Music Books

'Been in the game for 12 years getting no place. Moved to Nashville, hang out, thought I was doing stuff right. But I kept hearing what I didn't want to hear - my songs weren't quite there. 'Been too stubborn to accept that. Then I read Leiken's book and read what all those publishers said. Okay- I'll give it another shot, doing it their way. Thanks, Mollie. Good to know you're out there

We sent our songs to all the cheap "consultants" in the world for direction with our music career. But this book has been more helpful than all of the "experts" put together. 'Bought four copies - one for each member of my band.

Finally! A book that really helped us! My band and I read all the other books. Went to the seminars. Paid the lawyers. But this book has opened our eyes, sharpened our pencils and got us going. Our songs are 'way stronger, and now we have a major deal on the table.
Put your egos away and listen to this lady. She knows her stuff. This book will change your life and career, too.

How To Be A Hit Songwriter: Polishing And Marketing Your Lyrics And Music offers practical creative and career advice from an Emmy-nominated songwriter Molly-Ann Leikin. From rewriting without overwriting, to coping with rejection, to meeting deadlines, to developing business smarts, and so much more, How To Be A Hit Songwriter is a definitive, down-to-earth, accessibly written, "must-read" instructional reference guide for all aspiring song writers and composers of popular music.

We sent our songs to all the cheap "consultants" in the world for direction with our music career. But this book has been more helpful than all of the "experts" put together. 'Bought four copies - one for each member of my band.

Sheila Anderson's book, How To Grow As A Musician, focuses on many questions that younger artists have the moment they step on the scene. There are great answers, given by revered musicians,that have lived every statement made about the rough road of show business. Sheila allows the reader to hear from those who live the life of an artist. Not those who give commentary or opinions of something they do not know first hand. It is a book that should be in any classroom or library of those who like to follow a plan to personal achievement.


Kahlil Kwame Bell

Producer, Arranger and Musician.

I not only enjoyed this book, but found it to be an extremely useful resource for achieving success in my own career. Reading this book is a "must" for those who wish to enrich their lives and grow personally in their profession.

When I first opened Sheila Anderson's book it hit me in the face like a cool zephyr. I have never read a book about musicians before but this will not be my last. Brava, Sheila. I cannot put this book down. I have read this book three times already and I cannot wait to read it again. A whole new world has opened up to me becuase of this book.

I highly recommend "How to Grow as a Musician" to musicians, people who work in the industry (like me) and anyone who has ever been interested in the music business. This comprehensive resource with insight from some of the industry's top musicians from Al Jarreau to Ruth Brown make this an indispensible work. Congratulations to Sheila Anderson on such a fine book!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was informative, easy to read and a fascinating glimpse at the life of being a musician in this country. The different genres of music represented in this book , from gospel to classical, made it well-rounded as well.

My 2 year old loves this book!!! I get to read it at least twice a day. We both like that it can be sung or read.

I recently found this book at the library along with Iza Trapani's books. A-Hunting We Will Go! has a better flow than the other books and makes it easier to read in a hurry. My 2 yr old likes to turn pages fast, but this is easy to memorize, and easy for her to read along with me. I recomend it for anyone who has to put a child to bed (which would be most parents). Definitely 5 star quality!

This is my 4-year-old's favorite book. He's heard it so many times, he can repeat the entire story verbatim (in prose and in song form). The words are very large - useful for this beginning reading - and the rhyming form is easy for him to master. The illustrations are wonderful and the story is a lot of fun. Great book!

The moose character is a totally new addition for Mr. Kellogg's repertoire, and he is quite the funny looking fellow.

A sure tonic for any parent or grandparent that reads to their children or grandchildren. As entertaining for adults to read as for the young ones it is created for. His illustrations are charming & funny. A real treat! I highly recommend this author/illustrator. If you like this book, look for any of the Pinkerton series, a "sell out" at all the public libraries.

My three year old grandaughter loved this book. She refers to it all the time. "I'm the boss and I say floss!" The Llamas in their pajamas were so cute, and it is a real imagination pleaser. Great illustrations! Fun book!

This series of books makes a great gift for young and old alike. I have given them on four separate occassions and they were always loved and cherished.

What a beautiful book! The poem is moving and the illustrations fit perfectly. It can be used with many age groups. I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers.

This is a great children's book and a great poem about music. It is a wonderful book to read to a child about music appreciation. The illustrations are wonderful!

Ntozake Shange's poem, "i live in music", along with Romare Bearden's collages are presented together in this appealing book. The text and the visuals are skillfully paired and they feed each other's expressions.

"i got 15 trumpets where other women got hips

& a upright bass for both sides of my heart"

Shange's words are in turn playful, soulful, artful. The music she describes is encompassing and tangible - a real thing to be felt and true part of our beings.

Bearden's collages and paintings are vivid, engaging images of African American life and culture. The images are expressive and rich illustrations of musicians and singers. "Show Time" and "Fancy Sticks" are nearly audible - one can see the rhythm and song.

Shange and Bearden's talents complement each other so well one would think this had been a concurrent, collaborative effort rather than subsequent assemblage.

Along with i live in music, I highly recommend all the books in this series by Stewart, Tabori & Chang's Art and Poetry series:

"Life Doesn't Frighten Me", poem by Maya Angelou, paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat..... "may i feel said he", poem by e. e. cummings, paintings by Marc Chagall...... "Dance Me to the End of Love", poem by Leonard Cohen, paintings by Henri Matisse

Each one would be a wonderful gift for a teacher, art lover, musician, poet,.... or anyone seeking inspiration. Treat yourself to one - or all.

For all ages.

Someone read this book to me when I was young. Ever since then I've been inspired to write. I love this book. The word use by Ntozake is refreshing. Her poetry is very original. She has accomplished a lot, because it's suitable for all age groups.

I am watching the I Love Lucy DVD sets right now. I loved to watch the TV show when I was a little kid right up through adulthood. This book is a great help while watching the DVDs. I can look up an episode that I really loved and read more about it. Memories can be stirred up or I can find out more about the show for the first time. My only regret is that the book isn't comprehensive. It deals with the best episodes and not all of them. I would love a book that deals with all the episodes but maybe it would be too big.

This is a really nice look at I Love Lucy. The pictures are great. I just wish they would have been able to include more episodes.

" I LOVE LUCY " WAS 1 OF THE BEST TV SHOWS IN THE 1950'S AND IS THE BEST SHOW EVER." I LOVE LUCY" CLASSIC MOMENTS BOOK IS A MUST FOR ANY "I LOVE LUCY" FAN. IT SHOWS YOU THE CLASSIC MOMENTS IN WHAT THE BEST TV SHOW THAT WAS EVER MADE.LUCILLE BALL AND DESI ARNAZ MADE WHAT THE SHOW WAS,ALSO VIVIAN VANCE AND WILLIAM FRAWLEY WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS FRED AND ETHEL MERTZ AT 323 E.68TH ST. I FINSHED THIS BOOK AND I TRULY ENJOYED IT.

This is a great book for behind the scenes pictures of the cast and the stage they worked on. I have owned this book for about a year, and come back to look at it all the time. Lucille Ball is my favorite actress, and I just love her to pieces! This book contains photos of their set and everyday life. It also conatains some stories of their lives, so if you are a Lucy fan like me, don't miss this book!

this book is a must have for every LUCY-DESI fan all over the world. it contains beautiful pictures and a lot of information about each episode. it is part of my collection and I see myself coming back to it everytime to look something up.is one of the most complete books I have ever encountered.

I have used this book collaboratively with 3 & 4th grades at an inner city school. The rich information and fantastic illustrations are a perfect stimulant to lessons in language arts as well as dance and painting.

This is an excellent resource for the classroom. It depicts the history of African American music from Africa to rap/hip hop with vibrant art work matching the electric words! Wow!

"I see the rhythm. I see the rhythm of our beginnings. I feel the pulse of a people and a land in harmony. I hear the legends told by the drum, the beats of our beliefs, the music of our ancient history..." From its roots in Africa and slave songs, to the birth of the blues, ragtime, swing, jazz, and gospel, to rhythm and blues, rock and roll, hip hop, funk, and rap, Toyomi Igus and Michele Wood trace the history of African American music. Ms Igus' lyrical free verse, rich in imagery and magic, is powerful and evocative as it swirls creatively around the page, and is complemented by Ms Wood's stunning illustrations, full of emotion and drama that captures both the feel of the music and the times. Each two page spread also includes a brief description of the musical style, and a marvelous timeline that sets that musical period in its larger, historical context. Perfect for youngsters 10 and older, I See The Rhythm is an inspiring feast for the eyes and ears that celebrates African American music and brings it to life on the page, and is a terrific introduction that shouldn't be missed.

This book is a great book to include in a public library, home library, or school library. This book can be incorporated in many areas of learning. The author does an excellent job discussing the historical and physical features of African American music. Reading the book is like going on a musical journey. Some of the music types discussed are; jazz, ragtime, blues, gospel, and bebop. Each music type is well described, and Michele has included in each musical description a timeline, important figures associated with the music, and sample lyrics. Michele Wood also includes an activity in the book. She has put a little girl in each scene, and the reader has to locate her. It is not always easy. The little girl represents Michele when she was growing up. I highly recommend this book to young and old. Michele Wood has done an excellent job writing an interesting and informative book.

This beautifully illustrated book tells the history of African-American music through poems and art. It is both informative and inspiring. I hate age-level labels on books like this. Adults will appreciate this book as much as children. I stumbled upon it at a new multicultural bookstore, discovering later that it was a Coretta Scott King winner. I can see why!

Anthony's book shows us, the reader, how interviews can be handled in a professional, smart way to engage the subject, triggering that person to open up and reveal the business of music and the creativity of his/her soul. My favorite interview is where Keith Richards talks about his daughters sneaking into bed with him while he is asleep and waking up to find them next to him.

Octaroons (people over 100 and baboons with eight legs) will find this book absolutely wonderful. I found out about this fine book from my good friends, Andy Breckman and Friedman, International Comedic Envoy for the UN. However, this show is pathetic, but just as hilarious as the Wikipedia one. Everyone should buy this book. Seven Second Delay Rocks.

Written by one of the most esoteric giants of rock n' roll writers, "In other words" is simply funny and fascinating. Anthony DeCurtis sure got around the music scene and it's all here. 7SD rocks!

I had the distinct pleasure of listening to Mr. DeCurtis speak to my History of Rock and Roll (taught by the best teacher ever) class at Indiana University in the Spring of 2004. This was definitely one of the highlights of my collegiate acamdemic career. Anthony's knowledge and experience in the music world is astonishing and his way with words in the recollection of his stories give his listeners a feeling that he not just a writer, but a true music fanatic. In fact, I was so enthralled by Mr. DeCurtis' stories, I attended every section of the classes he was scheduled to address that day. Although I have not read this particular book, I have read his others and would highly suggest them. Based on my readings of his other books, and seeing Anthony speak, I plan to buy this book as soon as I can, and I would bet that I will love it, and most other music lovers will as well.

Anthony DeCurtis is one of the best rock critics writing today and this book is full of fascinating interviews that show you a side of many stars you've never seen before. The dueling interviews with Paul McCartney and George Harrison and Keith Richards on Mick Jagger are worth the price of the book alone. The book also includes an interview with Martin Scorsese and a rare interview with Don Delillo that show that DeCurtis is just as knowledgable about film and literature.

Challenging and freindly. A truly deep yet down to earth work. It conveys a considerable amount of information, in a contemporary style. It covers a whole array of aspects beyond music, which made it so intresting to me.

Readers of my Jewish CD reviews know that I have spent considerable energy explaining Hasidic music here on Amazon. But the limited space of a review doesn't lend itself to exploring the "kabbalah of music" in depth. Now there is a book which does exactly that. Even if you have a tin ear, "Inner Rhythms" will help expand your understanding of how music is used by Hasidim and others to reach the highest spiritual levels that cannot be accessed in any other way. As Rabbi Bachya ibn Pakuda said in the eleventh century, "Speech is the pen of the heart, song is the pen of the soul."

This book will no doubt have a much wider appeal than Rabbi Pinson's first book, "Reincarnation in Judaism." For one thing, it's better writing. "Reincarnation" established Rabbi Pinson as a meticulous scholar, but it dealt mostly with esoteric theory and was a rather academic read. Not so with this, his second book. "Inner Rhythms" speaks directly to the heart.

Make no mistake: the careful Torah scholarship is still there, with copious footnotes explaining the sources. But, in addition, it's clear that Rabbi Pinson has experienced these musical soul phenomena. Himself a practicing Hasid, he has personally stood among throngs of Hasidim singing the very songs and prayers about which he writes. When he illustrates his points with stories taken from the entire spectrum of Jewish thought, you know that he understands the spirit as well as the words of these tales. (The stories alone make the book worth buying!)

The result is a book that not only gives us the kabbalistic theory of music, but also illuminates how music can be used to bring greater spirituuality into our daily lives. For Jews and gentiles alike, this is a book that will forever change the way you hear music. Highly recommended!

This is by far the most clear and profound book I have ever seen about music and the Kabbalah.

An extraordinary book exploring the nature of music, as it is viewed by the masters of the Kabbalah - Jewish mystical thought. I for one highly recommend it.

This book is a "must read" for anyone concerned with his (or her) relationship with G-d. It tells how Chassidic music can facilitate a closer relationship. The rhythm of feeling closer to G-d and then realizing how great a distance still remains becomes clear to the reader. However, one is left with a belief that one can always get closer with the appropriate Chassidic music.

Rabbi DovBer Pinson discusses the source and nature of Chassidic vocal melodies. (There is some reference to instrumental and dance music.) He tells how the melody reflects the emotions of the creator (or perforemer) and the listener.

Chassidic melodies are used to reach Deveikut (oneness with G-d), to create Simcha (joyousness), to reflect Marirrut (sadness from feeling distant from Ein Sof), to reach upwards through prayer, to carry G-d's message to us through Torah study, to aid one in Yechidim (drawing G-dliness into this world), and to create a pathway to reaching Bitachon (trust in G-d and a realization of G-d's goodness).

Along the way Rabbi Pinson explains why we praise G-d, types of Chassidic songs, the Sefirot and Tzimtzum. There are also many entertaining and illuminating stories .

The notes and references are copious and many help to clarify the text. The writing is easy to read although the meanings are deep and may take more than one reading.

Being Jewish and a musicologist, I would like to see musical examples in an Appendix and/or an audio tape or CD along with the book. Perhaps they'll appear in or with a future edition.

Inside Ballet Technique: Separating Anatomical Fact from Fiction in the Ballet Class

The product is excellent

Well researched and referenced and very well written in an almost conversational type tone. I'm a folk based dancer and would recommend this to not just ballet dancers but anyone interested in debunking some of the movement myths we get fed in the dance world that are misleading and sometimes downright dangerous. The book is set out in a logical manner which makes the material easily digestible and the writing is non pretentious, making it accessible to those that may not be up with all the proper anatomical terms associated with dance kinesiology.

Ballet is being taught incorrectly all over the world today except for in a few great institutions such as the Royal Ballet School. Valerie Grieg has brought to light the lies that fill so many ballet classrooms today. She explains the technique of ballet simply and clearly and why and how it works. As a student of ballet, I have been incredibly fortunate to have had a teacher who cares about the technique immensely, and it is comforting to know that people such as Grieg still care about the art's technique! If you are either a teacher or student of ballet, this book is a must read! You will benefit greatly from what Grieg has to say.

This book is great to give you the ins and outs of why we do the things the way we do as dancers. It gives you a better understanding of how the parts of the body work together to achieve the skills we need.

I was assigned this book in college for Dance Pedegogy and found it to be a great resource to understanding anatomy as it relates to dance. It gave me many new insights into allignment, the foot and the hip flexor and not only opened up new posibilities as an instructor, but as a dancer as well.

If you're ready to pick up a harmonica and a book to play today, I highly recommend David Harp's Instant Blues Harmonica. It teaches the basics of harmonica improvisation quickly and easily. Pop that CD in, and you'll be playing in minutes. Literally! It's very fun and VERY easy! I think ANYBODY can learn to play with this book/cd. It opened the door to musical instruments for my non-musical husband.

For a more in-depth study, check out The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Harmonica. It covers every possible aspect of learning to play the harmonica, including how to read music and advanced techniques of play, such as bending. This book is useful in learning how to translate written music to a harmonica, and learning how to incorporate harmonica into a band or group.

David Harp will get you started playing immediately. Then, if you're interested in continuing your education, check out the Idiot's Guide.

Good sound and good value. Easy to follow, great beginner and intermediate tool. I was pleasently suprised to find a harmonica in a case included taped to the book. I keep that extra one in the car to practice with the CD. David Harp makes it easy to learn.

This was a Christmas present for two of my grandchildren. The boys were absolutely thrilled with the information, in fact, one of them wrote a piece of music within 24 hrs!!!

For anyone who thinks you can't learn to make music in an hour or less, you gotta try this book and CD! Appying a series of very simple breathing patterns--with names like Chicago and Boogie Woogie--you can make MUSIC on the harmonica in only a few minutes. In the first few lessons, David Harp takes baby steps through a series short lessons (none is more than three minutes long) which cover beginning blues, folk and "classical" ideas. In the second half, he covers application of the earlier blues lessons, gives a little explanation of the blues scale, presents you with a simplified blues scale and few tricks. The last few tracks are "jam" tracks so you can test out your new chops. Of course he doesn't get into bending in this introductory course, but for less than $15 it's a GREAT way to start! I use the CD in my car and play along on my commute. It's perfect!

This is truly the most comprehensible, hassle-free self-teaching guide for raw beginners. Go with this book and you cant go wrong. Just play along with CD and you will have so much fun! After you finish with this one you may want to purchase Jon Dick's Rock and Blues Harmonica for slightly more advanced techniques you may also want to check out Tom Ball's Source Book series which is a very convenient reference of famous Blues harp licks/riffs.