Product Description
Arranged by Dan Coates for solo piano.Intermediate to advanced arrangements. A collection of great songs for all occasions, Includes:love and wedding favorites, Broadway standards, pop and country ballads, movie and TV hits. 79 Songs! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Dan Coates is awesome!
If you are an experienced piano player, this is am amazing book! I love it and have supported Dan Coates for years and years!

Complete Song List Including Movie/Musical/TV and Composer
Since so many have already given comprehensive reviews, I thought a list of the songs in the book would be helpful.

Angel Eyes - Jim Brickman
Annes Theme (Anne of Green Gables) - Hagwood Hardy
Anywhere the Heart Goes (The Thorn Birds) - Henry Mancini
Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) - Burt Bacharach et al
As Time Goes By (Casablanca) - Herman Hupfeld
Ashokan Farewell (The Civil War-Ken Burns) - Jay Ungar
Beauty and the Beast - Alan Menken
Because You Loved Me (Up Close and Personal Theme) - Diane Warren
Can You Read My Mind? (Superman Theme) - John Williams
Canon in D - Johann Pachelbel
The Colors of My Life (Barnum) - Michael Stewart
Colors of the Wind (Pocahontas) - Alan Menken
Desperado - Don Henley/Glenn Frey
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella) - Mack David et al
Evergreen (A Star is Born) - Barbra Streisand
Favorite Son (The Will Rogers Follies) - Cy Coleman
Forever - Kenny Loggins/David Foster
Friends & Lovers - Paul Gordon/Jay Gruska
From a Distance - Julie Gold
The Greatest Love of All (The Greatest) - Linda Creed/Michael Masser
Happy Birthday to You! - Mildred and Patty Hill
Heart (Damn Yankees) - Richard Adler/Jerry Ross
Hey There (The Pajama Game) - Richard Adler/Jerry Ross
The Homecoming - Hagood Hardy
How Could I Ever Know? (The Secret Garden) - Lucy Simon
How Do I Live? - Diane Warren
How Do You Keep the Music Playing? (Best Friends) - Michel LeGrand
I Believe I Can Fly - R Kelly
I can Love You Like That - Steve Diamond et al
Everything I Do I Do it For You - Bryan Adams et al
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (Armageddon) - Diane Warren
I Say A Little Prayer - Burt Bacharach
I Swear - Gary Baker/Frank Myers
I WIll Always Love You - Dolly Parton
If My Friends Could See Me Now! (Sweet Charity) - Cy Coleman
If You Believe - Jim Brickman
In This Life - Mike Reid/Allen Shamblin
Karen's Theme - Richard Carpenter
Kei's Song - David Benoit
La Vie En Rose - Louiguy/Edith Piaf
Love and Marriage (Married with Children) - James Van Heusen
Love Solo - Dan Coates
May You Always - Larry Markes/Dick Charles
Miss Celie's Blues (The Color Purple) - Quincy Jones/Rod Temperton
Misty - Erroll Garner
My One True Friend (One True Thing) - Carole Bayer Sager et al
My Unknown Someone (The Will Rogers Follies) - Cy Coleman
Noelle's Theme (The Other Side of Midnight) - Michel LeGrand
Oh! What It Seemed to Be - Bennie Benjamin et al
Once Before I Go - Peter Allen/Dean Pitchford
One Moment in Time - Albert Hammond/John Bettis
Open Arms - Steve Perry/Jonathan Cain
Over the Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz) - Harold Arlen
The Prayer - Carole Bayer Sager/David Foster
Ragtime - Steven Flaherty
The Rose (The Rose) - Amanda McBroom
Saving All My Love for You - Michael Masser
Send in the Clowns - Stephen Sondheim
Separate Lives (White Nights Theme) - Stephen Bishop
She Loves Me (She Loves Me) - Jerry Bock
Suicide is Painless (M*A*S*H) - Mike Altman/Johnny Mandel
Star Wars Main Theme - John Williams
Summer Me, Winter Me (Picasso Summer) - Michel LeGrand
Tears in Heaven - Will Jennings/Eric Clapton
Tell Him - Linda Thompson et al
That's What Friends Are For - Carole Bayer Sager/Burt Bacharach
Through The Eyes of Love (Ice Castles) - Marvin Hamlisch
New York New York Theme - John Kander
Time to Say Goodbye - Francesco Sarori
Tonight I Celebrate My Love - Michael Masser/Gerry Goffin
UnBreak My Heart - Diane Warren
Up Where We Belong (An Officer and a Gentleman) - Jack Nitzsche et al
Valentine - Jim Brickman/Jack Kugell
We've Got Tonight - Bob Seger
What's New? - Bob Haggart
The Wind Beneath My Wings (Beaches) - Larry Henley/Jeff Silbar
You Can Always Count on Me (Musical City of Angels) - Cy Coleman

Enjoyable Advanced Piano Solos ~
This Dan Coates/Advanced Piano Solos (The Professional Touch Series) book of piano standards arrangements is my favorite book to use whenever I'm playing for Weddings, Anniversaries, various other receptions, and my OWN ENJOYMENT!!It is intended for the more Advanced Pianist.The arrangements are beautiful and interesting.I actually own two copies of this Dan Coates' piano book.I keep one in my piano studio and keep one packed for taking with me whenever I know I'll most likely being playing for others' enjoyment!I purchased this book on Amazon.com.

Dan Coates Complete Advancd Piano Solos (Professional Touch Series)
Value for money, this is an extremely good book, with popular songs and excellent arrangements of these by Dan Coates.Recommend it to anyone wanting to just have that "extra touch" in their performance

A Great Find
I ordered this music after researching other reviews.The arrangements sound beautiful!I wish there were more opportunities to purchase pleasant-sounding, intermediate piano arrangements for accomplished pianists with arthritic hands. Dan Coates Popular Piano Solos offer a supplement of thee same.But if you order the Complete Dan Coates, don't order "The Best in Popular Sheet Music" by Dan Coates, since all the songs except for one are contained in the "The Complete Dan Coates". ... Read more

Product Description

Contents include: Stuffing the Stockings (step and skip review) • Jolly Old Saint Nicholas • Good King Wenceslas • Jingle Bells • Away in a Manger • Go Tell It on the Mountain • We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

... Read more

Product Description
Designed to coordinate page-by-page with the Lesson Books.Contains enjoyable games and quizzes that reinforce the principles presented in the Lesson Books. Students can increase their musical understanding while they are away from the keyboard. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A very helpful method
I grew up following John Thompson's method, but my children's piano teacher recommended Alfred's piano course. We use the Rehearsal, Lesson, Theory and Hymn books. In less than a year, my children have progressed to level 3. They have learned some of the basics of music: key signatures, time signatures, dynamics, pedaling, and reading. They are able to work through the assigned pages on their own and are ready to play them at the end of the week (when they have practiced their 30 minutes!). Generally, they like the lessons and sneak in some of the later lessons. The method moves to beginner from playing notes to reading those notes on the musical staff in a gradual and natural way. The theory books are well coordinated with the lesson books. Our piano teacher recently moved out of state, so I am continuing the lessons and find the method easy to follow and very helpful.

Excellent series
I am a private piano teacher and mom and love the Alfred series.I have used it for years and love the huge variety of fun, classical, spiritual, etc. that it offers.There is something for everyone!

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
The "All-in-One Course for Children" takes all of the pages from "Alfred's Basic Piano Library," Lesson Books 1A, 1B, and 2, plus selected pages from Theory, Recital and Fun Solo Books and combines them into part of a sequential five-book series. At the completion of Book 5, the student will be ready to continue into Level 3 of "Alfred's Basic Piano Library" or "Alfred's Premier Piano Course." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great starter book
with the all-in-one you don't need to get the theory book because it is all included. ... Read more

Product Description
Level 3B continues to build musicianship with challenging and motivating pieces. Concepts include the octave, A minor and D minor scales (natural and harmonic minor), motive and sequence, all 12 major and minor triads, triad inversions, syncopation, and introduction to sixteenth notes. Contents include: Andante * Drummer at the Keyboard * Fiesta Espana * Gavotte * Highland Jig * House of the Rising Sun * Humoresque * Snowfall * Minuet in F * Pachelbel Canon * Phantom of the Keys * Rage Over a Lost Penny * Sea Chantey * Swing Low, Sweet Chariot * and more. ... Read more

Product Description
Books I and II of this traditional edition of Musical Classics have been combined in an affordable new volume. An excellent resource for Late Elementary to Early Intermediate pianists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good Quality
This book is well made, the printing is good quality and easy to read. It's a large format book (30cm x 22cm) and because it's thin (only 40 pages) it sits perfectly on the music stand. Based on this book I'm likely to buy other Schirmer books.

The Place to Begin for Bach (or any Classical Music)
Let me start with an embarrassing admission.I've been playing piano for nearly thirty years.I'm intermediate.I can tackle some intermediate/advanced material, like Michael Nyman's pieces from The Piano.But when I took lessons years ago (only four years), I never took scales or classical music seriously.Thus, I can play pop rock, soundtrack music, and certain expressive classical pieces, but solid, finger-strengthening, mind-puzzling classical pieces I avoided.

Now, at thirty-eight, I'm starting over, and I'm embarrassed to say that I really need to practice these pieces!They make my mind work.I need to concentrate on fingering.I'm proud to be humbled because I'd love to work my way up to playing Bach inventions, variations, preludes and stuff, but I never had the background or training.These simple pieces, designed for young pupils, are great for old or young.They are "songs" in their own right, so you won't be bored.And they subtly introduce all matters of technique (stuff that I never got or never took seriously).I cannot recommend more highly this "First Lessons" book as a place to begin.Once you make it through this book (both Book 1 and Book 2), you'll be ready to tackle more challenging pieces found elsewhere.

Music to tame the beast within
I keep returning to this simple piece.Finding solace of great magnitude, in its simplicity. One of my favorite pieces other than Schubert and of course Beethoven.

Why not get young students started on Bach?
With such emphasis placed on piano methods these days, it's easy to forget that old standards, like these little Bach pieces, provide rich musical material for students. I highly recommend infusing the young pianist's curriculum with Bach.

Great BACH lessons
Compared with other BACH piano books, the arrangement in this book is superior. Schirmer has done a great job on composing each Bach number in this book.Highly recommend for piano students who are interested in Bach. ... Read more

Product Description
The long-awaited update to the bestselling Piano For Dummies-featuring a new audio CD

Have you always wanted to play piano? This revised edition of the popular Piano for Dummies makes it easier and more fun than ever. If you don't know how to read music, this book explains in friendly, uncomplicated language all the basics of music theory and applies it to playing the piano. And if you've been playing piano for a while – or took piano lessons when you were a child but haven't played since – you can pick up some valuable tips to improve your playing or use the book as a refresher course.

This new edition features fresh and updated practice lessons, teaching techniques, and musical examples, as well as a new audio CD with examples for all pieces presented in the book. You get expert information on left- and right-hand piano techniques; playing scales, melodies, harmonies, and chords; and practicing to improve your technique.

• Everything you need to start playing piano today
• Plenty of popular musical pieces and songs, with companion audio CD to play along with
• Instruction in playing various musical styles, from classical and rock to blues and country
• Blake Neely is an Emmy-nominated composer and accomplished pianist who has composed numerous TV and movie scores

If you've always wanted to tickle the ivories like a pro, Piano For Dummies, 2nd Edition is your ideal resource!

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

Piano for Dummies
This is a very informative book on the subject of piano. It offers basic knowledge that is easy to comprehend. I highly recommend using this book if you are just starting to play piano.

Good beginner book
Good info, but you may still need lessons.

It is well written and helped to understand playing, but you may still need lessons.

Define "Dummy"....
As a stone cold adult beginner, I thought why not go for the book that sounded as if it was for a stone cold beginner - "Piano For Dummies"?

Well, I certainly am a 'dummy' - shelling out over $20 for this discouraging pap is the dumbest thing I've done in years.

I wrestled with it for quite a few weeks - trying to eke out hard information between the stupid humour and piano facts that I never asked for in the first place, dumb drawings and unhelpful layout. Then I called for a professional, feeling really discouraged. This book doesn't really even let you know at what point you might sit behind a piano and actually try playing? It's that bad.

So I booked myself in with a professional piano teacher who within minutes made me realise it was the book and not me. I showed her the book which she referred to as "dreadful and patronising". She won't even allow me to have it back!

She then handed me these two which are ideal for the older learner:

- Piano For Adults (Bastien) ISBN 0-8497-7300-8
- Accelerated Piano Adventures (Faber) ISBN 1-56939-132-7

The former is my slight preference but both are leagues ahead of "Piano For Dummies". Sorry if that personally offends anyone, author included, but it is truly awful. I've now progressed more in a week than I did in two months with the Dummies book.

Avoid.

Great book for novice pianists/keyboardist, worth checking out
Okay, I won't lie, I didn't actually buy this book, but rather checked it out and copied a few notes, however, you won't regret your purchase if you buy it, it teaches you all the basics and more. You will be able to play every major, minor, harmonic, and suspense chord as well as scales, recognize every note on the trebel and bass cleft, fingering tricks for easier access to keys, all of the most common articulations and common music symbols, as well as tempo and a lot of basic chord building/rhythm building excercises. It is really useful to read if you are a begginner and teaches you everything basic like you never had any musical experience before, my only problem is it could have had more tips on how to put both hands together more gracefully, as well as more left hand techniques, it seemed to focus more on the right hand. It is worth it and has a few clever pieces that will give you a smile here and there, but if you are an expert or intermediate, chances are you will know most stuff mentioned in this book and will be no help at all. Still, if you are looking to improve your technique and have under a year of experience, it will be well worth the purchase.

piano lessons
Checked this out from the library and realized that I would enjoy having this on my shelf.Some valuable information included. ... Read more

Product Description
This bible of the piano marketplace is indispensable to buyers and owners of pianos, amateur and professional players alike. Hundreds of thousands of pianos are bought and sold each year, yet most people buy a piano with only the vaguest idea of what to look for as they make this major purchase. The Piano Book evaluates and compares every brand and style of piano sold in the United States. There is information on piano moving and storage, inspecting individual new and used pianos, the special market for Steinways, and sales gimmicks to watch out for. The supplement lists current prices for more than 2,500 new piano models. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (59)

Buyer beware!
Buyer beware! This item is not the updated 4th edition of Larry Fine's essential book. It is instead the 1994 third edition. The 2008 fourth edition is far superior in format, coverage, and information. Unfortunately, the Amazon online identification blurb does not make clear the distinction between the two editions. Moreover, Fine's annual update volumes now contain virtually all the information important to any prospective piano purchaser. KNO

Ordered to Assess a Purchase
More than what we needed.Ended up purchasing an electronic piano with advice from musician at church.

The Piano Book - Buy and Owning a New or Used Piano
Excellent book that saved me much time and possible grief if I had bought the wrong piano

Buying a Piano
A must read before you spend a dime on a new or used piano. A great resource for due diligence.

worthwhile purchase
This is a great reference book for anyone who likes pianos. It was very valuable to me as I researched how to buy a used piano. It's full of information on what to look for, how to compare new versus old and which brands are desirable. ... Read more

Product Description
Play jazz piano with new facility and expression as Ray Santisi, one of the most revered educators at the Berklee College of Music - and mentor to Keith Jarrett, Diana Krall, Joe Zawinul, and thousands of others - reveals the pedagogy at the core of Berklee's jazz piano curriculum. From beginning through advanced levels, Berklee Jazz Piano maps the school's curriculum: a unique blend of theory and application that gives you a deep, practical understanding of how to play jazz. Concepts are illustrated by the accompanying practice CD, where you'll hear how one of the great jazz pianists and educators of our time applies these concepts to both jazz standards and original compositions, and how you can do the same. You will learn: * Jazz chords and their characteristic tension substitutions, in many voicings and configurations * Modes and scales common in jazz * Techniques for comping, developing bass lines, harmonizing melodies, melodizing harmonies, and improvisation * Practice techniques for committing these concepts to your muscle memory * Variations for solo and ensemble playing * Advanced concepts, such as rhythmic displacement, approach-chord harmonization, and jazz counterpoint ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Berklee Jazz Piano Book by Ray Santisi
Berklee Jazz Piano Book by Ray Santisi is a wonderful book about jazz piano techniques, harmony, pentatonic patterns, compositions, rhythm tracks to play along with, modernistic jazz concepts and most of all, the tried and true methods that the author Ray Santisi has used with his students at Berklee for over 50 + years. Ray is still teaching at Berklee and playing gigs in Boston every week. Mr Santisi taught Keith Jarrett, Diana Krall and many other noted and famous jazz musicians.

As a former Berklee student myself in the 70's and studying jazz piano privately with Mr Santisi personally, I can attest to the exceptional value of going through the book at your own pace, using what works for you and hearing the exercises and drills filter in the student's style to keep advancing to higher levels in the art. If the student takes the time to play through the book even 10-20 daily for a month, a significant improvement will be noticed in the performance.

Another plus about buying the book is; an enclosed CD of the drills and examples plus the play along rhythm tracks and original compositions played by Mr Santisi or his advanced students to get an idea of how the exercises sound in real time. Many jazz piano technique books don't include a CD, so this is really like getting a freebie CD with Berklee Jazz Piano. Some pianists are not good at sight reading and can transcribe music faster by ear, so the CD comes in handy for this purpose. Just pop the CD into ITunes and you're ready to rock..(jazz).

Although this book is geared more toward medium to advanced jazz piano students or classical pianists needing additional sources for jazz piano techniques, beginning students could use it as a method book with the guidance of a jazz piano teacher. I will also use it myself if I start teaching modern keyboard styles in the new year 2011.

Berklee Jazz Piano by Ray Santisi is a great text which teaches jazz piano techniques in a concise and necessary manner, easily understood and applied to the student's needs and desires to grow as a jazz pianist. You also can't beat the price of the book being offered here at Amazon.

Great Jazz Piano book !!!
This book is good guys..it is really a jazz piano book that you could keep in your shelves. It would be a complement to Jazz Piano Book (Mark Levine). Furthermore, this is a very professional book..you will really find stuffs as detailed, and new topics that is new to Jazz Piano books, like Pianitization. Detailed lessons on compings which is very helpful, has some walking bass concepts explained...much much more !!

Overall, I absolutely recommend this book to any Jazz Pianist !!! Seriously guys and girls !!

Not so great
Although I'm sure that Mr. Santisi is a wonderful teacher, this is rather poorly organized material. Editing is lousy too. A far superior book is Randy Halberstadt's Metaphors For The Music available from Sher Music.

superb book
I own an entire library of "how to" jazz books, and this is easily the best book I have ever come across.It is understandable and has more valuable information per page than any book I have encountered. If you buy just one jazz book, buy this one.

Berklee Jazz Piano Book Review
The book is great.I don't agree with some of the teaching methods, however.Make sure you are well versed in music theory before purchasing.I was hoping the book would have more on passing chords/ chord substitutions but I still learned several things.I haven't even put the CD in so I can't review that part, but I'm sure the CD compliments the book great because the book is always refering to different tracks on the CD.You can play along with several tunes and the lead sheets are all included. ... Read more

Product Description
Unit 1 of Book 3 opens with eighth notes first in 4/4 time, then in 2/4 time. Swing eighths are also presented in the first half of the book. Folk, jazz, classical, and contemporary selections provide students with an interesting variety of repertoire.In the second half of Book 3, five-finger patterns and triads in C Major, and F Major are presented, as well as their relative minors - A Minor, E Minor, and D Minor. This pacage includes a Piano Lessons book and Cd featuring wonderful tracks to accompany the student during practice or performance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Cheerfully practiced for hours!
My ten-year old daughter played through the Hal Leonard Student Piano Library - Piano Lessons Book 2 and found the songs within her sight-reading ability.My husband is a piano teacher and said he didn't consider Book 1 worth buying. Years ago he bought the book & floppy disk sets for Books 2 and 3 and 4.He didn't intend them for skill development.Still, as fun songs, busy work, and a pleasant ego boost, they worked for our daughter.Most beginner books use dinky songs which sound stupid to a ten-year old.These Hal Leonard floppy disks provided musical accompaniment preceded by a metronome beat.Our daughter could tell when to join in and could adjust the tempo since we have a Roland digital piano with that capability.I don't see how a CD in a normal CD player can make that adjustment.Playing the disk turned each song into a four-hand piece, the disk playing a recording of the two-hand accompaniment and my daughter playing the other two hands.All of the notes can be seen in the book, which means I could play the accompaniment with her while sharing the piano bench.The accompaniment added playful, creative harmony and satisfying complexity to each song, so our daughter didn't feel that she was playing anything dinky, even though her part, by itself, honestly WAS dinky.She voluntarily spent well over an hour each time she opened the book and clearly enjoyed her easy success.I liked the songs too and congratulate the composers/arrangers/authors Kreader, Kern and Keveren.It took my daughter a couple of fumbles through each song to get all the notes.In a few days she was done with Book 2 and perfectly willing to move on to Book 3.Thanks to this book and disk, she discovered she could practice a couple of hours in a row.How many ten-year old children know that about themselves?The main downside is one of the floppy disks malfunctioned and won't play the accompaniment.We tested the disk in another machine, to see if it might be our Roland HP 2900G digital piano at fault.It is the disk that fritzed.

A great piano lesson plan!
This is Book 3 of a five book series on piano for kids. This is a great book and my daughter is getting into it right now, having completed the two Usborne books and Book 2 of the Hal Leonard series. (The Usborne books are a great beginning for any child and actually land them about in the middle of the Hal Leonard Book 2 when they are completed.) The Hal Leonard piano instruction program is full of good tunes and bright colours, very user-friendly and child-friendly. The back cover of each book lists many excellent complementary volumes which can be obtained. (They don't list their classical music solos volumes though, I'm not sure why, but these are also a good buy. Entitled Classical Themes they follow the instruction books level by level up to and including level 5.) Book 3 is an excellent advanced beginners program and the entire series is a good investment. A local piano teacher informed me that the Hal Leonard series teaches her kids the notes and the music better than any other teaching method out there. Highly recommended!

Excellent piano instruction for kids!
This is Book 2 of a five book series that will bring your child to the equivalent of the Grade 4 level of the Royal Conservatory of Music. It is non-threatening and comprehensive and will give your daughter or son a solid foundation in the piano. Brightly illustrated, it will never bore. This series is enhanced by a large number of supplementary volumes from Hal Leonard, including books on piano theory and classical music solos. This series can't be beat and as a parent whose child is using this set of books, having begun with the two excellent Usborne ones, I give the Hal Leonard program the highest rating. Warmly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
The All Music Guide says that pianist and composer George Winston is "among the earliest and most successful proponents of contemporary instrumental music." Here is the first songbook ever notating his beloved piano pieces. Winston himself chose the songs and cover art, wrote the preface, and approved every note. Features 20 of his most-requested favorites: The Black Stallion * Joy * Longing * Prelude/Carol of the Bells * Thanksgiving * Variations on the Kanon by Pachelbel * and more. Includes a biography, discography, and discussion of chords. First Fully Authorized Songbook Featuring Winston's Esteemed Compositions and Arrangements! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Beloved piano music is in-print - at last!
I purchased this book for my nephew, an accomplished pianist, who now, at last, can play these beloved pieces in their entirety.He is very happy with my gift, especially because he can add those flourishes heard on the Winston CDs that he kept trying to decipher via repeated listening and lots of frustrating trial and error.

december lover
I love George Winston's piano recordings.I downloaded his Canon in D about a year ago and found that with practice I could handle his timing.I am not disappointed in the Pian Solos portfolio.His songs are beautiful.His timing is, however, very tricky.I play alot of "early advanced" music and found that this book is right on my level.At first glance the music seems fairly easy, but once you sit down to play, there is that timing thing again.I would recommend this book if you are any type of fan on George Winston.

Anyone willing to share the corrections?
The music is wonderful, but the many errors in the transcription are frustrating.Are any of you willing to share a list of the errors/corrections you've made?I'd greatly appreciate it.

From MainlyPiano
For years, piano icon George Winston refused to allow his music to appear in sheet music form, claiming that the music was too personal, so I was surprised when this collection of Winston's music was made available. Apparently, Tom Bockhold did the transcriptions, and then Winston went through them with the recordings, fine-tuning them to his exacting standards. The transcriptions are clean and spacious, and include the chord charts. Most of the twenty pieces are quite easy to play, although some contain stretches of a tenth. My disappointment with the book is in the selection of songs. With all of the albums of primarily original music that Winston has released over the years, eleven of the twenty selections are his arrangements of other composers' music rather than his own compositions. I was happy, however, that Winston included his arrangement of "Walking In the Air" from The Snowman. "Thanksgiving" has always been a favorite, and it's interesting to see Winston's versions of "Carol of the Bells" and "Variations On the Kanon By Pachelbel" in print even if I was dumbfounded that he put the Kanon into the key of C! George Winston's many piano-playing fans will more than likely thoroughly enjoy this collection as long as they aren't expecting the entire book to be Winston's original compositions.

Great music, but the transcription is lacking...
I love George Winston's music.Love it, love it, love it.This book is fast becoming one of my favourite collections of music to just sit down at the piano and enjoy making music.

That being said, I am very disappointed in the transcription.Obviously, even transcriptionists make mistakes (they are human after all), but I find more and more as I play through this book.Usually these are easy to figure out what was meant, but occasionally I have gone back to a Winston recording to double-check.

Another word of warning to the consumer -- This music ranges from very easy for intermediate players to plunk out, all the way up to very difficult, requiring specific practice from even an advanced player.I would suggest trying to play this out in a local music store to see if it works for you.I quite like the variety, as I can both relax and challenge myself at the piano with the same book.

Despite its limitations, if you're a half-decent piano player (like me), and you like George Winston's style of music, I think you will love this book! ... Read more

Product Description
The "Technique Secret" exercises presented in this book develop a technical foundation, training the student in arm weight, slur gesture, light thumb, and connected pedaling. The "Artistry Magic" page focuses the student on forward motion, balance between the melody and harmony, articulation, pedal effects, and "musical color." Includes an appendix of elementary cadences. ... Read more

Product Description
Dan Coates adds his expert touch to these 70 easy piano arrangements of Alfred's most requested, top-selling standards and pop songs. Titles include: Amazed * Breakaway * Because You Loved Me * Dance with My Father * How Do I Live * I Swear * Inside Your Heaven * Lean on Me * Right Here Waiting * There You'll Be * This I Promise You * Thank You * When You Tell Me That You Love Me * You Raise Me Up and more. 256 pages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Pop music collection
Great songs, good arrangements ... but why can't we have spiral bindings?!?!?I'm a pianist.I need books that stay open and lie flat.

Good Product
The book arrived promptly from the seller, and in the condition expected (it was new). I already knew what the contents would be because they had a preview of the book online including the TOC. THis is very important with a sheet music book. I wouldn't buy a sheet music book online if I couldn't see at least the TOC.

Fun arrangements
First of all, I really like the way Dan Coates arranges music for easy piano.The songs are not too simplistic, yet they are still easy to play, and they sound so nice.This has become one of the books I play from most often, and my kids even like to sing along.It does reuse some of the exact same songs I have in other Dan Coates books, but that's not a big deal since you are getting so much music in this book.I do wish the second verses were printed within the staff, since having them at the end it pretty useless.I also wish it was spiral bound, since it is hard to keep open sometimes.You will notice that some of the songs use the same chord patterns, so it can be a little repetitive sometimes, but there is still enough variety to keep you interested.I like that there is such a great variety of pop music in here - newer music as well as old favorites.I would definitely recommend this.

Ultimate Pop Sheet Music Review
I love this book.I would definitely rated it as excellent and also say that is for advanced players.Its great if you like to play solos on the piano while having the words to sing right in front of you.I'd recommend it to anyone with an interest in a variety of new and old standard pop songs.Great book!!

The Ultimate Pop Sheet
My goal is to play every song in this book.I really like it!! ... Read more

Product Description
Book B of the Fabers' method for the young beginner moves the student into staff-reading. Music notation is explored through stepwise directional reading, pattern recognition, and changing hand positions, all in the context of engaging songs, games and creative exploration at the piano. Maintaining the child-centered philosophy of the series, the "friends at the piano" from the A Books introduce students to the music of two new composer friends - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. Classic themes share the stage with contemporary pop and jazz sounds for young ears to absorb and enjoy. The Book B CD presents a vibrant mix of sounds, from boogie to Beethoven. It serves as a listening CD which educates and as an accompaniment CD for play-along. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent for pre-K
This is an excellent series for preK students. It basically covers what the "Primer" would for an older student.

Children can go through it at their own speed and the gran staff is gradually introduced.

... Read more

Product Description
The New International Edition of Suzuki Piano School, Volume 2 includes French, German and Spanish translations, new Romantic and 20th-century pieces, as well as a newly recorded CD performed by internationally renowned recording artist Seizo Azuma. Now the book and CD can be purchased together or separately. Titles: Écossaise (J. N. Hummel) * A Short Story (H. Lichner) * The Happy Farmer, from Album for the Young, Op. 68, No. 10 (R. Schumann) * Minuet in G Major, BWV 822 (J. S. Bach) * Minuet in G Major, from J. S. Bach's Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (Anonymous) * Minuet in G Minor, BWV 822 (J. S. Bach) * Cradle Song, Op. 13, No. 2 (C. M. von Weber) * Arietta (W. A. Mozart) * Hungarian Folk Song, from For Children, Sz. 42 (Béla Bartók) * Melody, from Album for the Young, Op. 68, No. 1 (R. Schumann) * Minuet in G Major, from J. S. Bach's Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (C. Petzold) * Sonatina in G Major, Anh. 5 (Moderato, Romance) (L. van Beethoven) * Children at Play, from For Children, Sz. 42 (Béla Bartók). ... Read more

Product Description
Contents include: Stuffing the Stockings (theory review) * Deck the Halls * Jingle Bells * Joy to The World * Mary Had a Baby * Silent Night * The Twelve Days of Christmas * Up on the Housetop * What Child is This? ... Read more

Product Description
Favorite Christmas carols arranged for the young beginner. No eighth notes or dotted rhythms are used and the hands remain in middle C position. Contents include: Jolly Old Saint Nicholas * Jingle Bells * Good King Wenceslas * Away in a Manger * We Three Kings of Orient Are * Up On the Housetop * Over the River and Through the Woods * Silent Night * I Saw Three Ships. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

First Piano Christmas book
I am teaching my son to play piano and this was a great choice for his first Christmas piano book ... Read more

Product Description
Alfred's GreatestHits series has overwhelmingly been accepted by students and teachers. This series combines justthe right combination of hits from Broadway, Hollywood, television and recordings! As you might expect from Alfred, this series offers a rare combination of great music arranged with care and creativity. Your adult students can savor the excitement of playing pop music and reap the benefits from making practicing more fun and rewarding. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great practice book along side the adult all in one course for level 1
As a complete newbie in learning to play the piano, I found the pieces challenging, but doable once you practice, practice and practice!It is also very satisfying to play the score, shorter and modified as the scores are, but as a beginner, it showed me how much I have progressed and also where my weak points were to.Sometimes, the choices are never what we would like, but as a beginner, to read the music, to practice and then finally get to that place where you are playing: I can't complain.Also, playing these pieces in addition to learning, I have gained confidence to look at pieces from Van Morrison, for example and have been able to tinker with pieces of a song!Small steps, and then you eventually find yourself playing the songs you really want to play.Highly recommended for level 1 beginners.

Very Good
Very Good Book, at least for me, progressive from thebegining to the medium level, if you practice 1 hour each day you can finish all 3 books in 6 moths.

Great accompaniment to basic instruction
I am using the Greatest Hits book to round out the lessons in Alfred's Adult All-in-One Course. The latter suffers a little from not having enough full-length scores to really practice the material. One or two verse ditties only go so far and everyone else in the house gets tired of Jingle Bells or The Saints Go Marching In much much sooner than the piano student him/herself.

Even though the book claims that students are ready at page 44 of All-In-One to attempt the scores in Greatest Hits, I have my doubts. The opening song is very challenging and I still am nowhere close to mastering it. It is only when I got to around page 72 of the teaching material that I felt comfortable returning to Greatest Hits and trying some of the other arrangements. In particular, My Heart Will Go On is a very satisfying piece; it never really leaves middle C and the basic beat is familiar to most people.

I highly recommend this as an accompaniment to the All-In-One course. I subtracted one star as I think it could have included at least one more easy arrangement at the start of the text. After all, students buy these supplementals to practice, and encouragement - especially for those teacing themselves - is crucial.

Note that thebook does not include a CD; even though most of the pieces are well known, it still would have been a nice touch.

Alfred Adult Piano Books are the best
I'd ordered the set of three of these books and am very pleased with them. Highly recommended!

Fun Piano Book
This piano book is helping me try some slightly hard (for me) tunes that I can master. I just love it. The whole series is great (I only have two so far, but have ordered a third.) Adds fun to the hard work of practice.
from Senior Beginner ... Read more

Product Description
Designed to coordinate page-by-page with the Lesson Books.Contains enjoyable games and quizzes that reinforce the principles presented in the Lesson Books. Students can increase their musical understanding while they are away from the keyboard. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Piano Books
Exactly what I wanted. Very good service - easy check out - shipped in a reasonable amount of time for ground shipping. Excelent, 5 stars.

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 classic Modern Course for the Piano from Willis Music is now available for the first time in a book/CD format! Each volume will be re-released with an eye-catching new cover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

great stuff
I wouldn't use anything else.I went to the music store, looked through about 14 different kinds of beginner music teaching programs.Then I bought about 4 of them, and this was the clear winner by a mile.We're into the 3rd book and I'm very pleased.Teaches enough without being overwhelming.Songs are accessible to all ages, and my 8 year old is as engaged with the books as I am.We're both learning to play piano, and I suppose that's good enough for me!Oh - be sure and get the CDs if you are learning from scratch.Knowing how it's supposed to sound makes a big difference.

PS - Very occasionally I have to call my mom and ask her what the book means by something, as it assumes some more knowlege than I have.Having a person who knows how to play, that you can consult every once in a while, will make the process a breeze.

never too late to learn all the little things
It is never to late to pick up these books we used as a child and study and learn ALL the things that keeps us from enjoying the piano.
I was too busy being a tom boy when I could have been studying and learning all the things that are on the "ground level".SO I never have learned to "enjoy" my piano.
Going back and reviewing the first grade book I had and then I was ready for the second grade.
At 63 I am getting more enjoyment from my piano. The "John Thompsom" series are recognized and promoted by most music teachers. The basics are tought so they can be learned. ( with just a little willingness from the student) ... Read more