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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11376 in Books
• Published on: 2009-10-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780470496442
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Library Journal
Instruct: to provide with knowledge, especially in a methodical way. That is, in fact, what Phillips and Chappel of Cherry Lane Music do in this logical, pedagogic introduction to keyboard instruments, music theory, and piano technique. The chapter on the famous?or is it infamous??"Part of Tens" includes information about past and present masters of the instrument, ways of expanding your interest beyond the scope of the book, and tips on finding a teacher. Printed musical examples are plentiful, and an accompanying audio CD is included. This book intends to be fun and funny and succeeds in a vaudeville sort of way. Students are encouraged "to continue to seek knowledge about your instrument long after you tire of the jokes" and told that "piano teachers and method books shouldn't be forsaken forever." The do-it-yourself phenomenon has made the "Dummies" books very popular. This one is particularly appropriate for school media and public libraries.?Janet Brewer, Murray State Univ. Lib., KY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

Making Everything Easier!

Piano for Dummies

2nd Edition

Audio CD included

Learn to:

• Understand notes and rhythms

• Explore different styles

• Play intervals, arpeggios, and chords

• Improve your practice and performance

Blake Neely

Emmy-nominated composer, conductor, arranger, orchestrator, and pianist

The fun and easy way® to learn piano!

Whether you've only ever admired the piano or are looking to rekindle a past hobby, Piano For Dummies, 2nd Edition, gives you everything you need to make beautiful music with confidence and ease. You'll get practical, easy-to-follow guidance on how to read music, keep rhythm, and use your fingers and feet to play tons of popular pieces and songs.

• Warming up to the keyboard — discover the differences (and similarities) between acoustic and electric keyboards and get tips on finding the keyboard that's right for you

• Getting sound down on paper — learn the many symbols, lines, and dots that make up written music and understand how they're translated into actual songs

• One hand at a time — practical guidance on how to play the melodies of well-known songs, starting with just your right hand and gradually inviting your left hand to join the party

• Living in perfect harmony — find out what harmony is, how it's made, and how you can use it to fill out songs

Bonus CD Includes

More than 90 recorded performances of the exercises and pieces featured in the book

Pieces performed using a count-off, allowing you to play along in time with the music

Style samplers featuring riffs in jazz, rock, classical, country, and soul

Open the book and find:

• Practice lessons, teaching techniques, and examples

• Ways to make the most of your practice time

• Tips on how to count rhythms

• Exercises for playing with your left hand

• Tricks, techniques, and stylish embellishments to dress up the music you play

• Scales and chords in major and minor keys

• Handy accompaniment patterns, intros, and outros

About the Author

Blake Neely is a composer, conductor, arranger, orchestrator, and pianist who scored an Emmy nomination for his composition of the Everwood main title theme. Since then, Blake has enjoyed a celebrated career of scoring and orchestrating, with credits such as the movie The Wedding Date, the TV series Brothers and Sisters, and the smash Disney movie, Enchanted.

Customer Reviews

A Fine Introduction for Adults
I was looking for an introductory book for adult piano student. Although I could do without the title "dummies," the cartoons, and the jokes, the meat of this book was the best of all the others on Amazon.

Most of the other books teach very little except simple popular ditties. This book actually had -- yes -- scales and other exercises for both the left and right hands, with fingering techniques simply applied, but fully explained.

And for those who want some tunes, there are (in addition to the standard ditties) actually some worthwhile classical adaptions, such as some of the best-known themes from the Bach cantatas.

I was quite impressed with how much basic and even intermediate material was included in the book, and explained with clarity and simplicity.

Since I read music already, I was able to skip many of the first chapters and get right into the practice and technique material, so I can't comment on how clear the music-reading chapters would be for a total beginner. However, I expect that if they are as good as the rest of the material, they should be fine for that purpose as well.

Not for DUMMIES!; Great way to begin!
I bought this book 2 months ago and started practicing an hour from it daily. The results were shockingly great and speedy. After a week of practice I would go back and shoot through the preliminary songs as if they were child's play!

My one problem with it is the way you're presented with practice material. It's never specified how long or often you should practice something before moving on. Just be patient and ONLY MOVE ON ONCE YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH A PIECE. Do that and this minor problem won't affect you at all.

I really like the play along cd. It does help alot. Also, the humorous way in which you're presented with all of the material this book contains will have you learning great amounts of theory and technique without even realizing it. This book is great as a reference book as well.

So, although it's challenging (sight-reading in particular), you'll soon learn that with a little consistence and assiduity you'll be on your way to "tickling the ivories with the best of 'em"!

I feel like a dummy for buying this book
I bought several books on learning the piano at the same time. I found this book to be the least useful. As several other reviewers mentioned, the author's sense of humor is pathetic and he tries to throw in a "zinger" every other paragraph. "Thats's right, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, pengiums and parakeets...". Believe me. I not exaggerating on this. I cringed at almost every one of the author's attempts to be humorous. However, this was not enough to discourage me from continuing to read the book. That occurred after having to read over 50 pages before the author presented the first exercise. An excercise that it does not use a middle C hand position, requires you to move your hand, does not indicate which fingers to use for which keys, etc. After looking at this first exercise, I decided not to continue. I suspect that the author has never taught a single piano lession.

I also picked up two books called "Total Piano" and "Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course" both of which I've found quite good so far. If you have a digital piano with a MIDI interface, check out "Teach Me Piano". I've been using it for a few days now, I can't say enough good things about this piece of software.