Teach Yourself Chords and Progressions at the Keyboard (Book & CD) [Paperback] Review

This is a wonderful book, if you're interested in learning how to put chords together to create music at the piano. It teaches you all the basic progressions and provides many beautiful samples of how to put them into action. I'm writing mostly to counterbalance the one other review that appears here. That person made a mistake on their order, thinking that they were buying a book that provided a list of all the chords. Undoubtedly, such a book could be a useful tool, perhaps especially in conjunction with this book. If you read the description of this book, you will clearly see what it offers. I recommend it.

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Product Description:
Teach Yourself Chords & Progressions at the Keyboardwill have you playing great chords and progressions right from the beginning. You will learn how to build and organize all the traditional jazz chords into progressions in every key. As you progress, you will learn how to comp, create new bass rhythms and improvise from chord symbols using blues and ii-V progressions. Also included are unique arrangements demonstrating how to play in the style of Meade Lux Lewis, Erroll Garner and Bill Evans.

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Maran Illustrated Piano [Paperback] Review

For all the many self-help, how-to books published The Maran Family has polished the book-led guide to learning to a fare-thee-well. This well-conceived and very well written book is an excellent introduction to the joys of sitting down in front of a piano keyboard and actually creating music instead of fantasies.

As one of the maranGraphics books (others include such wide ranging topics as Weight Training, Computer Guides, Dog training, Guitar, Yoga, and Knitting and Crocheting!), this volume uses the technical consulting of Frank Horvat, a composer, performer and piano teacher, and then applies the approach to the keyboard in a highly visual series of photographs and schematics that begin a survey of the types of keyboard instruments, the history of the piano, and progress to the basics of what makes a piano make music and ultimately walks the willing student through a very sound technique of learning.

As a life-long pianist I am amazed at the facility developed in this beautifully designed book.For those who question learning to play the piano by a 'how to' book, just peruse the careful steps and clarity of instruction offered by this helpful guide.Much musicology is included and many examples of fine piano music are used in the lessons.Whether it is the classical route you wish or the popular medium of chord based music or the intricacies of blues and improvisation, the steps are here.At the end of the book is a fine discussion on how to choose your piano from the many types that exist and even a discussion on the various periods of piano music history (although brief these are succinctly to the point).

Terrific for the adults who moan 'if I'd only taken lessons as a child' as well for the young students who are willing to commit to the goal of learning to 'make their own music', this Illustrated Guide to the Piano is a solid source of didactics.And for those addicted to the computer, there are even "MP3 files available to listen to and play along with for all the chords, scales, exercises and practice pieces in this book."Truly a book for the 21st Century!Grady Harp, June 05

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Product Description:
Produced by the award-winning maranGraphics group, Maran's Illustrated Guide to Piano is a valuable resource to a wide range of readers-from people who want to play a few songs for their family in the living room to those who aspire to become serious musicians. Maran's Illustrated Guide to Piano shows the reader the best way to perform each task, while the full-color photographs, music examples and clear, step-by-step instructions walk the reader through each task from beginning to end. Thorough topic introductions and useful tips provide additional information and advice to help enhance the readers' piano experience. Maran's Illustrated Guide to Piano is packed with essential information for readers who are sitting down in front of a piano for the first time, and will provide more experienced players with a refresher course on the basics and the opportunity to add more advanced techniques to their repertoire. Maran's Illustrated Guide to Piano will cost less than the price of one private piano lesson and will be a permanent resource that will provide years of enjoyment.

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Portraits: Book 1, Jazz, Rock and Blues Piano Solos [Paperback] Review

I came to piano lessons late in life and am working my way through the Dozen a Day books for purely technical work (highly recommended!).But came across Noah's Portraits series and ordered it.Wow!The pieces are simple but challenging and the accompany CD is pure delight!My piano teacher and I play them together and laugh and laugh -- it is so much fun!I actually feel like I'm making music!

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Product Description:
Early Elementary to Early Intermediate piano repertoire including colorful, fun-to-play pieces in jazz, blues, rock and other popular styles.Includes photos, biographies and pieces in the styles of important artists.

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Teach Yourself VISUALLY Piano [Paperback] Review

Great for beginners or people needing to brush up on the basics. I had trouble with a lot of the advanced chords til I picked up this book. I was confused for a long time, but there in a few pages everything suddenly made sense! If you want to learn the fundemantals of the piano definitely get this book. It has simple, easy, to-the-point text and real pictures. The only thing is I wish they had made it spiral bound. Oh well. It's worth it.

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Product Description:
Want to go beyond "Chopsticks?" This visual guide to tickling the ivories will show you the way. By Chapter 2, you'll be playing simple pieces and practicing scales. You'll progress from getting familiar with notes, symbols, and keys to playing basic chords and reading music like a pro. Without getting bogged down in boring theory, you'll learn what you need to know and enjoy playing as you go! Whether you like Bach or rock, jazz or country, golden oldies or new age, you'll love learning to play the fun, visual way.

Concise two-page lessons show you all the crucial skills and are ideal for quick review

Each skill, chord, or technique is clearly described
Concise and understandable instructions accompany each photo
Detailed color photos demonstrate proper fingering technique
Helpful tips provide additional guidance

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The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Piano Chords (Pocket Idiot's Guides) [Paperback] Review

I am one of those who used to play (classical) piano.I had lessons for 8 years in my youth, and continued to play for pleasure for about 15 years as I reared my children.Then.... the decades passed and I quit.Recently, at a friend's house, I discovered an old edition of Charles Cooke's "Playing the Piano for Pleasure."I read it on the train home and it has provided the motivation I needed in my retirement to bring piano pleasure back into my life.[That book, originally published in 1940 is still the best thing around for such as me who want to start practicing and playing again, building on what was learned previously.]

Soon after, I began browsing the music sections of bookstores, and found this little pocket gem.All my life (or at least my piano-playing life) I had wanted to be able to play the piano to accompany tunes at sing alongs but never knew how to do it.I (mistakenly) thought you had to be able to "play by ear", a gift I (mistakenly) thought was restricted to a few.

This little book takes the mystery out of how to accompany thousands of songs by knowing a few simple things about chords and how to pick and mix them. With not much practice and a good fake book, and following the advice in this little book, you will soon be able to switch back and forth from classical to pop. If you learned classical piano and want to be able to play along at family sing togethers, run don't walk and buy this little gem.

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Product Description:
Tired of playing Chopsticks?

The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Piano Chords takes the intimidation out of learning to play the piano with a quick and easy method for playing the songs everyone loves-without having to read complex musical notation. This non-classical method of piano playing will teach readers the basics of keyboard geography, chords, scales, pattern progressions, and reading lead sheets.

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Alfred's Basic Adult Jazz/Rock Course (Alfred's Basic Piano Library) [Paperback] Review

The Jazz Course has a great selection of popular jazz and rock styled exercises that would be fit for the, say, second year of study for a teenager or adult applying themselves earnestly to learning piano.

The exercises are musical and musically fun, and they won't insult the adult learner's intelligence.They are, however, mostly just simple songs.While the occassional mention is made of conceptual jazz, as would be used for improvising, the book is a traditional melodic exercise book at heart, not a conceptual approach.

That said, there are jam-session hints at the bottom of many pages that can be used to play along with other intruments.Along those lines, though, few songs have chord symbols (and no miniture guitar fret symbols) actually set above the staves.Having I, IV, etc., on practically every song would be ideal for teaching jazz/rock.

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Product Description:
Adult beginners can be taught the basics of jazz and rock music easily using this dynamic supplement to Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course.And, teachers don't have to be jazz or rock experts to teach it!Perfect for individual or group instruction and playable on both acoustic and electronic keyboard.

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The Piano Handbook: A Complete Guide for Mastering Piano [Spiral-bound] Review

This really is the best of the few decent books in this category - and one of only a small handful that don't treat you like an idiot. Concomitantly, if you ARE in idiot, this book won't work for you. As other reviewers have noted, the pace is definitely fast compared to the 'graded' lesson books commonly used by piano teachers. But using the CD, and practicing every exercise until you truly understand it - you WILL go far, and fast, with this one. I've carefully checked every other "teach yourself piano" title I've seen in the local stores, and even bought and returned a few. This one, however, is a keeper. By the end of the book, you'll be playing some fairly impressive classical pieces (more than enough to impress your friends - unless they're experienced pianists!). Along the way, you get a very nice background in piano history (great photos an illustrations!), and you'll gain a good, solid understanding of reading music. (hm - except for all those british musical terms. Feh. Luckily, American-style is included as well.)
Generally, you really, really should try to get a teacher. But if you just can't afford it, this book is the next best thing. Combine it with a few videos/DVDs (like the "Van Cliburn competition" - YES!, or even buy "The Pianist" or "Shine" right here on Amazon) so you can get an idea of how pianists hold and move their hands. (not that you'll move like these people for a long while!).
There is a crazy typographical error in my edition of the book, where an entire paragraph is repeated! This is only a little sad, because the space could have been put to use for more of the author's great information. It's not enough to drop my rating! The binding (at least in my edition) is spiral - a VERY SMART move, as it sits nicely on the music desk. I have to make photo copies to use the sheet music in other books!
This one has got my full recommendation. And better yet, if you have any musical background at all, or have had some piano lessons (even in your distant past) this book will have you flying along in no time.

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Product Description:
This illustrated handbook offers a comprehensive tutorial for learning to play piano alone or with a teacher. An accompanying audio CD demonstrates key techniques and concepts, and the author explores the common origins of different musical cultures to show that learning different kinds of music can be an enriching experience. Readers discover how classical piano technique and musicianship inspire creative approaches to composing and improvising across a variety of styles, including pop and jazz.

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