Music Books

This book contains a good selection of Yanni pieces that are not too hard to play yet reproduce the original music very faithfully.

Ever since my daughter was little, she and I have loved Yanni's music. This was a Christmas gift to her. It is so neat to hear her playing the compositions we have listened to for so long. She has taken piano for 10 years and is learning this music easily. She loves this book.

This is a very thorough Piano Book of Yanni Songs. The music was large enough to see cleary, and enough room to make notes in. I am enjoying it immensly.

This is a must-have for all pianists who love Yanni! Each piece is emotionally moving and ingeniously intricate, though not so intricate as to be impossibly difficult. There are only one or two typos that most people would miss, but they never detract from the integrity of the piece. "In The Morning Light" is exceptionally beautiful, and is not that difficult. "Until The Last Moment" is another excellent piece, although it is the most difficult in the entire book. I could keep on listing my favorites, but that list would include pretty much every song in the book. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

This is a great book for anyone who wants to play some of Yanni's best piano solos for themselves. It is not too hard to do, nor too easy. It does not include every solo from In My Time album; but it is still very good. I have enjoyed it very much. The only problem I have is one that is inherent to Yanni's composing style: there is a lot of repetition in his music, and I have had to stop and figure out where to go next with a lot of the passages. It is not a problem with the product-it is just his style. Very nice book-I would recommend it to Yanni fans as well as pianists who would like to play some challenging, different, beautiful music.

Chinese philosphy is so pragmatic, always useful. These book makes easy to understand many important fact present in life. Sadly, the other books of this series aren't available. I hope they got reprinted. If you can't get one copy of this book, you'll see that some things change when we leave our static point of view. Great Book.

I read out of either this or Zen Speaks: Shouts of Nothingness almost every night for my daughter...although I think I'm really reading it more for myself. One-three page cartoons of zen buddhism scriptures translated all contain great little doses of morality and keep one from taking one's self too seriously.

What a wonderful book. It is such an easy read. The illustrations are great and the stories convey profound wisdom in an entertaining fashion. The humor is gentle. One will grow in wisdom without even realizing it by reading this book. What a gem.

It's not every day you see a book on any Eastern philosophy that is easily accessible by pretty much anybody who can read. With /Zhuangzi Speaks/, Tsai Chih Chung has given us a great gift. I must admit that I initially had low expectations for a cartoon version of Chuang-Tzu's writings. After having read through it, however, I say with confidence that this is truly a wonderful book that makes the sometimes puzzling Taoist principles much easier to understand.

/Zhuangzi Speaks/ is definitely worth a read by fledgling and long-time Taoists alike, as well as their loved ones (who may not understand much about the Tao), and anyone else who is even the least bit curious about Chuang-Tzu and his ideas.

Now you can enjoy the essence, wit and wisdom of Chuangzi brought to life through cartoons. Near the edge of each page, you'll also find the story written in Chinese characters.

Through these popular and illustrated stories, you'll get a taste of "listening to the music", living spontaneously, free from social encumbrances, free from the strict rules of conduct of Confucianism - in harmony with the Tao, surrendering to the moment and enjoying whatever situation presents itself.

This lovely book presents the wisdom of Chuanzi through about 78 enlightening metaphorical stories.

The daily exercises used by Charlie Parker. What more could a sax player want? Scholars have traced their influence in his recordings....

This book was a bit too challenging for me and seemed to be mostly scales. I prefer jazz songs etc... so maybe it was just a poor choice for me.

This book is really good if you want to master scale passages. I on the other hand, I really don't care for scale music like this. Very challenging!

They say phrases from some of these Klose etudes found their way into Charlie Parker's musical vocabulary. When asked by Paul Desmond, Bird replied "It's not smoke and mirrors, some of it comes from books."

When it comes to playing any musical instrument, gaining mastery over the fundamentals of how to play said instrument forms the base of a musicians training. Yes, a large part is also sheer creativity, but being skilled in creating what you want, and how you want it, is first and foremost to being able to create music.

That being said, the etudes enclosed in this book will work the full range of skills necessary to effectively play the saxophone. Range, articulation, accidentals, endurance, breathing, and phrasing are all worked in each exercise.

If each etude is worked through methodically, starting out slowly and working towards full tempo, all of your playing skills should see improvement.
I pair this with Jackie McClean's "Daily Warm-Up Exercises for Saxophone" to start each practice session, allowing me to drill the full range of scales, chords, and overall technique.

For a basic course in music theory, this is the compilation which will teach you everything you need to know about tonality, cadences, voice leading, nonharmonic tones, and harmony.

Bach's Chorales are the stuff of legend. The sheer wealth of invention is staggering. The Reimenschneider version has been around for decades and it is difficult to see how it could be improved. The layout is excellent with useful and insightful notes from a true Bach scholar.

For any piano player, music theorist, composer, or music enthusiast, this is the book for you. Excellent for daily piano study or for a better understanding of common practice tonal harmony. Great notes in the back for reference. The basis of tonality lies within these pages.

This is nearly indispensable for the serious music student. Used in most first-year theory courses, the Bach Chorales illustrate what the master did and why our Western music theory is based on the chorales he wrote.

First bought 18 years ago, I found that I'd somehow lost my copy along the way. I bought another copy since I'm taking further music theory courses and though it isn't required in this particular course, it helps immensely to have a copy on hand.

The book is very well laid out but the music is smaller than would be preferred. If the scores were printed larger it would be more enjoyable.

As a guitar instructor for 10 years now, I'm alway on the lookout for good materials...and this book is one of the best. The selections start at a level most advanced beginners can handle and progress through the late intermediate level. There is a second book that is just as good. The pieces are perfect for recital and contest material. All the pieces are well edited and are also supported with tab.

The selections are great. I absolutely enjoy this book, but I wish that I had never purchased it. Tabulature makes this accessible to the most novice player, but establishes bad practices which are extremely difficult to break. Even though it is harder and slower, I recommend a good note speller and a series which does not use tab.

This review relates to the Book 2 of the same author. Its amazing that Ben Bolt is the only classical guitarist who offers this kind of product meaning classic themes on a progressive order with tablature to the public and not only that, the book is masterly ordered to improve with every lesson or piece your technical expertice step by step magicaly. It seems that the author knows exactly what are the techniques in each lessons that help you reach a l;evel that the next one is a little more challenging with the consequence that when you finish the book you have a very profound technical knowledge of playing guitar. Great Book recommended for the intermediate guitar player that want to master at record speed the classical guitar. Probably after finishing the book 2 I recommend to perfect your guitar playing knowedge is just to get a great teacher and give public concerts. Thanks Bolt and I am waiting book 3...

I bought this book and have learned almost all the songs in it. The recordings on the CD sound very nice. The song selections are excellent. They are a little more up beat and lively then many other solo classical guitar I have bought. Classical guitarist sometimes play the most boring songs but Ben Bolt's selection is superb.

I enjoyed this book and the CD. It's good. However I feel short-changed because it's only 27 progressive solos and not 39. You have to get the remaining 12 solos in Book II.

Dear Mr Ben Bolt, it would be great if you or your publisher did not misguide buyers with such a title.

I still give it a 5 star rating regardless....

hi my name is Trisha, im 16 and and im really excited for aaron because he is coming to lacrosse soon! and i cant wait to see him! he looks really cute in this calendar, so i think its 5 stars !!!

Aaron is so cute,and this calendar is so HOT!
AND ROCK!
aaron is awesome and the world best singer in the world and i really like this calendar,OH this is best calendar in the world....I really like it aaron is rock and oh its so HOT HOT HOT AND HOT..=)
i love aaron carter =)
This is REALLY GOOD!=D
lOVE.Aino-Maaria

HEY I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I RATED THIS ITEM 5 STARS BECAUSE IT ROXS AND STELLARBOY HERE LOOKS SO BUT SO HOT. BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT HAS THE GREATTEST PICS OF HIM, AND BECAUSE IF YOU ARE A TRUE AC FAN THEN YOU WOULDN'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD, NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT COSTS, LIKE ME, I WOULD STILL BUY IT IF IT WAS MORE THAN [price]BUCKS, SO IF YOU R A TRUE AC FAN THEN YOU WOULD GO AND BUY BECAUSE IT HAS GREAT PICS OF AARON, AND YOU WOULS ALSO GO AND BUY NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT COSTS!!!!
PEACE!!!! I LUV AC 4EVA!!!!
ACZ FAN ALWAYS

I LOVE AARON CARTER, HE IS SUTCH A CUITE!!
BUY THIS WALL CALENDER NOW!

All you Aaron Carter fans if you don't have this calendar then you better get it soon. It has tons of Aaron Carter pictures and keeps you on schedule at all times. If you like this 13 year old pop star hottie then this calendar is the perfect thing for you. Rebecca

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down. It was a very fast read. I hope they write another!

Reviewed by Gina Holland for RebeccasReads (6/08)


"The Adventures of Slim and Howdy" is a novel full of humor, mystery and thrills. The novel's namesakes are two young men who meet fortuitously in a used car lot; both are trying to sell their cars so they can head towards bigger and better things. Howdy wants to sell his car for enough money to get himself to Texas and a career in music. Slim wants rid himself of his car, because it never gets him to where he needs to be. In the midst of things, the men end up coming to a surprise resolution: Howdy keeps his truck, seeing that it is in the best shape of both cars, and he and Slim decide to split the money for Slim's car and take off together, vowing to put both names on the pink slip of the truck. I wonder if anything like this ever happens in real life.

Slim and Howdy both love music, and plan on making it their career. Howdy is the outgoing one. He has something lined up pertaining to music at a honky-tonk in Texas. Slim is the quiet one. He doesn't talk much and Howdy gets pretty frustrated with Slim on the trip. His answers are very few and far between, and Howdy wonders how this will all work out.

Slim has to make one quick stop before they head out. He has to rescue his stolen guitar. This is when they meet Crystal and Tammy, two wild girls, thieves if you will, who almost get them into a lot of trouble, and nearly killed. So much for luck.

After Slim retrieves his guitar and shakes the troublesome duo of Crystal and Tammy, and then the cops, he and Howdy finally head towards Texas. There, they meet Skeet Duvall, the owner of the Piggin' String. He gives them the chance that they were looking for: Freedom to sing and play and be something very special.

After their time is finished at the Piggin' String, they move on to another place where things heat up and become more than the guys may be able to handle. A place where a lost love for Howdy becomes the target of someone's anger and greed. Howdy and Slim must save this lost love before its too late.

Brooks and Dunn have written a fantastic novel about two young men on the road looking for fame and fortune. Just like anyone looking for the same things, the men find themselves in several dilemmas. I had so much fun reading this novel. I really hope there will be a sequel, as I would love to find out where life takes Slim and Howdy. Brooks and Dunn have brought to us the lives of young people who are struggling to become something that they want to be; how hard it is to get there, and what can happen once they do. A job very well done. As a bonus, they include a CD in the back of the book called, "Gotta Get Me One Of Those," which is great.

If you like Brooks and Dunn and know a little about them then you need to read this book. You will have A LOT of good laughs! Very hard to put down once you start reading.

I bought this book because I am a fan of Brooks and Dunn music, but it is just so addictive. Once I started it was very hard to stop. It is written in a plain and simple language about two blokes and their exploites. Very funny and very very entertaining.

The book is a blast, a must read for any Brooks & Dunn fan, and if you're not, you will by the time you finish. This book shows how truly creative Brooks & Dunn are. For those of us who have anxiously awaited each new CD for another snippet of the Slim & Howdy saga, this book really is a wonderful ride. I only hope there is another one in the works since we never do find out if Slim's father is still alive, or whether Howdy finds the perfect margarita. Just a few things to ponder.

This is the bible for children's folksongs, with artwork by Barbara Cooney the icing on the cake!

Our family has loved this songbook very much. There are ninety songs in the book. Written by Pete Seeger's sister, American Folk Songs for children has songs each of them suggests an activity. There are songs for going places, songs for knocking on doors and windows, songs for eating, songs for dancing, and many others. I would like to buy a copy as a gift, and I hope there is a reprint date soon.

This is the book with the favorite songs from my long ago childhood. So I bought it for my daughter so she could sing these to my grandchildren.

It has the good songs. Songs with lots and lots of verses. Fun songs for older kids and songs to sing babies to sleep.

This book is a treasure! The introduction gives a wonderful background on these authentic folk songs and how they can be used with children. This is an essential book for music teachers, but also great for parents. Be careful, though, because once the children know the songs you'll hear them over and over again... :)

I own a copy of the original print of this book. It posseses some of the most whimsical little songs I have yet to hear. Its just...fabulous...and I don't even know how to play any instruments....lol

Our three year old LOVES this book, it's actually one of the ones that he asks for repeatedly...so it's a good thing that my husband and I like it too! It's the perfect book for any music lovers - our son loves to point out all the musical instruments and tell us the sounds they make. :)
Not to mention - The illustrations are extraordinary!

This book is fantastic!
My two year old won't go to sleep without reading Animal Band! It's a fun story and has great illustrations! The best part is that at the end the animals all go to bed (so it's a GREAT transition to sleep for my active 2-yr old!) We love this book and you will too!

I have 2 children, ages 7 & 5 ... and they both LOVE this book! The rhythms and rhymes make it an exciting read, with the feel of a time honored classic. The illustrations are fantastic! You can look at each picture over and over and discover something new each time. From cover to cover, this book comes alive beautifully!

This is an amazingly fun book. A roller coaster ride of ups and downs, it will amuse the adult reader as the striking visuals and entertaining plot keep the young one riveted! I swear, you won't get tired of reading this book to your little one, who won't ever want you to stop!

There's so much there--every reading you'll notice something else. Amazing art, fun rhymes, animals playing instruments! it's hilarious! Kids love animals, and in this book, they get into the kind of Cat in the Hat kind of craziness that only a children's book could have. It's really beautiful, super fun, and amazingly cheap for what you get. Highly recommmended!

My toddler is loving this book. We've read it several times a day since the Easter Bunny brought it. The illustrations give us plenty to look at, talk about, giggle about - always something new to discover. The rhymes are predictable, which is a great thing for my son - he loves chiming in with the right words on cue (which he was able to do even on the first reading).

The look of the book is kind of retro and hip, too, which makes it a fun gift to give (it makes us feel cool - ha).

Love it!

I think Sabato is one of the best writers of our times. I'm reading his books again and again and this experience is always incredible.

I want to know if his last book was translated in English or in French...I can't wait to read it. I'm afraid, also, of what Ms. Sabato has to say in the end...Probabily I will rate it with 5 stars...

If you have informations about the translations of Antes del Fin, please contact me at: diana.lefter@flonetwork.com

Someone said here in Colombia that "Antes del Fin" bears witness to a century that is passing away. We've been told that ultimate realities are a sort of nonsensical by-product of the Western culture. Well, here is one of the greatest wise men of our century taking us back to ponder on ultimate realities. What is worth to live for? This type of questions (Hollywood hates them) led Sabato's life into the battlefield of authenticity and honesty. May the young people, especially of Latin America, be so sensible as to pay a serious attention to a voice that definitely is yelling in the desert.

He leido este libro y me gusta mucho, porque Sabato me parece muy sincero, habla de sus errores en su juventud, y de cambios en sus filosofias personales. En Buenos Aires en 2001, este libro fue tambien disponible en unas tiendas como un "audio libro," (libro para escuchar), leido por Ernesto Sabato. Despues de leerlo, tambien lo escucho. Es muy interesante de oir su voz. Frecuentemente escucho este libro (mas de 15 veces).
This is an excellent book in the form of an autobiography with a filosofical and humanistic pulse, describing his stormy moods, passions, ideals, and beliefs lived during his artistically inclined youth, and their changes from middleage to his old age.

Ernesto Sabato is one of the leading moral lights of the 20th century. His novels 'El tunel', 'Sobre heroes y tumbas', and 'Abaddon el exterminador' will stand as monuments to the pain of the searching soul. His essays, too, although oftentimes metaphisically obscure and highly idiosyncratic, are interesting and can generate considerable and fruitful debate. Now, with 'Antes del fin', Sabato offers us some ruminations from the perspective of a long life (he is close to his 89th birthday), a very personal testament to an age that appears to have lost perspective of the apocalypses that is bringing upon itself by promoting selfishness and wastefulness.

Although I agree with Sabato's indictment of the terrible things that are happening around us, I find his invocation of the 'Absolute' quite uncomfortable. It seems that, in his old age, Sabato is trying to look for a 'deity' that would save us all, that would give meaning to our lives, and he calls it the 'Absolute'. I would have thought that, after all these years of suffering and searching, Sabato would have found more answers, and hope, in simple human beings than in the highly questionable grail of the 'Absolute'. Evidently, however, I was mistaken. To me, as to many humanists, it's not a matter of an ultimate goal, of reaching the 'Absolute' in one's every action; it's, simply, a matter of realizing that we are all human beings with the same basic necessities, just one species among millions, and that we should respect everybody and the world around us just for that. No invocation of a deity is needed; no 'Absolutes' are required. Sabato is, I'm afraid, painfully wrong and dissapointing on that account.

Even though I enjoyed the book, with its gripping prose, I must admit that I didn't learn much about Sabato from it. To me, the powerful and real Sabato is in his novels, particularly in 'Sobre heroes y tumbas'. However, if you haven't been introduced to Sabato's world, 'Antes del fin' would be a good introduction. Only on that account I recommend this book.

Acabo de leerlo de una sentada y es quizá el mejor relato de una vida dedicada a la búsqueda del sentido de la vida misma que haya leído. La honestidad, la pasión, el amor, la amistad y la lealtad, el servicio a los demás. La búsqueda de la utopía, la denuncia de la realidad imperante y de la injusticia, venga de donde venga. Todo esto narrado por este gigante de las letras y de la humanidad de una manera enternecedora a veces, vigorosa en otras: Sabato, que sería de nosotros sin testimonios de luz como el tuyo!