Product Description

At first glance, a piano may seem like an intimidating instrument that would be very difficult to learn how to play, but despite what your seventh–grade piano teacher may say, playing piano isn′t brain surgery. It just takes time, practice, and patience.

Piano For Dummies starts at the very beginning and walks you through everything you need to know to turn that oversized hunk of furniture into an instrument that can make beautiful music. If you don′t know how to read music, this book explains in friendly, uncomplicated language all the basics of music theory and applying it to playing the piano. And if you′ve been playing piano for a while – or took piano lessons when you were a child but haven′t played since – you can pick up some valuable tips to improve your playing or use the book as a refresher course.

Here are some of the topics you′ll find in Piano For Dummies:

• Buying a piano: Acoustic versus electronic
• How a piano works, and how to care for one
• Left– and right–hand piano techniques
• Examining keys, scales, melodies, harmonies, and chords
• Plenty of musical examples to play
• The history of piano musical styles
• Advice for piano teachers
• A Top Ten list of pianists you should know about

Piano For Dummies also includes a glossary and a free CD, which includes audio of all of the examples in the book so that you can play along.

So if you′ve always wanted to learn to play piano, but you don′t have the time to take piano lessons, you can pick up the basics in Piano For Dummies; you′ll be tickling the ivories with ease in no time!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64598 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

From the Back Cover
Play–along audio CD included! The fun and easy way to get started on the piano

A Reference for the Rest of Us!

Perfect for all keyboards?not just piano

Find out how to have some fun with your piano

Don′t leave your keyboard in the corner collecting dust! Open the book, run through a few simple exercises with virtuoso Blake Neely, and soon you′ll be tickling the ivories with the best of them. From basic scales to old favorites, classical themes, blues, boogie–woogie, and more, this friendly beginner′s guide and songbook doesn′t miss a beat.

All 97 songs and exercises from the book on audio CD

Play along with "Oh Sussannah." " The Beautiful Blue Danube." "Swanee River," " Ode to Joy," " Greensleaves," " Danny Boy," Berry–style blues, a boogie–woogie bass line, " Hank the Honky–Tonk" riff, and much, much more

Discover how to:

Familiarize yourself with the keyboard

Understand the language of music

Have fun when you practice scales

Impress friends with great grooves and riffs

Play classical, rock, blues, and country

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About the Author
Blake Neely has been playing piano since he was about 4 years old, although it took a while before real audible music could be detected. His fascination with music led him to other instruments, such as the French horn, guitar, and drums, but the keyboard remains his baby.

Upon graduation from the University of Texas in 1991, he moved to Los Angeles to experience the music business. He licensed music for Hollywood Records and later worked for Disney Music Publishing as editor of all printed music publications.

An award–winning composer and author, he has written symphonies, a piano concerto, and numerous orchestral and chamber works. He is co–author of the acclaimed FastTrack series, published by Hal Leonard Corporation.

Blake has worked as a composer, orchestrator, arranger, copyist, engraver, musicologist, and consultant for such prominent figures as Disney, Hal Leonard Corporation, Decca Records, Hyperion Books, composers Michael Kamen and Alan Menken, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.

Currently living in Austin, Texas, Blake spends his free time tuning into his family: wife Elizabeth, daughter Jordan, and son Jacob. Blake is the proud owner of a Kawai grand piano and Kurzweil, Ensoniq, and E–Mu synths and samplers. You can reach Blake via e–mail at BlakeNeely@aol.com.

Customer Reviews

5 stars to what the book tries to achieve
This book is very straight-forward and if you're really personally committed to learn the piano, not really caring for the deeply technical part of it, it is a must-have. It is not to be taken very seriously. The book aims to teach you the principles of playing the piano and that Mark Phillips indeed achieved. I bought it without knowing much about music or piano and after 4 months studying it, I already knew how to play 2 pieces like a true prodigy. However, music is a very intricate art and to be a real musician, Piano For Dummies may be your start point, but not your back bone to music.

There is really, indeed, much much more to music after "Piano for Dummies", and beginners must realise that. It is a great buy if you're wanting to play the piano just for the fun of it, but if you want real technical knowledge and to be a professional, you must go far beyond this book.

reall good
one of the worst things when learning an instrument is frustration, something i have experienced whilst reading other books on the subject of piano/keyboards. this book tells you how to play in plain english and goes into good depth on the basics of playing. you never feel overwhelmed.

highly recommended

Good For The Basics
If you want to learn how to play the piano then books like this are a great start, they are not expensive. If you are serious about learning to play the piano, I can also recommend "The Complete Piano Player" by Kenneth Baker these books are for the complete beginner and you can buy them from Amazon for about the same price