Instruction Books

My daughter received this book (along with I Can Draw Animals also excellent!) for Christmas (which was 2 days before her 5th birthday) and she LOVES it! Very easy directions she can follow all by herself and something she uses over and over again! Great book for little artists!

My 6 yr old gets this book out and starts drawing lots of things from it.. Good book to have.

This is a great book. I went to not being able to figure out what my 6 y.o.son was drawing in school. With this book it has helped him draw things all by himself. We absolutly love this book! My 4y.o enjoys this book also.

Although, we seem to use I Can Draw Animals and I Can Draw People more, this book is also great. My 4 year old daughter and my 4 year old nephew received these for Christmas. They both use these books for hours and we also do it as a family. These (I Can Draw Animals, I Can Draw People, What Shall I Draw Today) are the only ones we have so far, but they are super. Not only are these books teaching my little girl how to draw, but reinforcing time alone drawing, group activity, sharing and "Please pass the yellow", etc... Every child should have these books.

This is a great book to start to learn with. Colors are nice and small children like it.

This book contains essential information for any music student. Purchased to address physical discomfort that required a year-long sabbatical and hand therapy, splints, etc. Previous methods researched included the Taubman method, etc. were much too time-consuming and impractical for the average person who practices less than 12 hours a day. The material on the mechanics of playing was very helpful in helping me overcome tendonitis and shoulder pain. As for practicing approaches, he first part of the book (A Reason For Practicing: Why Do You Practice, Why Don't You Practice and Concentration) is motivating and inspiring, something I refer to again and again. Helped me understand why I practice and don't practice. Addresses psychological barriers that may influence one's approach to music. Wonderful section on concentration, memory, Listening, You and the Piano and Choreography. Section on Performance Anxiety was also insightful and provided innovative approaches.

Bernstein's book is full of great lessons on how to improve your piano playing. This book and "The Art of Piano Playing" by Newhaus should be on every piano player's shelf. I gained a great deal of insight from reading this book and plan to read it again and again. This book will help any serious student of the piano no matter what your level. As you improve your skills you will turn more and more to this book because it will help you at each level. A must read.

If you can tolerate all the touchy-feely psychobabble, the boasting, self-promotion and pretentiousness, you will find some genuinely worthwhile and (to me anyway) original ideas on a variety of topics -- how to memorize, how to strike a balance between staying loose and obtaining a "big sound", hmmm, I might be able to come up with one or two more. So basically, you're looking at a high noise-to-signal ratio here. On the other hand, if you hate to practice and you're looking for a motivational book, this may be just the thing.

I got a LOT out of this book. The suggestions helped me flesh out many misunderstandings I have at the piano. My teacher told me it's all about concentration and Seymour Bernstein gives tons of suggestions to helped get me to the level of concentration I needed to achieve. I'm an A.D.D. type, mind wondering practicer who focused way too much on muscle memory even though I consider myself musical and the piano hasn't been my primary instrument. That led me to certain distracting physical challenges that took away from the musicality. This book will help you understand how to listen to yourself better and consider all of the notes when you're playing instead of the bulling though hard parts. Get this book, The Art of Piano Playing by Heinrich Neuahus and Piano Technique by Walter Giesking. These books vary in thier suggestions but you can build a complete point of view out of them to find yourself in your piano playing.

Before reading this, I thought it was a kind of mechanical things. And I treated playing piano carelessly. But this book helped me to be serious about it.The title itself shows his idea on piano playing. In the first part I reflected on my attitude to practicing and my teacher. He suggests various aspects of techniques in the second part. Not all of suggestion worked for me but surely it is worth reading.If you are interested in 'why' and 'how as an intermediate player, I think this book is for you.

I used a graphic design class I teach as an excuse to purchase this book (I've been wanting it for a while). My students are loving it as much as I do.

I've been buying books for 45 years and this is the most wonderful book I own--amazing, thought-provoking, beautiful. My only regret is that I waited so long to purchase it. As improbable as it sounds, "You Are Here" comes across as what might be the lush, lovely, and totally unlikely synthesis of Bachelard's "The Poetics of Space," the imaginative joy of A.A. Milne ("Winnie the Pooh" and "The House at Pooh Corner," etc.) or P.L. Travers ("Mary Poppins," "Mary Poppins Opens the Door," etc.), and the deep wisdom of place and spirit found in the works of Annie Dillard and Kathleen Norris or even Terry Tempest Williams. When I open "You Are Here," my heart, spirit and imagination invariably soar.

This is a great collection of eccentric, unique and brilliant conceptual maps. It is one of those books that will take you places you never imagined.

This is a wonderful and thoughtful and visually stunning collection of artist maps. I LOVE it!!! If you're interested in environmental art, it's a must have for your book collection.

This book was not what I was expecting but it is interesting nonetheless. It is a collection of (mostly) unconventional maps with a few paragraphs written about each. In addition there are some articles on topics loosely related to cartography and the mind. It is more of a picture book than a reference volume and provides food for thought on mapping and identity.

Provides a lot of inspiration on current slick type treatments designs ideas. I recommend it.

Good type books are hard to find for some reason, but this book is the best one i've found. My brother had purchased this book a while back and I always used it for reference because it has such good typography studies and experimentations. I finally went and bought and and can't get enough of it. The whole book it put together so well, not only the samples but also the layout of the pages and just is awesome! A definite in my design book collections.

Excellent book. It has a very wide selection of type treatments that apply across a variety of media. The book is inspirational and informative.

It is one of the useful books for any designer. It has all you need ways to give your vision a right spin!

having started a collection for graphic, web, collateral, etc design, i must admit that many of my books are from rockport. they seem to have a pretty good grasp at the current trends and designs. this book will help inspire and spawn creative ideas for type treatments. great book.

American Wildlife Art by David Wagner belongs in the library of any one interested in the representational art of North American Wildlife. This book gives the entire history of the genre and does so with thoroughness and authority. In fact, this book could easily be the text for an entire semester class in the art history of wildlife art. Honeycombed with beautiful images to support the text, the book gives the viewer a look at rare illustrations from the past as well as those from modern Master's. Two sections that I found particularly fascinating was the introduction by Robert Bateman on the "state of wildlife art today" and the thorough section that deals with Carl Rungius. American Wildlife Art is one of a kind.

David Wagner has long been recognized as the leading expert and art historian on the wildlife art genre. For the first time a totally comprehensive work has been done on the entire history of this popular art form. David spent 15 years researching this amazing book, which is truly a work of art in and of itself. A must for a collectors, artists, gallery owners or anyone else interested in the field.

The Art Institute at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is always looking for books to add to our library about wildlife art. American Wildlife Art is the most comprehensive book on the subject that we have come across. It is thorough in its scope and fills a gap in the history of wildlife art in the US, because the information is comprehensive and all in one book. More than just facts; it gives an historical context for this genre of art that is actually interesting to read. It is a large book and cannot be read over a week-end but the information it contains makes it a must-have tome for any library. We have chosen this book as the textbook for our program. It serves as both a reference and adventure story helping students see the role that wildlife art has played in forming our national perception of our wildlife heritage...and the pictures are pretty terrific too.

David Wagner did much of his research in our small public library. Now that his book has been published and in our collection, I am pleased to say that it is checked out almost continuously, and for good reason. American Wildlife Art is a wonderful example of excellent research, exceptional writing and breathtaking illustrations. Although I am neither an art historian, nor an artist, I do recognize and appreciate beautiful art, and good writing presented in a clear, concise, interesting manner. This is an exceptional book written by an author who obviously knows and loves his subject. I highly recommend it.

In the interest of full disclosure, the author is a friend who wrote the introduction to my own book and curated my one-man traveling exhibition. That said, no one is better equipped to write this book, and the finished product is a testament to his deep knowledge. The entire history of wildlife art on the North American continent is here, beginning with the first European invasions and the work of such early Euro-American artists as the 16th-century Jaques Le Moyne, to Robert Bateman and the other 20th century artists whose work served as a foundation upon which was built the marketing phenomenon that is contemporary wildlife art. Between those bookends, I'm at a loss to find anything missing, from the explorer-artists like Catesby and Audubon, through the naturalist-illustrators like Fuertes and Jaques, the sporting artists and everything in between. The stories are rich in detail, describing the trials and motivations that shaped the works that would inspire future artists and movements. Throughout, the book is illustrated with plates that are well selected and well reproduced.
- Carel Brest van Kempen

You can't go wrong with a Phaidon publication. The book is a very in-depth look at design world-wide. It has tons of examples of great design. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

There is so much inspiration in this book. It's a graet resource for any designer. It will get your little design wheels spinning with fresh ideas every time you open it. There is so much in here and such a broad range of styles and subject matter. Some incredible artists.

There is something amazing in the way consumerism has birthed its own brand of art. In the 1880's, when Coca-Cola pushed their first few dollars across the table and asked for a slogan, I wonder if anyone ever dreamed what their industries would become and how much they would owe to this type of expression? I wonder if the idea that Frank L. Balm had about The Storefront Window, saying it was more than a place to keep a store's useless stuff, went beyond the United States becoming the frontrunner in glass consumption and into a field all its own? I ask because the field of Marketing Psychology intrigues me and, accordingly, the things we've birthed to sell items also intrigues me. Maybe "intrigue" isn't even the right world - maybe I should say that they captivate me, forcing me to search high and low for the best lightbulbs burning in the brightest phosphorescent starlight so to influence the migratory patterns of items that are pushed forth by a culmination of thought and a well-oiled pen.
That is what is so beautiful about Area; it breathes what we are, what we consume, and how this meshes with the very fabric of how we conceive pitch and pitches, ticking and timeless, making up the very definition of art that is more than pictures generated "for art's sake." Looking here, it really reflects how the world has become vibrant and how pictures have shaped the world.
Locked inside this book is more than a few pictures - its a blueprint of an overlooked history that America wears all over its geography.

When I look at the field of graphic design, I am always tantalized by the creations that come from it, wanting to pour myself into page after page and see the "next big idea." It is somewhat like listening to the heartbeat of millions of people thumping in unison; if it clicks it happens to click, and you know what started the motion. Area proves that, too, showing you how far we've moved past the simple pixel lay-outs and into the realm of technological highs and really ingenious methods of salesmanship, making so many things seem desirable. In Marketing Psychology it is called tapping into the "ideal self" and making people buy a dream that the "actual self" doesn't seem to be able to supply.
The idea seems easy enough to understand, too, and sometimes people laugh at the power wielded by the pen and call the "needing" lemmings. Here, in this book, I find a lot of laughter falling short of its mark and even the bigger birds of prey noticing things they adore and why they learned to adore it.

When I first bought this book I thought it would simply feed my tastes and purse my lips with the hum of more curiosity, but lately I've noticed how much influence the book has. It has thousands of pictures, quite literally, and sometimes I catch my friends standing with their eyes glued to an item and that blank stare of "something remembering something" coming out as they slow move through the pages. Its as if Ford's comments on the heart of the new type of manufacturing, "machinery is the new messiah," have found application in ways he never intended.
If you want to see how great that can become, how powerful advertising can become, then you should look at this book and see what I mean. Currently the one I own has been in my clutches for well over a year, and I still have around one hundred pages tabbed just so I can look back over them and marvel at the creativity that thrives in make-believe places orbiting some very real horizons.

Even if you know nothing about art, you know what beauty is and this book comes highly recommended in that department.

Inspiration should come from all over the world. And this book gives you that.

This book is full of new and refreshing design from around the world. It helps to educate someone like me who, while getting a Graphic Design education, is getting a more traditional rundown of the field and less of a modern-day acknowledgment. "Area" addresses the artists' perspectives and shows a wide variety of visual styles and formats, and will have something extremely interesting for everyone. A great book for any designer's collection. Worth every penny.

The best educational book on jazz. Covers ride cymbal, comping, solo ideas, uptempo, brushes and has a good play along cd. All of the written words do a fantastic job of putting things in context. Mr. Riley clearly knows his stuff. "Beyond Bop Drumming" is also a great book for more advanced jazz playing.

This book is fantastic sorce material for any intermediate drummer looking to begin exploring jazz. For experienced players the content can be quite challenging and the advice is imminently valuable. Really a spectacular educational resource.

I'm simply going to reinforce what you may have heard elsewhere: this is as good a foundational text on jazz and bop drumming as you can find (along with Ed Soph's and Jim Chapin's books).

If you are interested in learning to PLAY jazz and bop on the drums, this book takes you from a level assuming some knowledge of the drum kit, little knowledge of jazz, and brings the two together in a very logical way.

I have milked four years (so far, many more to go) out of this book with regards to the density, depth and entertainment/interest-level of the material.

I bought this book after playing professional jazz gigs for 4 years. It is authentic and a great place to start for beginning to intermediate jazz drummers. The CD is a nice accompaniment.

Like Jazz? Don't like Jazz? It doesn't matter. Whether you like to swing or not, this book WILL make you a better drummer and musician. The triplet feel is almost its own dimension in drumming and every drummer should master it. Although it is targeted for bebop jazz (basically faster swing feel as far as a drummer is concerned), this book will give you plenty of exercises and ideas you can incorporate in any genre. The exercises are great for independence and time-keeping, and offer very, very good fill and solo ideas.

As for aspiring jazz drummers, there is absolutely no question, GET this book. Any jazz professor at the university level would approve and it is used widely in music schools such as Berklee and Indiana University Music School (I graduated from IU).

The lessons on brushes are crucial and if you have never placed your hand on a brush, here is where you should start looking.

The accompanying CD is great as well and helps you to master a good swing time, listen to exercises being played, listen to compositions and play along tunes with a bassist or with a whole rhythm section.

A wealth of information. Techniques, warm-up scales, alternate fingerings, transposition, practice music to improve different areas such as range, intervals, pitch. Learned about this from a horn player in the Dallas Symphony when I was in high school, found it very useful when I played with the Guam Symphony, and used it regularly when I returned to playing after several years of absence. Given it to young players across the US and overseas.

This book is my favorite of all time-- and for a teenager, that may seem strange. I have played horn for about four months, and this is my reference for any issues from technical problems, to practice advice, to encouragement and warnings. Philip Farkas speaks in a way that I love-- he offers frank advice and talks to the reader in a voice that clearly states that he is a fellow hornist, a friend helping a friend. His tone is clear, honest, and very distinguished-- I found it very encouraging that he does not speak to the reader in a condescending way. I am extremely encouraged that he offers such a wide variety of advice, though I do question some of his techniques, such as sitting while practicing and advising not to hold the horn "free". I do agree with his preference of a dark, mellow tone, but I believe that can be achieved while holding the horn free if the right hand is in the correct position. Furthermore, Mr.Farkas's book is the bible of french horn and should be commited to memory by each and every hornist that is serious about this art.

95 pages full of advice for any hornplayer, beginner, advanced or pro. Maybe the fotos and the layout are not best quality, but finally its the content that counts.

As a Horn teacher for many many years, this is required text for all my students. The "manual" for Horn playing.

This book is awsome, it is a wealth of information that every horn player should know. I love it to death, as has been said before it truely is the bible of french horn playing. If your not the reading type you may not appreciate this book's full potential, but for everyone else: BUY THIS BOOK!

Bobby Jones knows as much about the golf swing and game as anyone today. In fact, he is more modern than most modern instructors. His advice is easy to follow and it works. My game will be much better for it. Oh yes, I am a single digit handicapper. Anyone who will heed this advice will improve, no matter your handicap.

after viewing the jones' videos where nicklaus points out that jones would have altered his swing to match the equipment, this book sets the record straight. jones was able to edit this book after having seen some of the steel shaft swingers and cleary points out that his way (clearly he learned it from others ie spalding i think he noted) is indeed the right way, and if you were to put tiger woods up now and compare tiger's swing to nicklaus or jones i think he would more resemble jones than nicklaus. Anyway a real great book on golf for those "old school" guys who realize the old is forever new. i started reading the book about 3 yrs ago and i'm still working w/ it. like he points out in the book its somehting you can turn back to from time to time .....

This book taught me more about golf then all the lessons, swing gimmicks and video study that I've tried put together. If you are serious about understanding the fundamentals of golf get this book.

This is one of the greatest golf instruction books ever written in my opinion. The advice presented is still relevant and can help anyone improve their game. I feel this is must reading for any serious golfer.

I never saw Bobby Jones stirke a golf ball in person. I never saw him play a full game on 16 mm film for that matter. I can only go by his unmatched amateur record and very short old grainy 16-millimeter film stock of how graceful his swing was...very controlled, impeccable balance/ coordination, unbelievable tempo and rhythm. Pure ballstriking. Pure golf.

In his book, "Bobby Jones on Golf", Jones really gets to the spirit of the game. This is a great book on the nuances, technicalities, and philosophies of the game of golf.

If you read carefully and take his advice seriously, I believe you will become a better player. I can't guarantee this, but there is no reason why a beginner can't shoot in the 80's within the first year to two years of playing. If you do the reading and practice the fundamentals; after 3 years of playing on a regular basis (at least 3 to 4 times a week) you should be shooting in the 70's.

This book is a very easy and compelling read. Moreover, I think you will really enjoy Jone's prose. It's Jone's prose that makes this an enjoyable reading experience. It's by no means flowery or pretentious, but understated and blunt.

Much like reading a Jane Austen novel; it feels like Jones is actually speaking directly to you. And this is the best way to learn about something very complicated; to have the narrator / author personalize his language by using parables, analogies, and personal stories to make it easier for the reader to understand the complicated nuiances and idiosyncracies of the game of golf

Another important note: There are hardly any illustrations and no photographs in this book. There doesn't need to be either because Jones does such a great job in his explantions that his words paint pictures. I was glad that he didn't have to resort to any photos; it would have distracted from his impeccable teachings.

I highly recommend this book whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player. Not only will you learn from a golfing master, but you will have a new appreciation for the greatest game on earth.

Along with this book, I also recommend the reading of Ben Hogan's, "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf", Mickey Wright's "Swing the Wright Way", and Harvey Penick's, "The Little Red Book".

This book is amazing. Brilliant photos and great to read the history of Bulgari. Definitely a great book for lovers of the brand and of gorgeous jewelry as well.

Bulgari
Great book beautifully illustrated with great photography of their products. Interesting information regarding the company and designers.

What a beautiful book. I appreciated the jewellery before but this book is a lovely way to see how it is made, the desiging and the creating stages. The photographs alone make it a worthwhile investment. As a jewellery appreciator, I think it's a wonderful addition to my library. I don't get to see these pieces up close so this is a wonderful way to expand apreciation and understanding of jewellery.

I was pleasently surprised when I recieved this book. When I looked over the discription of the book I thought I'd enjoy it but didn't know just how much until it came. The images are beautiful, full color and the discriptions are well done. This book gives a great overview of the design house Bulgari. I would recommind this book to anyone interested in learning about Bulgari or if you are just a lover of beautiful jewelry.

Any college-level art library strong in jewelry history needs BULGARI: a lavish, oversized and powerful collection of color photos and archival pictures that trace the unique Bulgari style which was born in Rome in 1884. The book first appeared in 1996: its updated edition represents an extensive revision and reflects newly-discovered historical material and historical facts on the Bulgari firm, making it a top pick.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch