 | Learn To Play Keyboard (Book & DVD) (Alfred's Max Series) by Nathaniel Gunod, Kate Westin Amy Rosser
Buy new: $21.33 / Used from: $10.99 I'm about half-way through this. It's about as complete as any beginner/intermediate book I've found: a few standards, a little classical, a little theory. The DVD isn't worth much, as it just repeats what's already clearly written in the book, but it may help to be able to hear some of the pieces played.
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 | Practical Theory Complete: A Self-Instruction Music Theory Course by Sandy Feldstein
Buy new: $9.20 / Used from: $3.50 Designed for self-study (with answer key in the back), this covers all the basics of music theory pretty concisely. It's no substitute for a good musicianship class, but it should provide a sound base for further study.
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 | Piano Essentials: Scales, Chords, Arpeggios, and Cadences for the Contemporary Pianist (Book & CD) by Ross Ramsay
Buy new: $16.47 / Used from: $13.51 If you want to be able to play in various keys, or ever be able to sight read well, it's essential that you practice scales, chords and arpeggios. I haven't tried this book yet, but it looks pretty complete, and will be picking it up soon.
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 | First Lessons in Bach, Complete: For the Piano (Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics)
Buy new: $7.95 / Used from: $7.31 Bach was famous for his exercises. I believe this is one of the books we used in about the second or third semester of study. If I remember right, the exercises were very accessible, starting from easy and working up. This, along with your scales & arpeggios (see: "Piano Essentials"), should really increase your keyboard fluency.
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 | Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises: Complete (Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics)
Buy new: $6.95 / Used from: $3.30 This looks like another great book of exercises, though I can't vouch for it yet. It also seems to be graduated from easy to more complex.
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 | Twenty-Five Easy and Progressive Studies for the Piano, Op. 100: Piano Solo
Buy new: $4.95 / Used from: $4.49 A series of graded pieces, which might be combined with "First Lessons in Bach" or "Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises" to break up the monotony.
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 | Listen 6e paper & 6 CD set to Accompany Listen 6e by Joseph Kerman
Buy new: $90.33 / Used from: $48.20 While studying piano, how about some music history? I have the 5th edition and I love it. It covers major classical genres and artists, and teaches you how to listen to and hear complex music, beginning with isolation of orchestral instruments, continuing on with symphony and sonata form, etc. Provides listening charts for the accompanying 6-CD set with second-by-second breakdowns.
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