Customer Reviews

All About Piano: A Fun and Simple Guide to Playing Piano

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Choosing a great tutorial type/how-to book on musical instruments is definitely not easy. They are just way too many out there. I myself never touched the piano until I was 21. So, fuelled by excitement of youth, I painstakingly went through virtually every piano how-to books in a big Music Library in my town (the books are filed under the sub-category QP for those living in Australia). Bad mistake, but for someone who was clueless about piano-playing and couldn't afford long term tuition, free books seem to be the only way.

I didn't stop when I found this book. But now that I'm playing gigs (after 3 years of study and massive determination) and no longer a beginner =), I realized among all beginners' how-to books, this is one of the few stand-outs.

"All about piano" does live up to its name, strictly on beginners' level. Not only it tells you how to play, enough to work out a lead sheet, it also tells you the world of piano playing. If you look at the contents of the book by clicking "Search inside this book", you'll notice this book also tells you major players from classical period to modern time; different styles of playing; how to get a gig; and how to buy and care for your piano. All provided, so you can choose the level of intensity of your study.

The other major plus of this book is the CD, which tells you exactly how you suppose to sound as you progress. And lastly from the typography and layout point of views, it is pleasing to the eye and the amount of pictures are just right.

Had someone given me this when I was 21, it would've saved me a lot of time and energy.

Next stop, if you think jazz piano is for you, I strongly recommend "The Jazz Piano Book" by Mark Levine.

This is a totally subjective review, but my principle is that I share what works for me and I hope you learn from my mistakes.

Mark Harrison's book is a great book for adult beginners. This book provides an overview of just about everything without going into advanced theory. This book was purchased by me for another student I had. After going through it, I went on to purchase his set of theory books, levels 1, 2, and 3. These are excellent books on theory so the reader can fully understand chords, progressions and harmony.