The Living Piano: A Complete Guide to Listening, Learning, and Playing (CD Music Series , Vol 4) [Hardcover]

Barrie Carson Turner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 1996 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: CD Music Series , Vol 4

Separate spreads reveal how the piano is made and how it works, its geographic origins and history, and its place in the orchestra, creating the perfect introduction to this grand instrument and its alluring musical magic.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Music, music, music Adroitly uniting book and CD, Barrie Carson Turner's Living Music series introduces four instruments frequently played by school-age children; titles include The Living Piano; The Living Clarinet; The Living Flute; and The Living Violin. Each book provides background on the instrument's history and how it is made and played, biographies of 10 composers, a brief gallery of great musicians and an index. The accompanying full-length CD from EMI features the same composers, in the same order. The handsome design features plentiful color photographs and art reproductions inset into muted backgrounds of sheet music.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8. Each of these selections presents an overview of its subject, discussing the family of instruments to which it belongs, its history, how it is made, and how it is played. Also included are biographical sketches of classical composers who wrote music for the instrument, samples of their work on a CD, and a mention of great players of that particular instrument. Sidebars provide additional tidbits, such as how these instruments are used in types of music other than classical. The full-color photographs and reproductions, clean layout, and attractive design of these books are appealing. Unfortunately, the information about the instruments themselves is slight. Approximately half of each volume is taken up with the biographical sketches and the same material seems to be rewritten in different titles in the series. Piano, for example, states that "Ludwig Van Beethoven received his first keyboard lessons from his father." Clarinet's sketch of Beethoven begins with the same sentence, substituting the word "music" for "keyboard." While these sketches give some context for the music on the CDs, they are the least effective element of the series. The CDs are uniformly fine although the packaging is a little awkward. The titles are ultimately dogged by the question of audience?who will read these short, profusely illustrated but sophisticated books??Tim Wadham, Dallas Public Library, TX
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 46 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 8, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679881808
• ISBN-13: 978-0679881803
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,538,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for music lovers and learners of all ages!, February 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Living Piano: A Complete Guide to Listening, Learning, and Playing (CD Music Series , Vol 4) (Hardcover)

While this is catalogued as a children's book, I have found music lovers of all ages to be enthusiastic about its content and approach! In fact, no one enjoyed my son's Christmas present (this book) more than my father-in-law! The illustrations of piano history, parts of the instrument, and composers are interesting and add depth to the clear and concise text. There is an accompanying CD, a compilation of EMI recordings, which features a sample of compositions that is both instructional (with the text) and enjoyable (without the text). From cover to cover - endpapers are copies of Beethoven scores-- this book is thoughtful, well-researched and worth finding.