language is eloquent and simple, and you'll wow all of your friends with all of the cool junk you'll learn in this easy-to-read book.
A rare short account of visual expressions of music........2007-01-06
I was really surprised by looking for the first time the visual appearance of music. It looks to me as the our days fractals, shown in a different way.
Wonderful .......2006-08-17
I found this book to be extremely helpful. I'm a music teacher and have been interested in the physics of music for years, but I've never seen the physics of frequency explained so clearly and concisely. I'm really impressed with how well the Pythagorean Comma was handled.
This book, in a format where chapters are almost always one page long, gets into some pretty difficult concepts and explains them better than I thought possible.
This is the book I loan high school kids who are thinking about doing a science project with music. They love it.
Good to know.......2006-07-13
One is reminded of the geometry and math of sound; coupled with its artistic presentation.
Harmonograph: Still mysterious.......2006-02-25
This tiny book is interesting, but not particularly enlightening with regard to the "structure" of music. Regardless, it was worth doing/having.
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