Customer Reviews

The Best Songs Ever (Big-Note Piano)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Great buy!!

I am 80 years old. Haven't played the piano for 35 years. Have a electronic key board now and I'm having a "ball" getting these old standards back into my fingers. No! I not too good now; but, practace, practace and who knows?????

Bill McNamara
Jacksonville, Fl.

This book is just the level I was looking for - not too hard and not too easy - since my level is what I call an intermediate beginner. The songs are great although traditional, not modern. My only complaints are that the book doesn't lie flat and I have to turn the pages during the songs. But, I am really enjoying this piano book.

As an older woman (seventies) I find this the best song book I have ever seen. It has all the great romantic songs of the past 60 years. I love it! You will too, if you are old enough to remember the music of Gershwin, Berlin, Kerns, etc. It won't disappoint you, I promise.

I'm very new to the piano (3 months when I bought this book). I can't get my hands on enough material that isn't so basic, it's not a challenge, yet not so difficult that it discourages.
The songs in this book are definitely not EZ (my opinion is, you should have at last 6 months under your belt), but a novice like me can learn them with practice of a few measures at a time. I tackled their EZ version of STORMY WEATHER. After 6 weeks it is still not perfected but I'm very pleased with my learning.

For these few dollars, you will have a really nice collection of classic songs that will keep you busy a real long time.

Enjoy!

And so much ado about keeping the book open!

Get yourself a magnetic clip like a long (not wide) chip clip. See this Amazon item:
OXO Good Grips Bag Clips, Set of 4, Multi-Colored.
Item model number: 28682 : pcs @ $5.59

I found a similar pack of 4 in a dollar store. Works like magic!

This is a great book if your not a seasoned pianist. I hadn't played in years and was able to pick it up again in a few hours.

I purchased this for a friend's birthday and was so pleased with the simple arrangements and fantastic selection of songs. Most arrangements are written in the key of C, have easy rhythm patterns and the big notes really help learners. My friend has mastered several songs in two weeks and is delighted with her success. Even though the arrangements are very non-technical, they sound good and help beginners feel a true sense of accomplishment.

I got this book for my brother, who has been playing piano all his life (he's 29 now). The notes are big which is good if you have bad eyesight, and there is not much complexity to the left hand harmonies. I looked through it and thought it would be too easy for my brother, so I ended up returning it. However if you are a beginner to intermediate pianist with bad eyesight, it's probably a good book.

This book really was terrific for me as a beginner. The songs truly are entry-level, and they really made practicing a lot more fun and interesting. A great buy for anyone who is just learning piano!

After reading a good number of other reviews on this book, I'm glad to see that no one really had anything negative to say, and that there weren't really any bad ratings. But, I DID notice that some people were making comments that lead me to believe they might not exactly have a strong understanding of how "levels" of printed music are indicated. What I mean is that, several of the reviews mentioned that they didn't expect the arrangements to be "that easy", and that people who have a lot of experience can play much harder arrangements. Well, this book is clearly labeled BIG-NOTE PIANO, which is an indicator of skill level. Big-Note Piano arrangements are for a not-quite-intermediate pianist. Easy Piano arrangements are for intermediate pianists. And, if there is no indicator on the cover, then it's most likely on the upper end of skill. Just thought I should point that out, in case anyone is reading these reviews, and looking to purchase it as a gift for the musician in your life. Why did I only give 4 stars? A personal preference - I have always thought that piano books should be bound with plastic comb binding spines, as traditional binding makes it very difficult to keep books open on the music stand!

I'm trying to reacquaint myself with the piano after 50 years and from the reviews thought that this would be a suitable book. I like the large print but the harmonies are very, very, basic. The chords are typically just two notes. I had hoped for a little more depth in the arrangements. This will be going back to Amazon.