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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

"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.

"In Grandma's Attic" is a beautiful book that our whole family enjoyed, from my 5-year-old homeschooled kindergartener all the way up to my 77-year-old parents.

Author Arleta Richardson, herself in her 80s now, recalls stories that her grandmother shared about her childhood. The grandmother grew up on a farm in Michigan around the turn of the last century, so the stories offer a nice glimpse into the past--almost doubling as a history lesson.

Arleta introduces each story with what was happening when her grandma told it to her, whether grandma was sitting down to sew, telling about something Arleta had pulled out of the attic, or entertaining Arleta as the little girl from diphtheria. Readers can learn about day-to-day life from two different periods of history at once.

What I most appreciate is the quaint honesty of the stories. Grandma even tells stories about the mischief she got into as a child! Arleta manages to show that childhood is still childhood, no matter the time period.

We used this book as a read-aloud during school times and at bedtime. I'd say a child with about a third-grade reading level could read it alone. Each of its 23 chapters is short, with about 5 or so pages each. Each chapter tells a different story.

The book has five nice, black-and-white illustrations. It even feels good in the hand, with a nice linen cardstock cover and standard novel size.

If you enjoy the Little House on the Prairie series, you'll enjoy this book. Some of the stories end with a Christian message, such as how prayer brought grandpa a new pair of shoes. All emphasize values, though not at all in a preachy way.

Like grandma from the book, I also grew up on a farm in Michigan, but I think anyone would love these stories.

We read this as part of the Sonlight Core C (kindergarten) homeschool curriculum. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

"In Grandma's Attic" is one of the best character-building books I have come across. These humorous short stories convey history, family life, and lessons learned in such a delightful way. Reminds me of the "Little House" books, but with a greater spiritual emphasis. So glad we were introduced to this series through "Five in a Row" by Jane Claire Lambert, who recommends it be read in conjunction with "The Rag Coat" by Lauren Mills.

What I liked the most about this book was that this girls grandmother told a lot of stories in this one book. It was REALLY good and I liked all the stories. I learned never to put your tounge on metal when it is winter and never touch guns and lots of other great lessons. I would like all of my friends to read this book. I am sure they would love it just like I loved it.
by: Jordan age 7

We read and reread these books to our sons when they were small. Then they read - and reread - them for themselves. Our family laughed a lot over the adventures and misadventures of Mabel and Sara Jane, two delightfully irrepressible little girls who, with the best of intentions, managed to get into all sorts of trouble. Our boys grew up watching Mabel and Sara Jane grow up. These true stories offer a rare and endearing view of childhood as it ought to be and of godliness cultivated through wisdom and love.

The entire Grandma's Attic Series, and this first book in particular, is one of the most beloved book series of my childhood. I haven't read them in years, but I still can recall most of the stories from each book.

When I was very young, my mother read them to me before I went to sleep. As I got older (6 or 7), I began reading them on my own. The stories were short enough that storytime before bed didn't drag on into the night, and they were also funny and well written. Morals were present in each story (the importance of truthfulness and the value of hardwork being two recurring themes, as I recall), but they weren't preachy or heavy-handed.

I haven't read the books in over a decade, but they left such a lasting impression on me that I have kept a set of the books in my library to read to children who visit. They've been a big hit so far with all the children I've read the stories to.

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.

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.

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!

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.

I have purchased a number of Irish fiddle materials over the last four years. I have played guitar for over 30 years and thought that I would try Irish fiddle. Of all the books and materials I have purchased, this is simply the best. The tunes are challenging, yet playable, (if you put some time in} even for a beginner. Mr. Cranitch's playing on the accompanying cassette is excellent, and the cassette makes for good listening on it's own. I would assume that an intermediate to accomplished violinist who wants to play Irish fiddle would find this book less challenging, but I am confident that he or she would enjoy it. For someone with no knowledge of the violin, it will be very challenging, and maybe discouraging. But, once you have the ability to play in tune in first position, and are comfortable and relaxed with your bowing, this is the book to buy.

I've seen this book at music stores but was reluctent to purchase it because it seemed a little expensive and also didn't include the cds. Maybe it's good not to rely too much on the cds with books like these but I have to admit I feel they are essential. It's like having a teacher giving you a run-through of not only how it sounds but also the feeling of how to play it. I see the top seller on amazon is the Peter Cooper book which I bought but was a little disapointed at what I thought was a bit of an uninspired interpretation of the tunes. I suppose that the fact that its on mel bay and is called the complete irish fiddle player gets it alot of attention but I wasn't all that crazy about it. What I do like is the Kevin Burke 20 Irish fiddle tunes on Homespun and my favorite right now is Ireland's Best Fiddle Tunes by Paul McNevin (Waltons Publishing) which has 110 fiddle tunes and 2 cds. Evidentally you can get this with or without the cds but I got the cd edition of course and it was about 30 bucks. I probably should apologize for getting off track of the book in review but I really need to have the cd or I'm not really interested. Oh, the McNevin book also has the guitar chords. This is the one to get, in my opinion. It doesn't look like amazon has it but I see now that although it's Waltons, an Irish publisher, it's evidentally being distributed through Mel Bay. McNevin also has a guide to learning the Irish fiddle for about the same price but I haven't checked that out.

I understand there is a CD or audio cassette with this book. Is it available through you?

Martha Bishop waltmart@mindspring.com

So you want to learn the Irish fiddle, eh? First find yourself a great teacher and start learning these tunes by ear! Second, pick up a copy of this book and the two CDs that go along with it--if you want to learn a tune on your own this book is a wonderful resource. All of the tunes (from reels to hornpipes to airs and everything in between) are written out with little more than the melody, so that you can personalize each one with ornamentation and bowing. Therefore, this book has a more authentic feel to it than many of the other books out there that seem to leave nothing to the imagination. Aditionally, the CDs offer a great sense of appropriate ornamentation and rhythm for many of the tunes. They are essential to truly making the most out of this book.
This book does offer an overview of basic fiddle technique and starts off with chapters on each seperate style of tune. The back section simply contains a wealth of tunes written out in standard musical notation. Honestly, I would recommend this book as a companion to lessons with a teacher, rather than a subsitute for them, in order to master the technical aspects of fiddle playing. But for most people this book will make a wonderfully comprehensive resource for building up your knowledge of very authentic Irish fiddle tunes. It is truly the best of its kind that I have ever used.

I have this fiddle book and it is very thorough. Matt is an excellent fiddle teacher. There is a CD and a cassette that goes with it, sold separately, usually at music stores. The CD is recommend so you can just hit the track button and replay a tune you're practicing rather than rewinding the tape cassette. Highly recommended for learning Irish fiddle.

Jack Johnson remains perhaps the most controversial athlete in American professional sports. And for that, it has been the constant rewriting of his life by his critics and/or racists.

His autobiography, published in 1927 when he was approaching his 50th birthday, should dispell the myths surrounding the greatest heavyweight champion ever. But more than his ring exploits, Johnson truly believed in a world without labels, a world where a celebrity can truly make a difference in people's lives and a world where dreams can truly be sought after and achieved.

He has pointed comments concerning critics who never gave a balanced account of his life and has a lengthy account on the fix he claims was arranged for him to lose the heavyweight title to Jess Willard. A chapter on physical fitness is timely today and demonstrates how Johnson was setting new standards on working out for his sport and general fitness.

You may have viewed the PBS special and read the recent biography on his life, but nothing beats reading Johnson in his own words. Johnson was truly a champion for honest play inside the ring and - most importantly - in the game of life.

Jack Johnson was the first African American Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World. He became the heavyweight champion in 1908 when African Americans were exploited by Racism in a close-minded White America where hundreds of African Americans were murdered without trial by white mobs of hatred.

With this context of hatred, Jack Johnson, matter of factly talks about his life during this troublesome time in American history as if it were a minor annoyance. In over 250 pages, he discusses his childhood and boxing career. He also speaks of the adventures in his life and anecdotes that all have an excitement, the kind that makes "Carpe Diem" seem like a non-event.

Bull Fighting in Spain; fleeing to Europe from a US government intent on exploiting the marvels of his success with grotesque technicalities of Laws biased against African Americans; storms through the rough ocean off of Mexico; encounters with wild Indian tribes; Russian spies prior the Bolshevik's revolution; somehow managing to win a poker game with 4 Aces when two others with 4 Queens and 4 Kings accused one another of cheating not realizing that they'd both been defeated.

Jack Johnson is the most underrated American Hero. To me, after reading his story, I felt no bitterness in his diction. I read no scars from all the hatred thrusted upon him. On the contrary, I read the voice of a man who probably would have lived to 200 years old had it not been for his tragic auto accident death when he was in his late 60s.

The book has amazing historical insight. He discusses the implication of the "Jazz Age" and how it affects family values. Oddly, today, the Jazz Age was when the family was still in tact. I thought Devil Worshipping Heavy Metal destroyed the family. No wait, wasn't it that rebellious punk rock music? No, wait, wasn't it that selfish "me-generaton" Disco? That evil Rock'n'Roll? No wait.... It's amazing how musical trends imply collapsing humanity. Still Johnson's insight was intellectually pragmatic and insightful.

The book is an amazing read when one considers that Jack Johnson had only a 5th Grade education. Yet we read of a man whose expressive skills excede those with Doctorate Degrees. Notice how I forgot to emphasize that he was a heavyweight boxer? When, fights were often 20, 30 rounds long? All those punches, yet his mind extremely sharp in his autobiography.

He's entertaining with much to say and with deep insight few autobiographies have.

If you find true individualists to be a source of inspiration, Jack Johnson's "In and Out of the Ring" is a must for your collection.

This autobiography is a much-needed corrective to playwright Howard Sackler's artistically over-licensed opus "The Great White Hope", dramatized on stage and in film in the late 1960's. As a self-portrait of a Black man living in a particular time and place, it is not only a record of Mr. Johnson's matchless skill as a boxer, but more importantly, it is a journey into an all-encompassing Black mind, an intellect as well as a striking physical specimen, who broke out a new mold for the image of the athelete as someone capable of possessing as much "brains" as they had "brawn." Johnson was so clearly head and shoulders above his peers and detractors that it is no wonder why he was hated and feared by many whites. When enough people of color have read this book, it is likely that Mr. Johnson may be put under the same sun that shines on the likes of Paul Robeson and Jackie Robinson: Black "Renaissance" men whose lives outside of their sport(s) have been obscured because of their insight, outspokeness, and general refusal to be limited by their "race." Don't let "Black History" month slip by without attempting to get onto, and into this priceless autobiography by a true "giant" of a man.

This book is a must read, not only for boxing fans seeking more information about the first black heavyweight champion, but also for students of American history and specifically race relations in the U.S. Johnson's writing is insightful, eloquent and scholarly. He refused to allow the abysmal prejudice of whites to deter him from his goals, and enjoyed his life to the fullest. He maintained his dignity and judgement despite the efforts to break him. His book shows him to be a man of immense intellect, who could have excelled in any field of his choice. His views on the pace of 'modern' life, diet, physical fitness and race relations are as relevant today as they were in 1927. This book was a great surprise to me as I picked it up as a boxing fan, but the scope of Jack Johnson as a man goes far beyond the squared circle. His life was epic and his words timeless. This is a book for all times, by a passionate, inspired and inspiring man.

This autobiography is a much-needed corrective to playwright Howard Sackler's artistically over-licensed opus "The Great White Hope", dramatized on stage and in film in the late 1960's. As a self-portrait of a Black man living in a particular time and place, it is not only a record of Mr. Johnson's matchless skill as a boxer, but more importantly, it is a journey into an all-encompassing Black mind, an intellect as well as a striking physical specimen, who broke out a new mold for the image of the athelete as someone capable of possessing as much "brains" as they had "brawn." Johnson was so clearly head and shoulders above his peers and detractors that it is no wonder why he was hated and feared by many whites. When enough people of color have read this book, it is likely that Mr. Johnson may be put under the same sun that shines on the likes of Paul Robeson and Jackie Robinson: Black "Renaissance" men whose lives outside of their sport(s) have been obscured because of their insight, outspokeness, and general refusal to be limited by their "race." Don't let "Black History" month slip by without attempting to get onto, and into this priceless autobiography by a true "giant" of a man.

What can I say?? Hendrix is amazing... And this songbook will make your guitar cry with all of it... And the best thing is that your drummer and bass player can take a pick too!!!

Book is very accurate and thorough. There is a paragraph or two about theory (key, scales, techniques) to begin each song. It incudes all solos as well as rythm, and even bass lines. Great book.

First off, this book is HUGE. Almost 400 pages. The biggest tab book I have by half of the book. Hendrix is god on the guitar, no one could compare to him then or now. I love all his songs, now I finally know how to play them. Still working on actually playing them. Every song in this book is awesome. Even the "Star Spangled Banner". I play it COMPLETELY different.

This is a great work- I am wholeheartedly impressed.

The transcriptions here are full scores, meaning that every instrument played on each studio recording is notated in sheet music and then tabbed out in the language of that instrument. There is also about a half page description before each song discussing its unique features and mechaincs.

The guitarist who is interested in understanding Jimi's style and techniques could do so with this book, the album itself, and perhaps a few other recordings. And drummers would do well to analyze it also.

As far as quality, the level of detail and accuracy is like nothing I've ever seen in a music book. The author has done the impossable by taking Jimi's techniques and notating them all on paper. Truly impressive, and truly useful.

I'm no top notch guitarist who can play some Hendrix with their eye's closed, but i'm all right, and I couldn't have been happier with this book. The Tabs to me seemed like they were dead on accurate. I must admit that some of the chords Mr. Hendrix used are kinda crazy when your fretting them but once you get used to it you'll be allright. If you just got into Hendrix or have been into his music for some time this book won't do you wrong!!