Playing the Piano for Pleasure [Paperback]

Charles Cooke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1960

Here is a book that will be enjoyed by all pianists not only for the stimulating advice it provides, but also for the style with which it is written.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Paper); 2nd (Revised) edition (June 1960)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671578014
• ISBN-13: 978-0671578015
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,323,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I grew as a pianist within months., April 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Playing the Piano for Pleasure. (Hardcover)

I read this book 15 years ago. I have been looking for the book, as I believe it is the best an adult learner may find. Not only does Playing Piano for Pleasure give clear guidance for learning to play the piano, but it also suggests pieces one might play. These pieces are presented in sequential manner, that is, from easy to difficult. I have not played for a while and remember, Cooke writing somewhere in the text, "The saddest thing one can say is that 'I used to play the piano'." Unfortunately, that is where I am with my piano playing. Cooke's Playing Piano for Pleasure will help me pick it up again. Some of the topics covered include, GOALS: The place of Music in the Life od the Amateur, Climbing Higher on the Ladder of Piano Literature; MEANS: The Pleasant Necessity of Practising; REPERTOIRE: Transforming the Weakest passages into the Strongest, Memorizing, Interpretation, Retention; TECHNIQUE; and SIGHT READING. A must read for all piano enthusiasts.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspired and Inspiring, July 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Playing the Piano for Pleasure. (Hardcover)

A wonderful book for any classical pianist. Cooke's ideas are useful, his writing is entertaining, and his enthusiasm is infectious.

One caution: Ignore the chapter on polyrhythms. Cooke advocates the "least common multiple" method, which only works for simple cases and tends to produce choppy jigsaw-puzzle playing even then. For a polyrhythm such as 7 against 8, the method is a fiasco -- unless you really want to count out 56 mini-beats and position one note exactly 4/7 of the way between two others.

Overall, however, the book is a gem. I've never met a pianist who didn't enjoy it.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, yes yes!, February 1, 2001

By 

"kangarex" (Keokuk, IA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Playing the Piano for Pleasure. (Hardcover)

I am completely thrilled that they reprinted this book. I have an original 1941 edition that I have been reading and rereading ever since I got it. It's not just for the beginner, the novice, or the person who used to play the piano. Anyone who counts themselves as a hobby pianist, or has some problems with enjoying their practicing as much as playing "finished" pieces will garner a lot from this book. And anyone who enjoys piano at all will probably enjoy reading Cooke as he extolls on his beloved hobby. For those who are working seriously at their piano he offers concrete practicing tidbits on everything from how to divide your practice time, to memorizing. His lists of suggested music at different levels are a great place to start if you don't know where to look for your next piece of music. A wonderful, wonderful book.