(Book). With clear and easy-to-understand exercises, The Piano Handbook is perfect for anyone interested in learning the piano or improving their skills. It provides fresh material and techniques in styles ranging from classical to jazz, rock, bebop and fusion, and gives new players everything they need to learn and enjoy the piano. This book's innovative tutorial approach covers classical and contemporary music styles in an integrated way, and the companion CD brings the playing techniques and concepts to life. A full-color photo gallery illustrates the history of the piano and its essential recordings. This hardcover, deluxe edition also features semi-concealed spiral binding so the book stays open on the piano. The Piano Handbook prepares you not just to play, but to perform and not just as a pianist, but as a complete musician.
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About the Author
Carl Humphries is a pianist, composer, and music journalist. He studied piano and composition in London, Turin, and Berlin, and has performed at some of the most prestigious classical and jazz venues in the UK. His workshops and lecture/recitals are in demand at music academies and university music departments throughout Europe and in the US.
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First Sentence
Open the lid of your piano and you'll find a neat arrangement of black and white keys: the keyboard. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Open the lid of your piano and you'll find a neat arrangement of black and white keys: the keyboard. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Spiral-bound
I'm a piano novice, and had been using a software program to further my studies. It had the same problem that a lot of beginner piano books have--the material is slow moving and BORING. Uninteresting songs/exercises make learning drudgery. I happened to be browsing the music section at a bookstore and found this book. I knew I had to have it as soon as I flipped through it. It had a wealth of material, unlike most beginner books, and the thoughtfulness of layout and detail were exciting. It's really a beautiful piece of work.
I'm still near the start of this book, as I'm only working on song #15, but I'm having a good time with it. I've found that even the simpler songs in here are interesting. And I've learned more about reading music in a few weeks with this book than nearly a year with the software program. I highly recommend this book.
I'm still near the start of this book, as I'm only working on song #15, but I'm having a good time with it. I've found that even the simpler songs in here are interesting. And I've learned more about reading music in a few weeks with this book than nearly a year with the software program. I highly recommend this book.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Vladimir
Format:Spiral-bound
Very nicely done! Print quality is outstanding. Spiral bound, it's perfectly sized to fit the note holder on my keyboard. Music exercises are well selected to gradually increase their complexity as you move along.
In a nutshell: if you're a piano newbie like me (I have played guitar since I was 13) and unless you can get a very good personal teacher (and I hope you know already that just because someone can play a piano does't mean they can teach you how to play, trust me on that one) this is the second best thing that can happen to you. Get this book - you won't regret it.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Spiral-bound
Thank you, Carl Humphries, for this book. I have used similar techniques in teaching my students over the last 20 years. I have been trying to write this book for about 3 years, but find myself too damn busy teaching lessons and performing. This book includes everything, from the basics to the most advanced. AND, it doesn't ignore the 20th century. What I mean is that so much great music was made in jazz, rock and latin music in the past 100 years and I find that the local "Ivory Tower" (the BYU piano department) tends to either ignore it or pooh-pooh it.
Also, Humphries shows how these recent styles are related to their influences, including "classical" composers like Debussy and Schoenberg, without making the styles seem like lesser entities of their "legit" ancestors. Now I can start giving my students this book, instead of continuing to promise them that I'll get my book done--and then not delivering for God knows how many years.
My critiques of this book are that I wish there had been more emphasis on ear training, application of jazz voicings and structures and improvisation. There is a CD included, which I love, of all the written material in the text. But while Mr. Humphries does write that ear training is vital, there is little in the text to work with. I have my own approach to this, so it's okay, but I'd love to see it in his book because not only was it the original way to communicate music, it is also the more effective. Don't get me wrong; I am into the whole sight reading thing, but it is so limited in conveying emotion and "feel" that you can get from learning music by ear.
Also, he has a few exercises dealing with jazz voicing, but only from Bill Evans (who happens to be a brilliant example), but I find that quite limiting--especially when the book refers to so many other Early Jazz, Swing, Bop, Post Bop, West Coast and Modern Jazz players. Perhaps a rounding out of these ideas that Humphries brings up would make the book more complete--and that would go for the discussion of Latin and Rock as well.
While I appreciate the discussion of the various scales used in improvisation, I was disappointed to find little or no discussion on improvisation itself, which might include sections on motifs, motif development, counterpoint improvisation, 'comping, and include some transcriptions of great improvisors such as a few lines from Jarrett's Koln Concert.
All in all though, Humphries' book is (to use the critic's ancient term) a TRIUMPH! Bravo; I look forward to a second edition with more cool stuff.
David Cannon
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4.6 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dont do it!!!
This book is confusing. If you dont know how to read music. You will be lost. I had a friend who was a concert pianist to come over and help me get started. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Shelley Schafer
4.0 out of 5 stars
A gorgeous book
Having largely given up on learning piano as a child, my playing skills were pretty poor. I was interested in learning how to play, but my enjoyment of piano music is largely on... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Nicholas Armstrong
5.0 out of 5 stars
beginner
I am a retiree and a beginner in learning pianon. I find the book very informative, Easy to read and follow. It make a great reference in learning piano. Read more
Published 23 months ago by chl
4.0 out of 5 stars
Learn Piano
The book is excellent for learning music and piano. The exercises are challenging. It includes instructions on how to perform them and what you need to do to improve your playing... Read more
Published on Jan 14 2011 by Dom B
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book and CD really improved my piano playing
GREAT BOOK.
I started playing piano by using eMedia Piano and keyboard which is good, but when I bought the piano handbook with CD, I really improved my playing by "ear"... Read more
I started playing piano by using eMedia Piano and keyboard which is good, but when I bought the piano handbook with CD, I really improved my playing by "ear"... Read more
Published on Sep 2 2010 by claude
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome!
Only just started this book, with no training at all on piano and am fully convinced it was the best purchase I could have made. Read more
Published on Aug 16 2008 by Mark Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Excellent
This book is SIMPLY EXCELLENT. It is not just a piano textbook, but also a song books with many many piano classics.
The print quality is simply great. Read more
The print quality is simply great. Read more
Published on July 14 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Book for Piano Self-Learning
I started learning piano recently and have been extremely satisfied with this book as my primary guide. Read more
Published on July 10 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
a must have!
I played piano for a year before, and have been thinking about picking it up again. After doing a good deal of research both online and in local book stores, I bought 3 books... Read more
Published on July 8 2004 by palytoxin
5.0 out of 5 stars
A real treasure!
I found this book by browsing Amazon.com and bought it based on other people's recommendations. I just received my copy and am totally thrilled with it! Read more
Published on Mar 27 2004
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