How to Play the Piano Despite Years of Lessons: What Music Is and How to Make It at Home. Rev. Ed.

I have had this book for a year or so, and only started working through it about a month ago. I have had books before which claim to teach you to play by ear,improvise etc but which turn out to be very complicated, so I approached it somewhat cynically. However, this one is simple, and it actually works. I did my grade 8 piano and music A level 20 years ago so am a reasonable pianist but have always been totally tied to the piece of music in front of me. After a month of starting this book my ability to play by ear and make my own accompaniments has improved more than I ever dreamed possible, and I am only on chapter 15 of 37. I do have some musical background so I more or less skimmed through the first 5 or 6 chapters, but I think it would work for you if you had no musical background at all.

hmmm same book as other reviews?? (5/6 people found this helpful)

The principle of this book is to play a tune with the chord names and just the melody,which does work..

Butttttttt the examples that stress the principles are very vague and sometimes in unusual keys,surely using C would of been better at first.The writing is very dumbed down "I'm ur buddy" style

The formula is play the melody a octave higher then written with the right hand,and with the left hand a chord around Middle C and the root in low bass..
To alternate low bass root with a chord around the middle C with the same hand is not easy,its a wide stretch so you have to move your hand not stretch,so to do it with rhythm hard,but to do it with just the vague advice use the root really low?? how low ?how many times? Do you still use the root in the middle chord etc etc..

Surely it would of been clearer to write out 3 or 4 songs with full examples to nail the principles ,not just say heres some melody lines and chords and try and replicate are first example..Sure some people can do this, but others need confidences and a helping hand not vague "I'm ur buddy u can do this" prompts

Superb (56/57 people found this helpful)

I am a professional pianist, more or less self-taught, and I first found this book in the Miami public library in 1984 or thereabouts when I was playing piano on cruise ships. I have bought two copies since, one of which went to a girlfriend. It teaches you the structure of music, the real stuff you need to know. And it's written with great charm and humour. Don't be misled, it'll teach you far more about piano playing than many music teachers. And at about quarter the price of one lesson. I love this book.

fantastic (40/40 people found this helpful)

This is a great book for learning to play the piano. It teaches about how music works and uses that as the driving force. The pace of the book is fast, you need to practice at each page otherwise you'll be floundering. So why 4 stars only? The problem that I had with this book is that it lacks enough complete pieces of music to allow you to practice effectively. You will need to a buy a book with easy piano scores in it to play. This books is best thought of as your teacher.

Just what the title says! (24/26 people found this helpful)

Except for the error about the origins of the musical scale in the opening chapter, this book keeps the promise made in the title. It is a genuinely practical book that can help you get into the music.

How to Play the Piano Despite Years of Lessons: What Music Is and How to Make It at Home. Rev. Ed.

Ward Cannel

Reader Reviews:

A revelation (4/4 people found this helpful)

hmmm same book as other reviews?? (5/6 people found this helpful)

Superb (56/57 people found this helpful)

fantastic (40/40 people found this helpful)

Just what the title says! (24/26 people found this helpful)

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