Keyboard Runs for the Pop & Jazz Stylist [Paperback] Review

This is my first review for Amazon. I wish someone had warned me before buying this book.

On the plus side this book gives you loads of runs that are mostly practical. They're offered in three (good) keys and give you fingering suggestions. The author is a gifted pianist who really knows her stuff. You get the feeling she's giving you the runs that really helped her as she was learning her craft. That's it for the positive comments.

On the downside:
1-I don't know why the title includes the word Pop. All the runs are blues/jazz.
I was hoping there would be some ideas to throw in to a real pop tune.
2-Many of the runs are great but about half seem like filler.
3- Too many jazz and bebop runs. There fine I guess but if you're going through the trouble of learning someone else's bebop runs why not just get a Charlie Parker book and steal from a master.
4- This is the biggie.... This is the reason I can't recomend this book and want my money back for it:
The CD.
4a-it sounds like it was recorded in a bedroom on an answering machine.
4b-The piano she plays is so out of tune that you can't even transpose your keyboard to match it.
4c-All the runs in each style (that's four) Are included on 1 CD track.
That means Blues run 27 is 5 minutes into track 2. That makes it very inconvenient to audition,play along with, or learn any of the runs.
4d-Not all the runs are on the cd. She jumps around and doesn't always play each run in all keys. This makes it difficult to even know what you're hearing. Doesn't help that piano is out of tune.

Anyway. If you're a good reader you could probably go through all the runs quickly, pick out the ones that work best for you and get a huge value out of this book.
If you're like me, and like to hear what the riffs/runs sound like you're out of luck.

Sorry my first review was such a downer.

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Product Description:
Dozens upon dozens of runs and fills professional pianists use to add style to their performance. Includes various styles of runs such as: swing and society, blues, jazzy bebop, and contemporary. In addition, Noreen Grey Lienhard, one of today's pop pianists and arrangers, has demonstrated many of them on the enclosed CD in a special note-by-note slow versions, and at full tempo.

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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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The Big Book of Torch Songs 2nd Ed. (Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook) [Paperback] Review

I have a wide range... can sing soprano and alto quite easily, but when I sing torch songs or other jazz/blues standards, I prefer to sing them in my lower register. This book is great with offering these types of songs, but the keys they are in are HORRIBLE! They must be transposed down to even be comfortable for a woman to sing them in that "sulty-torch-song" style. I wouldn'trecommend it at all... instead, I found a book called "Belter's Hot Standards." This has been my Bible of music! Go find that book if you're a woman looking for low jazz songs.

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Product Description:
Features 75 heart-on-the-sleeve standards, such as: Angel Eyes * As Long as He Needs Me * Bewitched * Black Coffee * Crazy * Cry Me a River * Glad to Be Unhappy * Good Morning Heartache * Here's That Rainy Day * I'll Be Seeing You * Misty * Mood Indigo * My Man * My Old Flame * The Party's Over * Skylark * So in Love * Stormy Weather * When Sunny Gets Blue * and more.

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