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Piano For Dummies Review
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Editor's Verdict: The greatest achievement of Piano for Dummies is that it takes the pianist right from the decisions of what sort of piano to buy, through to where to find a teacher or further information should you want it. And, of course, it has absolutely everything in between. Notation is dealt with in minute detail and the other particulars of musical theory, such as key, timing and articulation are all written about with greater clarity than you are likely to find anywhere else in one book. However, most piano instruction books deal with these basics. Where Piano for Dummies differs is in the wealth of information it provides in all the peripheral issues of piano playing. For instance, if you do not already have a piano the book will provide you with all the information you need to make the decision of whether you should buy acoustic or electric, what sort you should buy, and all the pros and cons of the various alternatives. And whereas some music books leave you stranded once you have read them, Piano for Dummies gives you a detailed list of ten possible things to do next, from buying additional music and playing with others to listening to recordings and attending live concerts. Such a complete guide through the world of piano is hard to come by. Despite this comprehensiveness, you may come into difficulties with the book if you have a different sense of humor from that of the author. Although a certain amount of lightheartedness can be forgiven, (and even applauded in an educational book), Piano for Dummies at times goes too far. At the beginning of the book you will be greeted by a page of piano-themed cartoons. This starts your reading off in a good mood, but you will soon realize that the jokes continue throughout the book, and it is easy to tire of them. If you can manage to ignore them (or even enjoy them!), you will have no problem with the book. If, on the other hand, you cannot stand such frivolity, maybe this is not the right book for you. The jokes do take up a large amount of space, as do a fair number of 'empty' words that do not really tell you anything. However, it is difficult to see how the author could have included more information without straying from the 'for Dummies' requirement. Although the book certainly begins as a book for those with no musical experience whatsoever, it progresses into some of the more complex concepts and techniques. Any further information would have been too much for a beginners' book, so although it is easy to resent the jokes for taking up too much space, they are not replacing anything more important or worthwhile. Everything that you would want in a guide for beginners is there. The book includes over sixty-five pieces for you to play - it is hard to give an exact number, as there are some examples of the same piece in two keys, or of small exercises or musical ideas that do not really count as pieces. This may sound a lot, but in reality it is not going to last you long. You will be able move through many of the earlier pieces quickly, once you have grasped the technique. And once you have moved on you are unlikely to want to revisit pieces that will be increasingly below your level of expertise. Therefore, while you are progressing through the book, and certainly once you have finished it, it is advisable to buy supplementary material to aid your progress further. The CD that comes with the book is good as a free gift, but is unlikely to help you if you are having real problems with the music. As a guide for playing speeds and styles, however, it does its job perfectly well. What we liked about Piano for Dummies was that, even for someone who has been playing the piano for years, there are still things to learn in the book . If you buy this as a beginner, you may still find that it is a useful reference tool in several years' time. Of particular note was the list of famous pianists from across the ages and the guide to the different keyboard instruments. Even after you have progressed far beyond the level that Piano for Dummies can offer, you may still find a use for it, so keep it on your shelf just in case! Click the button below to check out Piano For Dummies for yourself...
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