Product Description
The ultimate collection of Christmas classics just got better with this third edition that includes even more of your favorites. 100 songs, including: Auld Lang Syne * Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella * Carol of the Bells * The Chipmunk Song * Christmas Time Is Here * Do You Hear What I Hear * The First Noel * Gesu Bambino * Happy Holiday * Happy Xmas (War Is Over) * Hymne * I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm * Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring * Jingle-Bell Rock * A Marshmallow World * Merry Christmas, Darling * My Favorite Things * The Night Before Christmas Song * Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer * Silver and Gold * Silver Bells * The Star Carol * Suzy Snowflake * What Child Is This? * Wonderful Christmastime * The Wonderful World of Christmas * and more.Amazon.com Review
A full 100 items is a generous selection in this price range. The unexpected songs here are the Vangelis "Hymne," Oscar Brand's "Burgundian Carol," and Roger Miller's "Old Toy Trains." There are added words for Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" as well. The skill level ranges far and wide, but large margins and easy keys for many of the numbers ensure that beginners will find enough material to enjoy. "Some Children See Him" and a calypso number are especially welcome inclusions. Each carol has both guitar chord names and fingering diagrams. --William R. Braun ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good Enough for Me
I'm an older player/learner who practices in spurts around many activities.I wanted something that would not get me too frustrated, but would also allow me to have some sense of accomplishment.I'm not a good pianist, play for myself and not others, and cannot be a good judge of the musical accuracy or sophistication of this music. I've read that this editor in other easy piano books makes mistakes with notation. Better musicians have complained that the editor sometimes makes original tunes seem unrecognizable. To my weak ears, this collection and its arrangements are just about right. I'm also very pleased with the traditional selections--and the price was right.

Nice Selection of Christmas Music
This book has a large selection of easy-to-play Christmas music. Great for the beginning piano player or the advanced player who just wants to play some uncomplicated music.

A must have
This is an awesome collection of Christmas music for all ages.Mostly easy arrangement and a few challenging ones.

Perfect mix of Christmas and Holiday music
Excellent arrangements at about the intermediate level, with the perfect mix of what you could call "traditional" in Christmas/Holiday music. One of the very best in print. Big, crazy thumbs up from CleverJoe. ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides a collection of exciting pieces which effectively reinforce the concepts introduced in this level. Charming lyrics and teacher duets enrich the learning experience. Contents include: Persian Market * Carnival of Venice * Allegretto * Vivace * Morning Has Broken * Hot Summer Blues * Funiculi, Funicula * Malaguena * America, the Beautiful * The Erie Canal * The Great Wall of China * The Fly's Adventure * Song of Kilimanjaro * and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Series
My daughter has used this series since she started piano lessons several years ago and has made great progress ... Read more

Product Description
This easy step-by-step method emphasizes correct playing habits and note reading through interval recognition. Lesson Book 3 introduces ""overlapping pedal""; new time signatures 3/8 and 6/8; and the primary triads in Major and Minor keys. Concepts include: passing one under two and one under three; playing major scales in contrary motion; the chromatic scale; the minor scale.

For reinforcement of each principle as it is introduced, supplementary material is carefully coordinated, page for page, at each level of instruction. Coordinating supplemental books for Level 3 include: Classic Themes
* Composition
* Duet
* Ear Training
* Ensemble
* Fun
* Hymn
* Merry Christmas
* Merry Christmas Ensemble
* Musical Concepts
* Notespeller
* Patriotic Solo
* Recital
* Repertoire
* Sight Reading
* Technic
* Theory and Top Hits! Solo, Christmas and Duet Book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Alfred's Basic Piano Course Level 3
The item took almost 3 weeks to arrive.Other than that, it was fine. ... Read more

Product Description
Designed to be used in conjunction with the other books in 3A, this book reinforces theory concepts through writing, sightreading, and ear-training activities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Series
My daughter has used this series since she started piano lessons several years ago and has made great progress ... Read more

Product Description
As seen on public television stations nationwide, a revolutionary new approach to playing non-classical music on the piano.

Have you ever wished you could play the piano? Well, now you can! Scott"The Piano Guy" Houston teaches you to play the way the pros play, in a style enormously simpler than traditional classical piano and with an absolute minimum of note-reading. By focusing on playing the melody with the right hand (one note at a time) and simple chords with the left hand, Houston gives you the tools you need for a lifetime of musical enjoyment. Best of all, your tour guide to this adventure forces you to have fun along the way! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (76)

PIANO YAMAHA
GREAT hit! My 10- year old loves to use it as an awesome alternative to his dear electronic games. And something to show off to his friends when they are here. He learned on his own couple of songs he likes: "clocks" and he plays something that I like for me.Worth the money!

PLAY PIANO IN A FLASH
EASY TO READ HOW-TO BOOK ON LEARNING TO PLAY THE FUN AND EASY WAY. EMPHASIS ON EASY. WHERE WAS THIS BOOK WHEN I HAD TO TAKE BORING CLASSICAL PIANO LESSONS AS A KID? HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

reviewing scott houston'splay the pianoin a flash book


Scott houston is an extremely good teacher. I can only imagine how good his seminars must be. This book is written for someone who has no musical experience. I found it to be invaluable as a suplement to my piano lessons. He makes thingseasy for you to remember and his folksy style, of teaching is highlt effective. I highly recommend this book

Love it !!!!!
I read these books by Scott Houston and been playingmusic on my keyboard
ever since. I have been learning about 1 new song a week.These book help
me tremendously.I have nothing but praise.

Play Piano in a flash
Good for basic information... I would like to have more chorded music in the book. ... Read more

Product Description
Walking his two young children to school every morning, Thad Carhart passes an unassuming little storefront in his Paris neighborhood. Intrigued by its simple sign—Desforges Pianos—he enters, only to have his way barred by the shop’s imperious owner. Unable to stifle his curiosity, he finally lands the proper introduction, and a world previously hidden is brought into view. Luc, the atelier’s master, proves an indispensable guide to the history and art of the piano. Intertwined with the story of a musical friendship are reflections on how pianos work, their glorious history, and stories of the people who care for them, from amateur pianists to the craftsmen who make the mechanism sing. The Piano Shop on the Left Bank is at once a beguiling portrait of a Paris not found on any map and a tender account of the awakening of a lost childhood passion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (84)

Review of The Piano Shop on the Left Bank
"You can never have too many dream pianos." - Luc, Desforges Pianos

A book that was recently recommended to me, and which I loved, spurred me to further investigate more books similar to it. That book was A Romance on Three Legs: Glenn Gould's Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Piano. When I stumbled across The Piano Shop on the Left Bank I felt a little thrill and knew I was in for another treat, and I wasn't disappointed.

While A Romance was a book more focused around one particular piano and the lives that it touched, The Piano Shop deals more with the technical aspects of repairing, restoring and re-awakening a love of music in Thad Carhart, the author of this memoir. Parts of the book read like a novel, a story about a man finding again his love and pleasure in creating music - and other parts of the book read like a technical manual, detailing the various processes of repairing and restoring pianos (something I was already somewhat familiar with, my own father being a piano technician for many years). There's history - stories of famous composers, performers and piano builders, there's opinions, some of which I share and some of which were new to me. And most of all, through it all, it's easy to feel the love that the author has for music and for beautiful instruments in the way he thoroughly and thoughtfully weaves together the story.

Recently, while in Chicago I experienced an old bookstore. I walked in, smelled the musty smell of books that have seen more than I ever will in my lifetime. I chatted with the owner who sized me up with just a few questions and was able to match me with a book that was perfect for me. Much like the wand-maker in Harry Potter (for those of you who are still searching to understand what I'm talking about), Luc finds and matches up individuals to the perfect piano for them.

By the time I finished this book I found myself wishing I lived in Paris, just so that I could stop by Desforges and look for myself. I felt an aching to experience, once again, the feel of a perfect action and the sound of a well-tuned instrument. Maybe someday I'll get to go there, it's definitely something that's made its way onto my bucket list.

Fascinating Read
Thad Carhart draws you into his little neighborhood in Paris. I learned so much about pianos through Carhart's friendship with Luc the atelier's master! It was fascinating to read and learn about the history of the pianos at the piano shop and the people who care for them. The book definately inspires you to want to learn more about pianos. After reading this book I look at pianos and wonder where they have been and what is their history.

Enchanting memoirs of everyday Paris
A wonderfully written memoir of a simple yet beautiful way of life that has not changed in decades amist a little street in Paris.A short but satisfying read for a wide range of audiences that takes you through a very typical, quiant neighborhood in Paris and a special shop where friends are made slowly and carefully but permenently if you make the grade.The author is skilled at creating the textures, sounds, smells and pulse (very slow at times in such shops) of things in Paris.The story unfolds to reveal how some are truly gems that are given a new home to truly appreciative owners.A marvelous story where you can truly feel the pulse of this fascinating and unusual world of pianos, their craftsman and the musicians like the American-in-Paris author who revel in stepping back into history to continue it with these old pianos.

A Most Lovely, Entertaining, Read...thank you, Thaddeus Carhart!
A short time ago, I needed some diagnostic work done at my local hospital. The doctor involved and I had a very wonderful conversation regarding classical music, recordings, performers, etc., and what came out of this talk was his recommendation of several books that he thought I would enjoy. Well, one of these books was this one, and I must say that "my new musical friend" that I spoke with during these procedures, was spot on in all of his suggestions, but particularly this truly lovely story.

We are taken into a very private world of a small, nearly invisible wonderland of used pianos, waiting to be re-built, restored, and recycled back out into the world of those who love the instrument for what it is, what it does, and history of individual instruments, etc., and how lives of individuals are changed through this process.

I would be remiss if I did not say that this small book is truly one of the very finest volumes that I have ever had the pleasure to read (in this case a paperback edition....but I am currently seeking an original first edition hardback for my library). This is one truly touching, enlightening, and entertaining view of the Paris neighborhood that Mr. Carhart lives in, and photographic clips from his childhood, his private life, interaction with many others, and, of course, his learning about, getting to know, and "histories" of the many instruments he comes to see in this shop. Woven in also are interpersonal stories of many interesting and wonderful characters...people one would truly love to know in one's own life, etc.

I cannot recommend this book too highly....it is one of a very few truly truly wonderful pieces of writing and story telling that I have come across in many years....do yourself a truly wonderful favor, and get a copy of this book and nourish your inner soul with this marvelous story.

Personally, I wish I had the financial resources and the connections necessary to get this book made into a movie...what a wonderful story to bring to the cinematic screen for the enjoyment of all, not just the music lovers who would simply be blown away with it, but everyone interested in good storytelling, character development, and, of course, historical documentation....especially seen through the very special vision of Thad Carhart.

Who knows, perhaps someone with this ability might read this review and take my suggestion seriously and create a film that would certainly be a great credit to the film industry (if, of course, they follow the book and do not "re-write" as often happens...this book is a perfect jewel as it sits, and it would be a shame to change any part of it).

I would love to share comments with others (below) on this wonderful book....please feel free to leave them here for myself and others to enjoy!

~operabruin

Learn something new
I came across this book after playing the piano for almost 2 decades. I studied piano at a "Academia da Musica" where all the pianos are as old as my grandmother. I hated them. And of course, none of my contemporaries and professors around me like them. We all love the modern Steinway and Yamaha. It's a joy to play on them --- and that's our standard how we view the piano.

As my teacher would often say, "Pianos are unlike the violins. The more you play on them, the older and cheaper they will be."

This book guides me to the colourful world about vintage pianos and learning how to appreciate the old and sweet sounds they give. And of course, recalling my childhood memories of this romantic and mysterious town of Paris --- it's one of the most visited cities in the world. Everybody knows the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triumph, but how often do we really enter the world of the local Parisians?

It's a good book to understand both the vintage pianos and the city from another perspective. ... Read more

Product Description
A treasury of pieces for easy piano that over the years have captured the imagination of music lovers. Mention a title that is universally known and loved, and chances are you will find it in this volume. Includes Clair de Lune, Country Gardens, Melody in F, Pachelbel’s Canon, Debussy’s Clair de Lune, and Albéniz’s Tango. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Good easy arrangements of classic
Great little book. I already had the companion book and love to sit and sightread from this book. The arrangements are easy enough to sightread but sophisticated enough to make it worth the trouble.

If you love the great classics, but are still a beginner...
If you appreciate the great classic melodies, but your skill level is not up to the task of the originals, buy this book. With faithful harmonies, but never scored with more than two flats or sharps (and most in the keys of C,G, and F), this book gives you a chance to play the music you love.
Much appreciated also is the spiral binding, so the book stays open to whatever you are playing. It's a great buy.

Not too easy, but really great
I'm a beginner piano player myself and I would say this book is more for advanced beginner and intermediate players. That said, it's a nice collection of sheet music that ranges from easy pieces (that I learned in about a week or so), some really challenging ones that are completely beyond me at this point, to tricky ones that include four-fingered chords that my small female hand seems incapable to stretch and twist into. For me, it's great because it gives a good range of difficulty so I can progress.
I love the spiral binding, the print is clean and easy to read, and the pieces include numbers to suggest fingering which is very helpful.
I definitely recommend it!

Little bit of a challenge but nice to play.
As a senior citizen who still wants to play for personal enjoyment, this book has both easy and challenging pieces.It is filled with classical arrangements that I heard and played in my childhood when I took 7 years of piano lessons.It is a nice addition to my music library.

Easy Way To Sound Proficient
This book contains many classics in an easy form, making it simple to sound proficient even though your skill may be minimal.The book is attractive and in very good condition.It arrived quickly, so I took it on vacation with my portable keyboard.Lots of fun! ... Read more

Product Description
A time-honored tradition just got better! The JOHN W. SCHAUM PIANO COURSE has been newly revised with 100 percent new engravings and typesetting, color highlighting for concept emphasis, updated song titles and lyrics, and full-color illustrations. Other products available from the best-selling John W. Schaum collection: * John W. Schaum Piano Course (level Pre-A or Green through H or Grey) * Schaum Pop Favorites (level Pre-A or Green through C Purple) * After the H Book (Volume I & II) * Adult Piano Course (Book I-III) * Pop Piano Course (Book I-IV) * Popular Piano Pieces (level Pre-A or Green through D or Orange) * Schaum Christmas (level Green through Orange) * John W. Schaum Solo Piano Albums (For the Young Student) * additional supplementary books ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

the best I know of
In my opinion, Schaum's piano course (from the 50's, I think!) is the best piano course published in the last 100 years.It's been given slick new covers, but the text hasn't changed.

There are eight lettered books, A-H.Then there are two "After the H Books" and one "Pre" book, called the "Green Book."

I myself used Alfred's and had some impressive success with that, but I must aver that Schaum's is a superior series.It takes the student much, much deeper and at a much more comfortable pace without, at any point, throwing anything horridly intimidating in his face.

I didn't know about Schaum's while I was learning piano or I would have switched over.As it is, I can still get put through my paces with the F, G, and H books, which take me into realms Alfred's did not get into, at least explicitly.And Alfred's certainly goes far deeper than either the Bastien or the Faber.

Too bad these don't come with CD's, at least to my knowledge.

A great place to start piano.
This is a great way to learn piano. I have taught this method for many years and it has never failed any of my students. This books offers fun songs yet is packed with important information from the start.

Excellent material
"Schaum's A-Red Book" is great for the student who needs a little extra work before moving on to "Thompson's Grade 1 Book".I usually start my students in "Teaching Little Fingers to Play", but I have discovered that many of them need extra material before they are able to move on to "Thompson's Grade 1 Book".This book is the one!!

A great series of learn-to-play books
I was very happy to be able to find the John W. Schaum Piano Course books.Many years ago, I was taught to play piano using these books and now I'm able to teach my children the same way.This book provides a very simply step-by-step approach to piano playing that is challenging but still easy enough for children to understand and to practice what they've learned on their own.

Excellent for kids and adults
I used the older version of this book when I was a child and it was excellent.Easy to read and understand.Perfect for learning to play the piano if you want to go at your own pace.I had a private instructor as well but the book was the key to my lessons. I have almost the entire collection but they are a bit out-dated so I plan to buy the new ones soon for my own review, and also so I can teach my kids to play when they are old enough. I loved the John W. Schaum series.Note: These books aren't really theory based so if you intend to teach yourself, you'll also need a book to really teach you the basics (Tip: I used the AB Guide to music theory by Eric Taylor, it's alittle difficult to find now though), once you master the theory, you'll be on your way to playing tons of songs. Fun fun fun!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Ever wanted to play the blues, but weren't sure where to start? Blues Piano will teach you the basic skills you need. From comping to soloing, you'll learn the theory, the tools, and even the tricks that the pros use. And, you get seven complete tunes to jam on. Listen to the CD, then start playing along! Covers: scales and chords; left-hand patterns; walking bass; endings and turnarounds; right-hand techniques; how to solo with blues scales; crossover licks; and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Perhaps Not For the Beginner
There is a wealth of information in this book, but the author failed to connect with me on a fundimental level.I have to admit that I'm pretty new to the keyboard and still wrestling with some of the music theory, so it is probably harder for me to grasp and understand some of the concepts that the author tries to present.When going through this book, I found the amount of material and details distracting at times.I personally do better with a few pieces of information, with a focused example and accompanying exercise.I found myself having to remind myself to get past all the details and just try to get into the exercises.Despite the issues I personally have with using this book right now, it does contain a wealth of information and I'm open to revisiting it once I progress in my playing and knowledge of theory.I'm simply not sure its best book for the beginning keyboardist that wants to learn the blues.As an alternative, I purchased "Improvising Blues Piano", by Tim Richards, and extremely pleased with his teaching style and how it presents its material.

Best intermidiate blues book
This book is simply excellent for an intermediate pianist.
You learn various styles of blues. All left hand techniques are covered. All comping methods as well. Improvisation is covered a little bit I would say. But you get the tools to improvise and expand your vocabulary with some practice.
With the accompanying CD you won't even need Aebersold.
For this price you should strongly consider this book.

Microscope not included
You can't read the notation on the Kindle screen. And there's no way I can find to make the images larger.

Hey, Amazon! --You should refund everyone's money who bought this book for Kindle. The format doesn't work.

an excellent value
Having returned to keyboards after many years' absence, I wanted something that I could use to improve my basic sight reading skills and build my knowledge base of blues piano. This instruction book does both admirably. It is chocked full of information, which starts out very basic and increases in difficulty as it goes. Each lesson is on the CD, which is very helpful when simply counting out the measures doesn't quite capture the feel of the music. Each lesson is thoroughly analyzed and explained in terms of chord structure and rhythm. I am about 1/2 way through the book, and have found it useful to go back and review older lessons.

Make no mistake. This guide is not for the absolute keyboard beginner. Basic sight reading skills are necessary. And the most important ingredient to success is, not surprisingly, practice!

Looking forward to purchasing other guides in this Keyboard Series.

One of the best books out there
This book will give you the "left hand blues touch". Beginners: do not despair, just do as the man says and you will be rewarded. At the end you have 7 full pieces. You will know when you can play them all (even if not at full speed) what I mean by the review title. Mark, if you read this some day I have these words for you: THANK YOU ... Read more

Product Description

The latest supplement to the pianist's must-have reference The Piano Book, this comprehensive guide provides list prices for more than 4,000 currently manufactured acoustic and digital piano brands and models, as well as advice on how to estimate actual street prices to help negotiate the lowest possible price. Summarizing the essentials of The Piano Book, this new resource goes beyond the basics to offer extensive details on digital pianos and reveal all the information necessary to differentiate between a good deal and a great deal when buying a piano. Anyone in the market for a new or used piano—including teachers, technicians, students, and aficionados—can make a more informed purchase using this definitive guide. Updated twice a year with the most accurate information, the manual fully covers piano manufacturers, instrument models, prices, and current trends and conditions in the piano market.

Customer Reviews (7)

Great guide to piano
Purchased this for information about piano's and the piano purchasing process. Very informative in this and other areas pertaining to piano's. A great guide for both the piano enthusiast and new purchasers. A "must read" if you are new to piano's and the buying process.

Long awaited, and just as indispensable, update of the classic Piano Book
People who don't have a piano would probably be surprised to learn that buying a piano is as treacherous and intimidating an undertaking as buying a car--with many of the same perils: the expectation that negotiating a final purchase price is routine; a lack of clear data on the "real" wholesale or retail prices of pianos; and sales tactics that would make a used car salesman blush. For years, the major purchasing guide for consumers was Larry Fine's "Piano Book." But while annual price guide supplements for that volume were published yearly, the main text had not revised in many years.

The "Acoustic and Digital Piano Buyer" is thus a long-awaited and much needed update. The content of the book has been radically revised, and in my opinion, for the better. Much of the original Piano Book was devoted to rather dense and technical discussion of piano construction, understandable given Fine's background as a piano technician, but often more confusing or irrelevant than helpful. The Piano Buyer gives just the right amount of detail so that readers can understand the difference between the actions of an upright and a grand piano, say, or understand what a salesperson is saying to them about laminated vs. solid wood soundboards, but not so much detail that it is overwhelming.

Other changes to the Piano Buyer that are highly welcome include a chapter on considerations of how to situate your piano in your room for the best acoustic qualities, and a greatly enlarged section on digital pianos and computer models of piano sounds.This emphasis is much needed, as sales for digital pianos have increased greatly over the past few years, whereas acoustic piano sales have declined sharply. The Piano Buyer retains, however, many of the still-relevant sections of the Piano Book; for example, the chapters on dealing with salespeak and buying a used piano. And, of course, the Piano Buyer still includes the absolutely essential pricing guide for all new pianos sold in the U.S. at this time. Having this guide by your side while you are negotiating to purchase a piano will save you many times over the purchase price of this book.

Which raises a relevant question: As pointed out in other reviews, the Piano Buyer is available online. Why, then, should anybody buy this book?I can think of a couple of compelling reasons. First, and maybe it's just me, but I find navigating online books to be quite cumbersome. Flipping through pages and finding what you want takes a lot longer with an online version than a hard copy, and it's MUCH harder to simply leaf through pages to pick out interesting tidbits. Second, unless you want to be hauling a laptop with you to various piano stores, and/or you want to be able to stare at a larger reading space than what you get with a Blackberry, the hard copy version will be infinitely easier to cart around with you while you're piano shopping, and--trust me on this--you *will* want to have this with you while you're shopping.

People shopping for a piano for the first time often voice the shell-shocked sentiment that they had no idea that it would be so difficult to sort through the various sales pitches and hard-sell pressure they encounter to find the right piano for them at the right price. The "Piano Buyer" is one of the best resources out there to help you make an educated decision and arrive at a fair price.

Simply the best
The Piano Buyer is the new name for Larry Fine's annual Supplement to the Piano Book which has been published for around the last 20 years. The Piano Buyer includes many new topics not previously covered in the older supplements. Among these are a lengthy section on digital pianos and hybrid pianos (which I did not read since I'm not interested in them) and many separate articles of great interest to pianophiles that will change each time the Piano Buyer is published. This edition included articles on room acoustics, differences in tonal quality among top tier pianos, thoughts of a master rebuilder, increasing quality of Chinese pianos, among others.

For many people, I think the most important sections of the book are the price lists, rankings, and specific manufacturer news. Fine calculates an SMP(suggested maximum price) based on a uniform markup from the dealer wholesale cost. This is much more useful than the MSRP, which is determined by the manufacturer and is essentially meaningless. And I think they are the only up to date (revised every 6 months) lists of their kind anywhere.

The rankings by tiers are always controversial (pianists tend to defend their own choices with their lives) but IMHO they are the fairest, most evenly balanced and thoughtful rankings anywhere. They are not based only on Fine's opinions but include opinions of many techs, pianists, and other industry people. Whether you're looking to spend 2K or 200K, you'll find useful advice. Fine is particularly careful to explain his methodology and terminology.

Simply the best book of its kind by far.

A MUST HAVE!
If you're in the market for a piano then this book is a must have.

Several years ago I purchased my first piano. But I didn't have the benefit of the advice of this book or its predecessor, The Piano Book. Big mistake. I ended up buying a piano with some big problems and before I got rid of it and got a decent piano in its place I ended up spending a couple thousand more than I should have - all because I was an uneducated consumer.

Since then, I've read The Piano Book and this new publication. Now I have the benefit of knowing what to look for and an idea of what various pianos, both new and used, should sell for.

A welcome addition is the guide to digitals. I am a digital piano and organ tech and I can tell you that there is a difference in quality and support between the various brands out there, so even if you're considering a digital you need to know what is contained in this book.

such a wonderful resource for the piano shopper
When making a large purchase, one wants to be informed.Here is a book for for all those who may shop for pianos, as well as those who are interested or obsessed with those glorious instruments.... the pianophiles as they say.

This book is money well spent when making a huge purchase such as a piano.Every brand imaginable is described. i find it absolutely fascinating as well.


..definitely 5 stars! ... Read more

Product Description
The Universal Edition is designed for all English-speaking countries outside of the United States, including Canada, the U. K. and Australia. This edition uses the British system of terminology for rhythmic values such as ""crotchet"" for quarter note. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

WONDERFUL!
My daughter (age 7) is enthusiastically teaching herself to play piano by using this book.It's great!

thank you!
THIS ITEM ARRIVED IN A FAIRLY SHORT AMT OF TIME...CAME IN GOOD CONDITION, THANK YOU!

Used for teaching children piano
I use this book to teach my students, ages 5-11 how to play piano from the most basic level.It has been wonderful.Not only are the songs fun to play, but a lot of them are tunes that the kids know, which makes it more fun for them.It also incorporates the theory in with the playing, so my students never get too bored!I highly recommend these books to any piano teacher looking for a good book to start their students on! ... Read more

Product Description
The second edition of this world famous book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Invaluable Manual
We bought this so my husband could fix up our old piano, and it's been invaluable so far.He's doing this strictly as a hobby, so it says a lot about the book that he can understand and apply the instructions and information in it.We looked at a few other similar books at the library before deciding we needed a copy of this manual for our piano project, and so far, it's had everything we needed.Definitely worth the money!

DIY Piano book
This is a complete how to do piano repairs and tune up book.It is well written and easy to understand.I got several other books from the library and none of them come close to being as complete or easy to understand as this book. The price at Amazon beats any other that I could find on the internet.I have never tried to repair a piano before, but with this book I feel confident that I can do some simple repairs and tune it up.

Piano Tuners' Companion
This book is a "must have" companion for piano technicians.Before buying it, I was searching for a reference book to show me each step of tuning a piano, as well as how to fix sticky keys, broken keys, how to replace a broken piano string if faced with that problem.I am very pleased with this book written by Arthur A. Blitz.It has many black-and-white pictures and numerous illustrations making it a gold mine of "how to's" in assisting the professional, the student, and the hobbyist.I love learning new things. I'll be using the book a lot.
I love it!

Piano tuning
I am very satisfied with the information in the book, I was displeased with the company it was purchased from. The pages were bent, edges were dirty, food inside front cover. This was purchased as a "new" item. I would not purchase anything from the 3rd party company again. Amazon further discounted the book and that was very much appreciated.

Finally!
I am not a professional pianist. I started taking lessons when I was 6, some 58 years ago. I recently got my piano back from my daughter, with the idea of repairing it to playing condition. At the same time, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a 58 year old spinet. This book contains almost more than I wanted to know. The detailed descriptions of pianos of every style and construction is wonderfully educational. The line drawings of mechanisms (actions) of every sort should cover just about any piano, with specific additions for the less than standard. For those that even want to dabble in tuning their own piano, there are not only instructions, beat charts, but even exercises to work on. And for the stout of heart, full description of full restoration, including removing the frame and changing the pin block. Then, how to refinish the cabinet. It covers all the bases. I really cannot say enough positive things about this book. Finally, all the things your tuner probably won't tell you!. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Complete Level 1 is a faster-paced version of Levels 1A and 1B that gets to staff reading more quickly. Perfect for a student who is 8 or older, or for a younger beginner with great musical aptitude. This course is most effective when used under the direction of a piano teacher or experienced musician. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Probably the BEST Beginning Piano Books you can Buy!
I have been playing piano for a few years now, and am what you would probably call an 'advanced player'. I can play some pretty big pieces, but even so, I STILL come back to this book once in a while an play a tune or two from it! I have tried several other piano books, but this is the best beginner book I have ever found, and the one that taught me how to play. Take note: I had NO prior experience playing piano before I tried this book, unless you want to count tinkering around once in a while on a tiny, 20 key keyboard.

It all started when my brother began taking piano lessons in primary school. He had a fantastic teacher and she assigned this book to him for starters, because she had faith that he could learn fast, and because it's something she's been using for years (that teacher later left and the new teacher also used the Alfred books). I wanted to learn piano too but didn't really want to take lessons, so I listened to what my brother learned from the tutor, but mostly, I looked through the book, practised, and learned to play better than I ever had just by reading through the book and taking my time mastering each song (a little friendly competition between me and my brother didn't hurt either ;) ). Before I knew it, we were through the book, could play every single song perfectly, and could even read notes. We eagerly pushed on to Alfred's Basic Complete Level 2/3 (also highly recommended), which is more challenging, has even more fun songs, and is overall an even better book that we both learned an enormous amount from. I still have never had a single formal piano lesson, but have progressed to level 5, and am planning on getting level 6 (the final book) as soon as possible. The wonderful piano teachers who used this have also had great success with their students.

The book itself is lively, easy to read and to follow. It has a bunch of colourful pictures that don't interfere but add to the book, making the songs even more fun to play. It isn't filled with boring diagrams or note charts, but instead has quick, easy to understand, and very useful notes about, well, notes, as well as hand positions, musical terms, etc. As one reviewer said, it DOES start you off playing with each hand separately so you can get the feel for it, but rapidly progresses to using two hands.

Overall, it starts you off slow and easy, but progresses you fast after you've gotten the grasp of it. At the same time, you learn many of the essential principals you'll need to play even more advanced music. If you are a very beginning beginner, I would still highly recommend this book, even though it says "For the later beginner". As I said, it teaches you fast, but if you have absolutely NO experience with musical instruments or are a slow learner, I would recommend getting another one of Alfred's beginning courses.

This book is for ALL ages, whether you're 1 or 100. If you're an adult just starting piano, don't hesitate to use it! If you have a 3-year-old who likes music (ALL toddlers seem to like music), get them a small keyboard and let them tinker around with it. If nothing else, they'll at least like the colorful, fun pictures in the book. If you think you can handle learning at a faster pace, get this book. If not, get it anyways, and get one of the earlier beginner books - you can STILL learn from it! The fun doesn't stop there: once you have a basic grasp on how to play, there's no limit to the music you can find - the internet is chalk full of beginner to advanced songs for free! Try 8notes for free beginner music. We found some really fun free music at Gilbert DeBenedetti's site.

Even if you're not the music book type, print out a few songs and try to play them: you'll be very pleased with the result!
You can follow my lead and self-teach yourself, or find a good tutor. It just depends on what you're like and how fast you want to learn. You can still learn fast on your own if you have the determination!


Whatever book you use, if any, piano is a GREAT starter instrument, and I can't recommend it enough. If you're stressed, angry, or sad, play an instrument. Even if it's a garbage can drum, making your own music, no matter how "bad" you think it is, is about the best good-for-the-soul stuff you can ever ask for.

Happy playing! :D


*Please check out my customer image for a guide to all the Alfred books and in which order to use them - I helps a LOT! :)

Piano Lesson Books
I would not recommend any Beginning Piano Lesson books which start using one hand at a time

Alfred's basic piano courselevel 1
The book came in good shape, as described. Received in time and no problems with payment or contacting seller.
My only concern is that the edition of the book was not described in the web site. So I thought it was the newest one, but it wasn't.

Piano Teacher & Composer
I've played piano for over 20 years, and have been teaching out of this series for the past year. I was a former Bastien advocate, but I'm a quick convert! This series is excellent and is a must have for your library and for any beginning student. The variety of books and even pace at which students advance is perfect. I am very happy with the selection of levels too. The Prep Course levels are perfect for younger or slower students who need lots of time and adjustment, while the Basic Library series with 6 levels (including 1a & 1b) is fabulously presented. You cannot go wrong with this series!

If you are an adult, I reccommend the Alfred's Adult series, but this works out well for adults who need a slower pace and lots of patience. ... Read more

Product Description
John Thompson's Easiest Piano Course has been preferred by more than 12 million students since 1955. This comprehensive boxed set assembles Books 1-4 of this classic method. The books feature colorful, amusing characters and illustrations, and the four accompanying CDs contain backing tracks to make learning and practicing even more fun. This unique package features a built-in storage carton! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Wonderful Book
Absolutely wonderful book set. Exactly what I ordered, was shipped quickly. This is a great book for children and adults, I am 25 and learning to play and this is great! I definitely would recommend these books to anyone wanting to learn to plan the piano...it gives you a great foundation to learn from.

John Thompson is still fantastic!
I learned to play the piano using John Thompson Books, and 30 years later, these updated versions are still wonderful.I am teaching my daughter to play, and the sequence, pace, and explanations in the book are fantastic.She is learning quickly and easily, and I'm loving using these books.The cds with the books are also a nice addition.

Excellent course for young beginning piano students.
I have used the John Thompson piano courses for years.For the beginning grades, ages 8-9, these books are good.They teach a gradual progression, with teacher accompaniment to hold interest while learning middle C, then the note higher and the note lower.In addition they have work sheets periodically to provide the student with homework to reinforce the course as a discipline while teaching theory.I recommend them.

Piano for beginners
These books are colorful and interesting for the beginning student, probably aged six to ten. Some students need a variety of books to keep up their interest, so I've tried most all of the ones available. This set is complete, reasonably priced and may be all you need. Let your student be your guide!

Great for Learning the Piano
I am a piano teacher and very much like using these books for my students.Don't let the book name fool you, though.The first book is easy but they do get harder and I only have 3 students out of 17 that are up to the 4th book's level. I think by "Easiest Piano Course" they must mean 'easy way to learn', not easy songs to play. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (18)

Excellent!
This is a very good product. Very clear and easy to read. Great deal for the price!

Urtext edition, incredible value for money
This edition is available at a fraction of the price and (contrary to the comments of other reviewers) is probably more accurate than other Urtext editions.The famous musicologist Heinrich Schenker is known for his extreme attention to detail, including, for example, the directions of the stems (which other Urtext editions are not).The only caveat to accuracy is that Beethoven's autographs for a few of the sonatas were not available to the world in Schenker's time but have since become available.Although I always ignore printed fingering, Schenker's is among the most sensible I have seen.The only drawback to this edition is that it is somewhat prescriptive, in the sense that it does not offer choices in the way the Henle edition does.Physically, the Dover edition will last longer and stay open better than other paperback editions.

Great Value
Wonderful to be able to get this older publication so quickly and in such good shape.

Great buy if you are not a music snob
All the sonatas in two volumes, a great buy!

If you are a music snob you should buy another edition (UrTxt). Also, this is a thick book (obviously, with so many pieces) so if you need it to easy open up, you too should consider another version. However, if you are just looking for the collection and don't want to shell out a pretty penny, this is the edition for you. One can easily prop it open with other books and the layout is great.

Beethoven sonatas are not for beginners so if this is actually your level, you should be able to figure out your own fingerings.

well made
good layout, plain and simple, you had to bend it in half a couple times just to get it to lay flat though. but eh, no complaints. ... Read more

Product Description
This deluxe collection features arrangements of all ten Vince Guaraldi arrangements from this annually anticipated holiday classic: Christmas Is Coming * The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) * Christmas Time Is Here * Fur Elise * Hark, The Herald Angels Sing * Linus and Lucy * My Little Drum * O Tannenbaum * Skating * What Child Is This. It also includes a stunning color section featuring Peanuts(TM) illustrations! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

not much use
Music arrived folded and bent......not easy for a student to read. Next time I'll go to a music store.

My life long dream!
This book was what I expected and more! I'm thirteen and I'm IN LOVE with everything peanuts. I've always wanted to learn how to play Linus and Lucy, Christmas is Coming, and Christmas time is here. Thy were all in this book. Playing Linus and Lucy's main theme is easier than I thought but the solo section is a little more difficult. Over all I'm extremely glad with my purchase 8]

Not "Easy" but not difficult either
I bought this for my 8 year old who has been taking piano for almost two years and is at the end of the Level 2 book for his course. He wanted to play Linus and Lucy. We were disappointed when we received it and found out it was not "Easy".The notes themselves were rather simple but the synchronization of the hands was not simple.I spoke with his piano teacher and she said that this was just beyond his current capabilities and the easiest of books are called usually "Big Notes".So if you are looking for an easy piece to play, this is probably not it.However, it is a great representation of the song Linus and Lucy and our disappointment in the level of difficulty does not detract from the actual product.I give it 5 stars for being a great music book.But if you are looking for something for your beginning piano player this is probably not it.

A Charlie Brwon Christmas Piano book
thjis book has the Charlie brown songs ,but with a jazz sound. It is excellent

Charlie Brown Christmas (TM) Piano Solo Songbook
I love this book, it's exactly what I hoped for and expected. I have the CD and can play along, one of my favorites! ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Piano; Singing; Voice culture; Music / Genres ... Read more

Product Description
Alfred's Basic Prep Course, Levels A through F, was written to answer a demand for a course of piano study designed specifically for students who are five years old and up. This course offers a careful introduction of fundamentals, music that fits comfortably under the young student's normal hand span, plus constant reinforcement--all leading to results beyond those generated by other piano methods. After Lesson Book B, the student may progress to Prep Course, Lesson Book C or choose to go directly into the faster pacedLevel 1B of Alfred's Basic Piano Library. The complete Prep Course consists of six books (Levels A through F). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Alfred Method is great for beginner students . . . and teachers!
I would call myself a beginner piano teacher, as I play the piano myself but have had no instruction as to how to teach others to play.I now have four beginner students, whom I have been teaching for a little over a year.

I love the Alfred method.The four books: technic, lesson, solo/recital, and theory all seem to really work well together.The songs coordinate with each other, so for each new concept taught in the lesson books, the student has a warm-up, a solo piece, and some theory work to back it up.I find this to be very effective.It gives the students a chance to see several examples of each concept, and practice each new concept in different ways until they achieve perfection with it.It also really walks the teacher through each concept very clearly, giving definitions for musical terms and clear instructions for which songs go together.I feel like the order in which concepts are taught also makes a lot of sense.

Overall, it's a good method for a teacher who doesn't know a whole lot about HOW to teach another person to play the piano!

I currently have some of my students on this level, and others on the regular beginner levels.I love how all of the different levels are interchangeable, so gifted students can advance more quickly, and students who need a little extra reinforcement can stay on the lower levels.The map for how this all works is on the back of all of the books, which you can see on the book preview.So many great things about Alfred!

It's a very easy-going book
My son has started playing the piano just 3 weeks ago.. When I was young, the piano book was hard and difficult but this book is easy. My son really enjoys palying the piano by himself..^^
I am satisfied this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Developing the ear and training the eye of the young child is a key component of the Writing Book A. Tucker, the mascot dog who loves to LISTEN, is always on the scene as the young child imitates, matches, and creates rhythmic and melodic patterns. The multi-cultural friends present improvisation and simple, guided composition activities. Blinker, the owl who loves to LOOK, helps students recognize patterns of rhythms and notes, and introduces sightreading. The Writing Book offers a holistic, musical approach to theory through discovery, creativity, imagination, and fun! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Very Pleased!
This book is great for teaching a beginner. Some of the songs are geared towards very young children, like around the age of five or so. However, I am teaching a nine year old and she still seems to enjoy the songs and activities!

Precious and Solid
We love this curriculum.The accompanying CD makes practice a breeze at home.My daughters will actually sneak off to practice in their free time.The exercises are classic but they have had an update of fun songs and great graphics which keep little kids interested.I highly recommend this beginner book!

Good book and fast shipping
My daughter's piano teacher recommended this book.I ordered it from Amazon , which took much shorter time to receive than the other online music store.Overall, a very good beginner's book for 4-year-old. ... Read more

Product Description
Alfred's Basic Prep Course, Lesson Book A is specifically designed for beginners who are five years old and up. Through the use of appealing music and attractive illustrations, it is no wonder that Lesson Book A is the most widely used young beginner's piano book now available. This course takes into consideration the normal attention span, as well as the small-sized hands of the young beginner. Shortly after beginning, the young student will be able to play "Merrily We Roll Along." The complete Prep Course consists of six books (Levels A through F). This course is most effective when used under the direction of a piano teacher or experienced musician. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Always buy new
I know it said when I bought it that the book was lightly marked, but I could not use this book for my son's piano class. All the assignments were already done which left him with nothing to do. This particular type of piano book I will have to buy brand new

Piano Prep Course Lesson Book
Great piano book for young beginner student. My daughter loves it! Approrpiate for 5 -6 year olds. Very visual and easy to guide young beginners with learning the absolute basics to playing the piano.

Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course Lesson Level A
I ordered the book on a Friday afternoon and got it on Monday!! They were fast and the book was in very good condition!!!Thanks!!

Bought as a gift
Bought as a gift for someone.Product was just as described and arrived quickly.

Excellent Starter Book for Kids
Excellent Starter Book for Kids!My young son is reading music and enjoying his lessons. ... Read more