Music Books

I"ve little experience with orchestration and this book helps, giving solid foundation and there's alot to "get" as a beginner. The attached CD also helps. I've gone through the book once. Planning to go through it again.

I highly recomend this book to be in your collection if you want to learn arranging and orchestration. It covers alot of ground. Make sure you know your theory first, as a fair knowledge is assumed here, which I liked. I'ts in-depth and has many many great points and wise advice on what to do in various situations. The author is a Jazz guy so the use of the word "Commercial" in the title meas "Jazz". Theres nothing for arranging rock or pop and only a little on film-scoring. The CD's have audio examples but not of every example in the book - just the ones composed by the author, however they are great to have and read-along with.

Excellent text book. Author is disolutioned as to who is reading the book. Tries to explain (in quotes) what you should know about history and theory couses after second year theory in college. Great book for those with at least two years of music theory in college. It is beyond the quarter unit course that I taught, in orchestration, with seniors, at a four year institution. If you have the information of a graduate college student it is excellent. I would love to take a graduate course from this gentleman. He has a very diversified education in many musical venues.

As a rock guitarist who reads and writes music, I bought Arranging Music for the Real World hoping to expand my knowledge and discover new techniques for using brass, woodwinds, and strings to enrich recorded songs. Packed with practical and timeless information, Corozine's book-and-CD package exceeds my expectations. The audio examples are beautifully recorded and performed, and make the book's notation come alive. If you've wondered how to get those lush sounds from the golden era of big bands, swing ensembles, and classic movie scores, this book provides the answers. Most importantly, it will give you the confidence to work with trained musicians and express your ideas using their vocabulary.

It isn't an introduction to music theory. To benefit from this material, you need to read music notation and understand keys, scales, intervals, and harmony. But if you're looking to unlock the secrets of arranging for acoustic instruments, this book offers a lifetime of study and inspiration. Just be sure you have a piano or keyboard handy to explore the hundreds of examples Corozine uses to illustrate essential concepts and techniques.

Excellent book, lots of examples in the CD. The book gives you tons of useful tips for the working or weekend musician. I gave it 4 stars because it already starts with concepts like open or closed position, and doesn't explain them, making this book a bit advanced for a beginner. If you're not a beginner, this book is for you!

Great book! I really like it. Many exemples. If you want to know more about the art of music production, you have to buy it!

Everything must be done with passion. Which art does not include passion? What can be greater than producing something that makes us have feelings? Music production is an art and it's going to be that way as long as people still enjoy making it so knowing how it is produced can provide useful help for further teaching or a career into this field. This is an amazing book with lots of interesting information all related to music production so if you have a passion and that passion is music buy this book and you won't be sorry!

This book was great man...I have read quite a few books on recording and music but none as good as this one. Its was very detailed about the processes and tricks of the trade on the how to/why to of this very secretive part of the business. It really contains all the full spectrum of information on how do start and maintain a successfull career as a Producer. I would hightly recomend this to anyone interested in beginnnig any sort of career in this business!!

This is a fine description of the magic and the mystery of what goes into being a successful record producer. The only drawback is the insight into the fact that it is more mystery than magic. All too often Burgess says 'of course, you can never tell what will be a hit' -- this tells us all too much about the industry itself. Still, the insight into how the biz works is more than worth the price of entry...

If record production is the career for you then this is the book you're looking for. This is not one persons subjective view on the art, but rather an intelligent overview of the various styles of record production backed by hundreds of quotes from many of the worlds greatest producers.

Richard saves the would-be record producer from tripping over themselves for years by providing a very comprehesive insight into this interesting profession. This is by no means a book on the glamour of the industry, but a practical guide that will leave you knowing whether you've got what it takes or don't think it's for you. Short of handing you a production deal, Richard has given you as much information to get a producer started that can be found between the covers of a book.

I would highly recommend this book to anybody considering record production. Kudos to Richard Burgess.

His uncle Felix Blumenfeld was a Horowitz teacher.
Some of Neuhaus students among many others:
- Sviatoslav Richter and Emil Gilels, both considered top 10 world pianists.
- The first teacher (the mother) of Andrei Gavrilov.
- Radu Lupu.

This book is funny as exemplified below by some excerpts:

"Thinking about art and science, about their mutual relationship and contradictions, I came to the conclusion, for some reason or other, that mathematics and music are situated at extreme poles of the human spirit, that these two antipodes limit and determine the whole spiritual and creative activity of man and that situated between them is everything that mankind has created in the field of science and art".

I found his above childish thoughts very interesting, perhaps meaning that everything is a linear combination of pure logic (math) and pure emotion (music). As I work with math and like to play piano I will tend to be a "complete" human being :-)

Other of his "jokes":

"When Emil Gilels came to study with me in the Moscow State Conservatory, I was once forced to say to him: You are already a grown man, you can eat steak and drink beer but so far you have been fed with a baby's bottle"

"I remember that when Glazunov was about fifty his mother used to tell the washerwoman to be careful with the child's linen"

"To play the piano is easy. I mean the physical process, and not the summit of pianistic art.It is obvious that to play the piano very well is just as difficult as to do anything else very well, for instance to pull teeth or macadam a road".

"I must once more apologize for this excessively long history about myself; that is always somewhat indecent. But what can one do?"

"Carl Czerny, the "dry and methodical genius" who has tortured generations of pianists wih an inexhaustible stream of studies and exercises..."

And many more...

His jokes are almost everywere. Otherwise the book has several useful recommendations and analysis about the art of piano playing and has chapters on "artistic image of a musical composition", on tone, on technique and on teaching activity.

But be advised: Sometimes the book is a bit verbose, repetitive and philosophical. It is not directed only to technical problems.

The Art of Piano Playing such a terrific book that every pianist should have it. I've read it through and will read it again and again. The information in this book is to the point. You can't help but come away with a better understanding of the art of piano playing

I'm sure anyone shopping for this book knows that Heinrich Neuhaus was the mentor of such giants of the piano as Richter, Gilels and Lupu. Well, here between these covers you'll find the reason why. Neuhaus possessed a great mind and an ability to express himself like no other pedagogue I have read. While reading his book I kept thinking I was reading Tolstoy, not for any similarity of style or substance but because I got the same feeling from both their works, that here is a great man who had lived a full life, and then had the patience and wherewithal to sit down and commit it to paper, thereby enriching piano posterity. This book deserves pride of place on any pianist's bookshelf. I thank the previous reviewer who said that it was a crime that this book is out of print. I paid a hefty amount for what looks like a slim volume, but it is packed with such profundity that I have to consider this a seminal addition to my library. Get it wherever you can, this is one for the ages.

I havent heard anything bad about this book. Neuhaus is a very cultural and wise man, and great sense of humor. After reading this book I have found myself quoting it quite often.
Its not perfect, but nothing is so... Just read it and you will know what I mean, Its very well worth the read, and it will make you laugh several times.

Lets put it this way.... this is not light reading (is the slang word an airplane book?). It is though one of the best books on playing the piano. Neuhaus is concise, to the point and likes to put out interesting anecdotes, some humorous.
This is also pretty advanced so I doubt non musicians could find any utility apart from historical tidbits. Neuhaus taught Richter who taught many others.... and just like we do with other disciplines - we have to pay tribute to the forefather of this lineage/legacy, especially since he helped produce Richter.

It's a great book-cd combination for a people who like to study how to chant, then to impress others people.

This book is well laid-out and easy to follow. For the first time in 40 years I can actually read and chant Torah using the trope marks. I am not especially good at reading Hebrew, and have tried unsuccessfully many times to learn trope, but after two weeks with this book and the CD, I was astounded to find myself chanting properly right out of the Tanach! Highly recommended.

This book & CD combination is perfect for the motivated self-teacher. Having both male and female voices in the examples makes it easier to find your own voice. However, motivation is important, as in any self-teaching. I started learning trop from this book several times in the past, and couldn't stick with it. This is not a fault of the book, rather the fault of being motivated. Once I finally set the goal of chanting Torah 2 months hence, I found it much easier to stick with the book.

Possibly one of the best parts of the book is the last few pages, that actually show the musical notation for the trope marks. This is what most other sources are lacking, but it's immensely valuable to those of us who can read music. Once we've heard the trope a few times, we don't have to turn on the CD in order to be reminded -- just turn to the back of the book, or even just carry around a photocopy of those 3-4 pages.

Much as I enjoyed this workbook and its accompanying CD, I find making the time or finding the self-discpline to be the hard part. If you are a person who needs "babysitting," I doubt if this self-help book will be good for you.

The chants are sung in a comfortable mid-range, as opposed to a soprano or a bass.

I studied for 6 months with this book/CD combo and mastered the trope (Reform version) well enough to have chanted Torah for my synagogue twice in the last couple of months and am preparing for a 3rd parsha. You won't find every possible combination of cantillation marks here, but you will find 95+ % of what you'll ever run into in the Torah (including special sections for High Holidays, Song of the Seas and the Ten Commandments.)

The only thing better would be to combine this with the availability of a trained cantor. Highly recommended for anyone in a Reform schul.

I found this book to be incredibly helpful in understanding ADHD and how art therapy can be especially effective in treating this disorder. I recommend it very highly, especially if you or someone you know has an ADHD child in their family.

I found this book to be incredibly helpful in understanding what my child was going through -- it really helped me better communicate with my child and we are now working through her issues together. It also helped me better understand and work with her therapist. All in all, I found this book to be extremely helpful and recommend it very highly, especially if you or someone you know has an ADHD child.

This book should fall into the hands of professionals and families whose lives have been affected by contact with this illness.

The methodology of art therapy is an insight not only to expose repressed feelings as well as helping to define the perspectives of those with antisocial behavior patterns.

The clarity of this easily read book and the dedication of the author's efforts should give impetus to new hope for those who have struggled with this neurological problem.

This reviewer's first hand encounters with the symptoms of ADand HD,hyperactivity, distractibility and impulsivity which evoked only a loving empathy found the contents of the book a hope-filled horizon.

By teaching and giving vent through physical expression in art forms many more senses are engaged leading to awakenings, the author encourages, thereby moving all concerned to more pragmatic and redeeming stages of self regard and social responsibility.

Ms. Safran's studies and conclusions may well repave many paths filled with frustrations and heartbreak for families while providing a seemingly simple method to self discovery for the
ADandHD affected.....at any age.

This is a very good resource for therapists working with children with AD/HD, families with AD/HD and adults with AD/HD. Written in a down to earth style the book briefly reviews the history of AD/HD,tells how to assess children,families and adults and suggests appropriate assessment tools to use. Though the book is not geared to individual work, it coaches the reader in how to set up groups for children, families and adults. In addition, the book includes an excellent resource appendix for the therapist and parent education.

In this book, Diane Safran clearly demonstrates her knowledge and skill as a highly qualified art therapist. More importantly, in this work she brilliantly demonstrates the efficacy of this discipline in diagnosing and treating this disorder.
What is most impressive is her sensitivity to and the awareness of the pervasive impact this disorder has on the whole family. Regardless of whether the patient is a child or an adult, once the diagnosis is made, Safran and her team are prepared to address individual, family and environmental issues impacting on future progress of the patient.
The text is well written, the format easy to follow and the case studies and illustrations excellent.
As a pioneer in the field of art therapy education, I recommend this book not only to those teachers and mental health professionals working with ADHD populations, but to students in all fields of mental health who need to be informed about the value of this discipline as an adjunct to their practice and as a significant modality that may be a treatment of choice.

This is a very light, straight-from-the-pages book. Meaning, it's not like his mother's biography. it doesn't give any insight or past memories or anything of the such. 98% of the stuff in this book is just recycled information from M, Popstar, Bop, etc.

Unfortunately, that's how most Aaron Carter books are. There may not be as much to write about on a sixteen-year-old as a thirty-something-year-old, but you can make it interesting.

All rants aside, again, this IS a fun book. It has the astrological stuff that teen mags repeat every month. However, this isn't the book for you if you've been a fan of Aaron's for a long time. It's very basic, and you probably already know who Nick is, what his birthday is, where he grew up, etc. Not to mention the fact that this book was released when he was just eleven. Most of the book is filler. His life story is finished before hte first half of the book; the last 2-3 chapters are donated to Nick and the BSB.

A recent fan? Check it out. A long-time fan? Skip it.

ohh, if u could read this book ,you will totally screamed.....I have read it and i couldnt stop my self to blushed coz i was amazed by aaron carter.He is so nice than I've known before...You so why wait buy this copy and this will impressed you so much...

I think his book was very well written book.Once i started reading i was devoured into the book. It felt a lot like i knew aaron from reading this short biogrophy. It let me kinda take an inside look at aaron...i learned a lot more about him. I also loved the color photo section in the book. And since i didn't know much about him at the time and i wanted to know more...I read this. I felt like i got to know him. I rate this a 10 star book! Ok I rate it a 5 outa 5..there that better??? So if u are an aaron fan...i suggest you read this! I luv u aaron! Luv, ~*~*KRystal~*~*

THIS BOOK IS BRILL IT TELLS YOU TONS ABOUT AARON AND HOW TO CONTACT HIM IT ALSO TELLS YOU HIS OLD ADDRESS IN TAMPA BAY.I KNOW EVERY ONE SAY THIS BUT I REALLY AM HIS NUMBER ONE FAN, OH BOY WHAT ID DO TO MEET HIM ID DO NEARLY ANY THING. I THINK HES GREAT AND THIS BOOK IS BETTER THEN WORDS CAN SAY...I LOVE AARON VOICE AND PORSONALITY AND THIS BOOK TELLS YOU EVERY THING,I JUST WISH AARON COULD WRITE HIS OWN BOOK THAT WOULD BE SO COOL WELL AS I SAY I LOVE THIS BOOK AND I JUST READ IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN ITS SO GOOD SO BUY IT!!!!!

well..I think if you read this book you would be soooo suprised about Aaron Carter..that he's so awsome..and cute too!!!

Ms. Sheridan really brought this book into my heart. She knew exactly how to make me feel for these brave men and after I was done reading I really wanted to know more because I truly felt connected with them. Excellent book and I do recommend anyone wanting to read a book about the FDNY to read this book first!!!!!

This is a truly heart-wrenching story of the pipers and drummers pf the FDNY pipe band. Written in a strong journalistic style, the suthor really conveys the strength of these men and their close relationships.

While she gets a few details of uniform (shawls for piper's plaids) and piping (puffing on their pipes) wrong, she's really captured the feelings of these men who face danger and death on a daily basis.

From the first page, I was hooked. I felt like I was living that day all over again. This time, I wasn't sitting in my home in Seattle in shock and horror, I was in New York with an emotional connection to the families mentioned in the book and those not mentioned. I have a new found respect for all fire fighters. I already have a great deal of respect for those who put there lives on the line for any job but now it's impossible to put into words the level of respect I have for them.

This book WILL take you on an amazing emotional journey.

This book is very powerful. I picked this book up and thought it would be an interesting read then I could not believe how moved I would become. It is well written and allows the reader to get close to the men and their families. The readers anxiety grows as the date of September 11 approaches. I had to put the book aside a few times and remind myself of the gratitude I feel toward the brave men who gave their lives to save others and inspiration from those who survived and went back to look for family members, friends and complete strangers in order for those who were murdered to be laid to rest properly. The unity and brotherhood of the elite group of bagpipe players is inspirational. Thank you to the author for allowing readers to gain a new perspective of the days following September 11 and what the FDNY suffered. I felt as though I knew these men personally.

Bagpipe Brothers: The FDNY Band's True Story Of Tragedy, Mourning, And Recovery is the true story New York City's Emerald Society Bagpipe Band, who used their instruments to mourn in the and show their respect at the funerals for the victims of the 9/11 attacks, including the 343 firefighters who died and those who were unearthed from the rubble at ground zero. The band itself lost one of its own from the attacks, as well as the brother of a member; Bagpipe Brothers recounts in vivid detail the emotions, experiences, terrible grief and striving to help any way one can in the wake of tragedy. A profound and powerful tribute to both the lost and the survivors struggling to cope.

This book is a must have for the bassists music library. I thought I knew a lot about music and playing the bass. I thought I knew a lot of licks. This book took my playing to the next level. It really gives you a LOT of ideas for virtually EVERY type of music. Like Metal, R&B, African Music, Latin, Slap???? It has it ALL. Great rythmic exercises as well as countless hours upon hours of practiceable licks. Yep.

Westwood's book is really quite the handy resource to have. If you have a question as to a musical style and how to play it on the bass, this is what to use. Having the standard notation, tabs, and audio to learn from will be helpful for beginners through more advanced players.

One caveat I would bring to the potential buyer is that this is by no means a book on theory, it is a huge collection of examples. There is a small introduction describing techniques at the beginning of the book as well as a paragraph to a page or so introducing each various style, but even that is in more of a historical context. At the point that i bought this book, I really just wanted to find really cool stuff to play and I couldn't have cared less for any theory, and that indeed I received. Even after 4 years of having this book, I still find the riffs at the end of this book (progressive jazz) to be some of the most challenging and fun to play.

In conclusion, this is a fine reference to have as it attempts to cover the myriad of styles out there...and it does a decent job.

i have just started reading this book and i'm already learning something. the quality of the recordings on the CD's is top notch and the font size is great(i only wish the book was spiral-bound). thank you Mr. Westwood for an invaluable source of inspiration. :)

If you're interested in bass, and not a pro yet, this is one of the few worth buying. If you read my other reviews you'll know I don't give out unearned compliments. If the book is a farce I will say so. There is no worthless drivel in this book, but 250 pages of bass lines showing different techniques.

The bass bible is intimidating when you first open it up. there is alot of info. But i have thoroughly enjoyed learning the bass lines and progressions

This book is great! You can: Play guitar, play piano, sing the lyrics....all from this book!

When I say that you can "play like Barry", I mean it. The Brothers have presented us with their well-remembered hits of their collection, and for each hit includes piano and guitar chords. Now, for any guitarist like me you're lucky to have illustrated guitar chords--not just the abbreviations and symbols. I love it when I play my accoustic guitar while going along with "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"--sounds just like Barry's guitar playing!! The layout of the music is just flawless and unsurpassable.

And, finally, in the "About the Songs" section of the book, I love relooking at the descriptions of the Bee Gees' hits, where Barry, Robin and the never-forgotten Maurice Gibb made comments. The descriptions give you plenty of detail and I always learn something new reading them--for instance, Robin describes how the UK hit "My World" surprisingly became a hit--that motivates me on their music. What I'm trying to tell you is that the descriptions aren't like: "Yes, a great song indeed" and that's it. Not really.. For example, Barry's description of Stayin' Alive blew me away saying "Light fuse and stand well back"--like it was some explosive piece of music. That section just captivates my attention, and makes me replay their music.

This is one ultimate book that makes you play their hits without trouble! You're definitely missing out on this inspiring book if you don't think about buying it!! Believe me, it's worth your every penny.

This is a 4 CD set of wonderful songs from Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. There are songs from the early days like "I Started a Joke" and "Spicks and Specks", through the disco craze of "Saturday Night Fever" and on to 1990. I is a great collection, one I listen to over and over.

this is a cool Book that gives a overview within the structuring of many the Bee Gee's songs.you can see the Paino Parts&Hooks&bridges too various tracks they did over the years.I've always dug there Rhythm&Timing on there tracks.they understood Hooks really well.and one of the things they don't get enough credit for is being able too Groove during the Disco Era when many acts were just pushing Buttons these Cats could strip down the Groove.

This 43 song composite covers songs from 1067-1990. The chords are set for piano, vocals and guitar. Some of the song selections are perrenial favorites, while others are odd offerings ("Jumbo", "Throw A Penny" "Boogie Child (actually complex)). There is a brief Discography and a song by song recollection by each one of the Gibbs. Some comments are funny some poignant and some silly. Not a bad set.

A great collection -- for Vocal, Piano and Guitar. 43 songs with lyrics and guitar chords/diagrams. Includes brief comments by the B-G's on each song. Contains: Alive, Bodyguard, Boogie Child, Come on Over, Edge of the Universe, Fanny (Be Tender with My Love), First of May, He's a Liar, Holiday, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, How Deep is Your Love, I Started a Joke, I Can't See Nobody, I've Gotta Get a Message to You, If I Can't Have You, Jive Talkin', Jumbo, Living Eyes, Lonely Days, Love You Inside Out, Love So Right, Massachusetts, Melody Fair, More than a Woman, Mr. Natural, My World, New York Mining Disaster, Night Fever, Nights on Broadway, One, (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away, Run to Me, Someone Belonging to Someone, Stayin' Alive, Throw a Penny, To Love Somebody, Too Much Heaven, Tragedy, Woman in You, World, Words, You Should be Dancing, You Stepped Into my Life.

Sure wish it had more . . . .

I bought this book for the illustrations, but I found the story was just as beautiful. My grandson who has just started playing the trumpet loved it, too. In fact, he even made the effort to give me a call after he had read it to share his enthusiasm. I will definately purchase more of this remarkable woman's work,

As an international music teacher we need to give all theencouragement we can give to keep the music programs alive in ourschools. Not just in the states but in the world. This short story relates to the young hopeful musican who hopes to be a contributor to the music world - Keep the dream.

Ben's Trumpet (authored and illustrated by Rachel Isadora) was named a Caldecott Honor book for best illustrations in 1980. Honor! These black and white pics are striking! I'll have to read the book that actually won that year. I can't imagine anything better than "Ben". But that's beside the point.


Summary

Ben has an imaginary trumpet and frequents the outside of the Zig Zag Jazz Club. He plays his "trumpet" for his mother, father, grandmother, and baby sister. But when neighborhood children see him playing, they laugh and call him crazy. Ben decides to quit playing his imaginary trumpet, until he meets with the trumpeter from the club.

Ben's Trumpet is a masterful with a simple text and "art-deco" that is remeniscent of The Jazz Era. Isadora is successful in conveying a cool, jazzy feel. A must-read with a satisfying conclusion. Play on!

R

In the age of computer games and 3-D animation, the simple imagination of a child to envision himself learning to be a jazz musician is refreshing. Unlike previous reviews, I feel the dramatic black and white drawings set off some of the cultural issues the illustrations portray. Obviously, young Ben does not live an idealized childhood at home. Yet, he finds that his passion for music can only be fulfilled outside of jazz clubs (which usually perform late in the evening and he is too young to enter). The point of the book is how he acts out THIS reality. He is looking "outside of the box" (hence the illustrations of his home life) and finds the attention from the father-figure (the trumpeter) who Ben wants to imitate. The book vividly illustrates the importance of role models in a child's life.

There are large and small crimes in the world. Small crimes includes little white lies and petty theft. Large crimes represent something much larger in the grand scheme of things. For example, it is a very large crime that it took the New York Public Library's 2003 100 Children's Books Everyone Should Know for me to discover "Ben's Trumpet". Have you seen this book? This is a gorgeous piece of work, particularly striking in its publication date (1979) but not dated. Not even a little. Following Ben, a young man living in a Harlem-esque neighborhood, the story depicts the boy's obsession with playing the trumpet. The plot is touching and has a happy ending that doesn't feel forced or tacked on. It flows just as smoothly as the book itself. Nice storylines aren't what push this book into greatness, however. Look at the illustrations a minute. Notice Isadora's use of line. Her clever placement of black and white. Look at the different drawing styles that emanate from the jazz musicians and their music. Now compare this to Ben's home, a simplistic realistic series of pictures. My favorite section comes after the trumpeter at the Zig Zag Jazz Club compliments Ben on his trumpet playing. The next two pages show the trumpeter walking away, his body curved, swaying to some internal music. On the opposite page there is a kaleidoscope of forms and images, possibly representing Ben's elation at the compliment. Possibly just serving as gorgeous filler. Please read this to your children. Teach this to your children. And give this book to everyone you know. Do I gush? I know I do. But trust me, this book is worth it.