Tag Archives: book

Blues Keyboard Method

Blues Keyboard Method: The Player’s Guide to Authentic Stylings

Blues Keyboard Method

The ability to play blues piano in an authentic style is a special skill that takes time to learn and develop. Aside from experimenting to find the right groove, feel, timing, chords, voicings, it takes time to learn the licks and how to listen to the other instruments and vocals to effectively complement them. This comprehensive and easy-to-use guide focuses on the basics of style and includes lots of licks to learn. Purchase of the book includes access to online audio tracks for downloading
or streaming.

Blues Keyboard Method: The Player’s Guide to Authentic Stylings,
by Marty Sammon, Hal Leonard, www.halleonard.com.

 

Loving a Musician

Love a Musician: Grace Notes to a Harmonious Relationship

Loving a MusicianLoving a Musician is both challenging and rewarding. This book from Local 5 (Detroit, MI) member Al McKenzie dispels some of the myths and stereotypes of musicians. Discover how musicians really think and feel about their lovers and music. This book is full of relationship stories from around the world. There are things musicians and their partners can do to increase and sustain their happiness. Despite popular beliefs, being in love with a musician can be a both wonderful and fruitful.  

Love a Musician: Grace Notes to a Harmonious Relationship, by Al McKenzie, www.almckenzie.com.

Grammy Salute to Music Legends

Grammy Salute to Music Legends: All-Star Artists Pay Tribute to Their Musical Heroes

Grammy Salute to Music LegendsIn addition to recognizing the best recordings, each year The Recording Academy honors a handful of musical icons through its Special Merit Awards—Lifetime Achievement, Trustee, and Technical Grammy Awards. Up until now, they were highlighted only in the Grammy program book where noted artists and musicians pay tribute to them. The Recording Academy and Hal Leonard have now collected two decades worth, featuring 87 honorees in this book.

Grammy Salute to Music Legends: All-Star Artists Pay Tribute to Their Musical Heroes, edited by David Konjoyan, Hal Leonard Corporation, www.halleonard.com.

Exploring Classical Mandolin

Exploring Classical Mandolin Technique and Repertoire

Exploring Classical MandolinExploring Classical Mandolin will give you an introduction to mandolin, including techniques from around the world, common practices, and essential repertoire. Not only will you discover gems from classical mandolin literature, and familiar classical melodies, but you will also gain insights to help you arrange your own musical ideas for solo mandolin. The book includes access to online audio and video tracks for download and streaming.

Exploring Classical Mandolin Technique and Repertoire, by August Watters, Berklee Press, www.berkleepress.com

Robben Ford

Play Like Robben Ford: The Ultimate Guitar Lesson

Robben FordWith this comprehensive book, you’ll learn about Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) member Robben Ford’s gear, tone, techniques, styles, songs, licks, signature phrases, and more. It covers the legendary player from his early years in jazz fusion with the Yellowjackets to his groundbreaking progressive blues work as a solo artist and with the Blue Line. The book includes access to online audio tracks that can be streamed or downloaded.

Play Like Robben Ford: The Ultimate Guitar Lesson, by Chad Johnson, Hal Leonard

The Savvy Music Teacher

The Savvy Music Teacher: Blueprint for Maximizing Income & Impact

The Savvy Music TeacherThis book is a blueprint for earning a steady income as a music teacher. A comprehensive resource for music students, aspiring studio owners, career instructors, and more, The Savvy Music Teacher covers topics like: how to build a thriving studio with a transformative curriculum; multiple income/impact streams; innovation strategies for every aspect of business and art; powerhouse marketing; time management skills; as well as financial literacy and independence.

The Savvy Music Teacher: Blueprint for Maximizing Income & Impact, by David Cutler, Oxford University Press, www.oup.com.

Songs of the 2000s

Songs of the 2000s: 70 Songs with Online Audio Backing Tracks

Songs of the 2000sThis book from Hal Leonard’s New Decade Series provides a synopsis of iconic songs from 2000-2010 for piano, vocals, and guitar. Each volume in the series includes sheet music and audio that is accessed online for download or streaming. The 2000s features more than 70 influential hits, including: “Bad Day,” “Beautiful,” “Before He Cheats,” “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “Breakaway,” “Breathe,” “Chasing Cars,” “Chasing Pavements,” “The Climb,” “Clocks,” “Complicated,” “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me),” “Fireflies,” “Hey There Delilah,” “How to Save a Life,” “I Gotta Feeling,” “I’m Yours,” “Just Dance,” “Love Story,” “100 Years,” “Photograph,” “Rehab,” “Stacy’s Mom,” “A Thousand Miles,” “Umbrella,” “Unwritten,” “Viva La Vida,” “Waiting on the World to Change,” “With Arms Wide Open,” “You Raise Me Up,” “You’re Beautiful,” and more.

Songs of the 2000s: 70 Songs with Online Audio Backing Tracks, Hal Leonard Corporation, www.halleonard.com

The Musician Says

The Musician Says: Quotes, Quips, and Words of Wisdom

The Musician SaysThis collection of quotes from an eclectic group of revered musicians spanning centuries, genres, and continents, reminds us that the creative process bridges time and place, and that music is a universal language. Covering everything from the songwriting process to the excitement of a live performance, each pair of pages shows similar (or differing) opinions on various musical subjects. For example, Ani DiFranco of Local 1000 (Nongeographic) says, “You’ve got to ignore the facts to tell the truth,” while Paul Simon of Local 802 (New York City) says, “It’s very helpful to start with something that’s true. If you start with something false, you’re always covering your tracks.”

The Musician Says: Quote, Quips, and Words of Wisdom, compiled and edited by Benedetta LoBalbo, Princeton Architectural Press, www.papress.com

Crash Course in Scales

Crash Course in Scales

Crash Course in ScalesAn indispensable theory workbook for intermediate-level students, Crash Course in Scales will show you all you need to know about scales. It covers major scales; natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales; pentatonic scales; Gregorian modes, scales common to jazz and popular music; and synthetic scales (chromatic, whole tone, etc.). Concepts are explained in easy-to-understand language and performance excerpts. Written exercises and answer keys test your knowledge.

Crash Course in Scales, by Brent Edstrom, Hal Leonard Corporation, www.halleonard.com.

Polka Heartland

Polka Heartland: Why the Midwest Loves to Polka

Polka HeartlandPolka radio host and music historian Richard March unveils the fascinating history of polka in mid-America, from polka’s origins as a European fad to the modern polka scene, he explores the heart of Midwestern polka culture. The book’s descriptions and photos take you into Wisconsin wedding receptions, crowded festival dance tents, and off-the-grid Mexican dances. You will learn about the music, instruments, and musicians who have been pivotal to the genre’s popularity.

Polka Heartland: Why the Midwest Loves to Polka, by Dick Blau, Wisconsin Historical Society, www.wisconsinhistory.org.