NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • David Byrne’s incisive and enthusiastic look at the musical art form, from its very inceptions to the influences that shape it, whether acoustical, economic, social, or technological—now updated with a new chapter on digital curation.“How Music Works is a buoyant hybrid of social history, anthropological survey, autobiography, personal philosophy, and business manual”—The Boston GlobeUtilizing his incomparable career and inspired collaborations with Talking Heads, Brian Eno, and many others, David Byrne taps deeply into his lifetime of knowledge to explore the panoptic elements of music, how it shapes the human experience, and reveals the impetus behind how we create, consume, distribute, and enjoy the songs, symphonies, and rhythms that provide the backbeat of life. Byrne’s magnum opus uncovers thrilling realizations about the redemptive liberation that music brings us all. Read more

NATIONAL BESTSELLER One of Smithsonian's 10 Best Science Books of 2024 Neuroscientist and New York Times best-selling author of This Is Your Brain on Music Daniel J. Levitin reveals the deep connections between music and healing.Music is one of humanity’s oldest medicines. From the Far East to the Ottoman Empire, Europe to Africa and the pre-colonial Americas, many cultures have developed their own rich traditions for using sound and rhythm to ease suffering, promote healing, and calm the mind.In his latest work, neuroscientist and New York Times best-selling author Daniel J. Levitin (This Is Your Brain on Music) explores the curative powers of music, showing us how and why it is one of the most potent therapies today. He brings together, for the first time, the results of numerous studies on music and the brain, demonstrating how music can contribute to the treatment of a host of ailments, from neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, to cognitive injury, depression, and pain.Levitin is not your typical scientist―he is also an award-winning musician and composer, and through lively interviews with some of today’s most celebrated musicians, from Sting to Kent Nagano and Mari Kodama, he shares their observations as to why music might be an effective therapy, in addition to plumbing scientific case studies, music theory, and music history. The result is a work of dazzling ideas, cutting-edge research, and jubilant celebration. I Heard There Was a Secret Chord highlights the critical role music has played in human biology, illuminating the neuroscience of music and its profound benefits for those both young and old. 40 line drawings Read more

"Boy, do I have a lot to learn!" Anyone who's ever picked up a musical instrument of any kind-from the first caveman banging rocks to that little kid at the guitar shop-has though that. I know I did. I'd been trying for years to break in to the music scene, to show everyone my chops, to make my mark. And I was good. But I wasn't great. I knew that there was something wrong. Then the teacher showed up. I didn't ask for him. I didn't think I needed him. And all he said he could teach me was "nothing." What happened next, you may not believe...I sure didn't...but that didn't stop him. The Music Lesson is the inspiring story of a young bass player and the lessons he learns about Life, Music, and the Life of Music. Throughout this audiobook is new, original music written by Victor Wooten and a bonus performance by the original supergroup Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Read more

Lesson Book 1 is pre-reading. Concepts taught are: How to sit at the piano; Correct hand position; High and low; Loud and soft (forte and piano); Keyboard topography; Bar line and measure, Quarter, half, whole notes and rests; and Repeat signs. The first pieces in the book are played on the black keys. Later in the book, C D E for the RH and C B A for the LH (Middle C position) are taught with letter notes (the name of the note is written inside the note head). The Music Workbook contains pages of coloring, tracing, matching, ear training and listening that have been carefully designed to reinforce the musical concepts introduced in the Music Lesson Book 1. In full color, 48 pages. Read more

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • With the same trademark compassion and erudition he brought to The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Oliver Sacks explores the place music occupies in the brain and how it affects the human condition.“Powerful and compassionate. . . . A book that not only contributes to our understanding of the elusive magic of music but also illuminates the strange workings, and misfirings, of the human mind.” —The New York Times In Musicophilia, he shows us a variety of what he calls “musical misalignments.” Among them: a man struck by lightning who suddenly desires to become a pianist at the age of forty-two; an entire group of children with Williams syndrome, who are hypermusical from birth; people with “amusia,” to whom a symphony sounds like the clattering of pots and pans; and a man whose memory spans only seven seconds-for everything but music. Illuminating, inspiring, and utterly unforgettable. Read more

On the eve of his fortieth birthday, a professor of no discernible musical talent learns to play the guitar and investigates how anyone of any age might master a new skill.Just about every human being knows how to listen to music, but what does it take to make music? Is musicality something we are born with? Or a skill that anyone can develop at any time? If you don't start piano at the age of six, is there any hope? Is skill learning best left to children or can anyone reinvent him-or herself at any time?On the eve of his fortieth birthday, Gary Marcus, an internationally renowned scientist with no discernible musical talent, becomes his own guinea pig to look at how human beings become musical- and how anyone of any age can master something new. Guitar Zero traces his journey, what he learned, and how you can learn, too. In addition to being a groundbreaking look at the origins and allure of music, Marcus's journey is also an empowering tale of the mind's plasticity.In a quest that takes him from Suzuki classes to guitar gods, Marcus investigates the most effective ways to train your brain and body to learn to play an instrument. How can you make your practice more deliberate and effective? How can you find the best music teacher for you or your child? Does talent really exist? Or is hard work all you need?Guitar Zero stands the science of music on its head, debunking the popular theory of an innate musical instinct and many other commonly held fallacies. At the same time, it raises new questions about the science of human pleasure and brings new insight into humankind's most basic question: what counts as a life well lived? Does one have to become the next Jimi Hendrix to make a passionate pursuit worthwhile? Or can the journey itself bring the brain lasting satisfaction?For those who have ever set out to learn a musical instrument-or wishes that they could- Guitar Zero is an inspiring and fascinating look at music, learning, and the pursuit of a well-lived life. Read more

One of the Next Big Idea Club's Favorite Nonfiction Books A Behavioral Scientist Notable Book of 2022 A legendary record producer–turned–brain scientist explains why you fall in love with music.This Is What It Sounds Like is a journey into the science and soul of music that reveals the secrets of why your favorite songs move you. But it’s also a story of a musical trailblazer who began as a humble audio tech in Los Angeles, rose to become Prince’s chief engineer for Purple Rain, and then created other No. 1 hits ,including Barenaked Ladies' "One Week," as one of the most successful female record producers of all time.Now an award-winning professor of cognitive neuroscience, Susan Rogers leads readers to musical self-awareness. She explains that we each possess a unique “listener profile” based on our brain’s natural response to seven key dimensions of any song. Are you someone who prefers lyrics or melody? Do you like music “above the neck” (intellectually stimulating), or “below the neck” (instinctual and rhythmic)? Whether your taste is esoteric or mainstream, Rogers guides readers to recognize their musical personality, and offers language to describe one's own unique taste. Like most of us, Rogers is not a musician, but she shows that all of us can be musical―simply by being an active, passionate listener.While exploring the science of music and the brain, Rogers also takes us behind the scenes of record-making, using her insider’s ear to illuminate the music of Prince, Frank Sinatra, Kanye West, Lana Del Rey, and many others. She shares records that changed her life, contrasts them with those that appeal to her coauthor and students, and encourages you to think about the records that define your own identity.Told in a lively and inclusive style, This Is What It Sounds Like will refresh your playlists, deepen your connection to your favorite artists, and change the way you listen to music. 3 black-and-white photographs; 7 infographics; 2 illustrations Read more

A "radiantly accomplished" music scholar presents an accessible introduction to the art of listening to jazz (Wall Street Journal)In How to Listen to Jazz, award-winning music scholar Ted Gioia presents a lively introduction to one of America's premier art forms. He tells us what to listen for in a performance and includes a guide to today's leading jazz musicians. From Louis Armstrong's innovative sounds to the jazz-rock fusion of Miles Davis, Gioia covers the music's history and reveals the building blocks of improvisation. A true love letter to jazz by a foremost expert, How to Listen to Jazz is a must-read for anyone who's ever wanted to understand and better appreciate America's greatest contribution to music."Mr. Gioia could not have done a better job. Through him, jazz might even find new devotees." -- Economist  Read more

“Year of Wonder is an absolute treat—the most enlightening way to be guided through the year.” —Eddie RedmayneA unique celebration of classical music that showcases one inspirational piece each day of the year, written by an award-winning violinist and BBC Radio personalityClassical music has a reputation for being stuffy, boring, and largely inaccessible, but Burton-Hill is here to change that. An award-winning writer, broadcaster and musician, with a deep love of the art form she wants everyone to feel welcome at the classical party, and her desire to share her passion for its diverse wonders inspired this unique, enlightening, and expertly curated treasury. As she says, “The only requirements for enjoying classical music are open ears and an open mind.” Year of Wonder introduces readers to one piece of music each day of the year, artfully selected from across genres, time periods, and composers. Burton-Hill offers short introductions to contextualize each piece, and makes the music come alive in modern and playful ways. From Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and Puccini to George Gershwin, Clara Schumann, Philip Glass, Duke Ellington, and many remarkable yet often-overlooked voices, Burton-Hill takes us on a dazzling journey through our most treasured musical landscape. Thoughtfully curated and masterfully researched, Year of Wonder is a book of classical music for everyone. Whether you’re a newcomer or an aficionado, Burton-Hill’s celebration will inspire, nourish, and enrich your life in unexpected ways. Read more

Rolling Stone Magazine recommends Guitar Book for Adult Beginners as the best beginner guitar instruction book. This book and streaming video course is all that you will ever need for getting started playing the most famous and cherished guitar songs!Music Professor Damon Ferrante guides you through how to play the guitar with step-by-step lessons for adult beginners and streaming video lessons. Based on over twenty-five years of guitar-teaching experience, Damon Ferrante's best-selling guitar books are used by hundreds of thousands of guitar students and teachers. This easy-to-follow method is designed to be interactive, engaging, and fun.No music reading is required!The lessons will expand your song repertoire and improve your guitar technique, creativity, and understanding of music. Whether you are teaching yourself guitar or learning with a music instructor, this book and streaming video course will take your guitar playing to a whole new level!Ask yourself this:1. Have you always wanted to learn how to play famous guitar songs, but did not know where to start?2. Did you start guitar lessons once and give up because the lessons were too difficult?3. Are you struggling to follow online guitar lessons that seem to jump all over the place without any sense of direction or consistency?4. Would you like to expand your musical understanding and learn how to play the guitar through an affordable, step-by-step book and video course?If your answer to any of the these questions is yes, then this beginner guitar book and video course is definitely for you!Here are some of the famous song are covered in this book and streaming video course:* Amazing Grace* House of the Rising Sun* Scarborough Fair* Shenandoah* Happy Birthday* Kum-Bah-Yah* Jingle Bells* Home on the Range* This Little Light of Mine* Take Me Out to the Ballgame* Red River Valley* Silent Night* When the Saints Go Marching In* Greensleeves* Aura Lee* And Many More Great Songs! Read more

Major and minor scales are the foundation of the piano, and so is “Major Minor Scales” an essential to have in your repertoire. With this guide, you will master those scales, and well-presented visual layouts guarantee your progress.The confidence you gain will show on the keys.This New Second Edition is based on reader feedback for your best learning experience and includes:Improved layout for easy centerfold reading and better readabilityClearly labeled scale names for all scales and chordsExpanded Circle of Fifths with vibrant colors and large A4 format.Key Features:🎵 Clear Instructions: Key signatures and finger positions with easy-to-follow illustrations.🎵 User-Friendly Layout: Three-step guide for playing scales and mastering keys.🎵 Complete Key Signatures: Circle of Fifths for navigating different musical keys.🎵 Chords & Inversions: Learn essential chords and progressions.🎵 Relative Keys: Easily switch between major and minor scales.Master natural key signatures, understand relative keys, and unlock chord secrets.Become great at the piano! Order your copy today! Read more

An exploration into the question of greatness from the chief classical music critic of the New York Times.When he began to listen to the great works of classical music as a child, Anthony Tommasini had many questions. Why did a particular piece move him? How did the music work? Over time, he realized his passion for this music was not enough. He needed to understand it. Take Bach, for starters. Who was he? How does one account for his music and its unshakable hold on us today? As a critic, Tommasini has devoted particular attention to living composers and overlooked repertory. But, like all classical music lovers, the canon has remained central for him. In 2011, in his role as the chief classical music critic for the New York Times, he wrote a popular series in which he somewhat cheekily set out to determine the all-time top 10 composers. Inviting input from readers, Tommasini wrestled with questions of greatness. Readers joined the exercise in droves. Some railed against classical music’s obsession with greatness but then raged when Mahler was left off the final list. This intellectual game reminded them why they loved music in the first place. Now, in The Indispensable Composers, Tommasini offers his own personal guide to the canon - and what greatness really means in classical music. What does it mean to be canonical now? Who gets to say? And do we have enough perspective on the 20th century to even begin assessing it? To make his case, Tommasini draws on elements of biography, the anxiety of influence, the composer's relationships with colleagues, and shifting attitudes toward a composer's work over time. Because he has spent his life contemplating these titans, Tommasini shares impressions from performances he has heard or given or moments when his own biography proves revealing. As he argues for his particular pantheon of indispensable composers, Anthony Tommasini provides a masterclass in what to listen for and how to understand what music does to us. Read more

Why do you need to practice "Scales"?Piano scales are an important part of developing your playing skills, they greatly help you improve your awareness of tones and your knowledge of all the keys. Plus, they help you develop fast, nimble fingers and teach you how to move your thumb efficiently, which is the foundation of all piano playing.Practicing scales will improve your technique and fingering as well as give your hands muscle memory. The more you practice, the less you will need to think about your hands.Major and Minor scales, including enharmonic scales C major and A minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionG major and E minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionF major and D minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionD major and B minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionBb major and G minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionA major and F# minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionEb major and C minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionE major and C# minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionAb major and F minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionB major and G# minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionDb major and Bb minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionF# major and D# minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionGb major and Eb minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionC# major and A# minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionCb major and Ab minor: Right hand, Left hand, Contrary Motion, Parallel MotionHow Long Does It Take To Learn Scales On Piano?Age Practice Time 4-5 10 minutes per day; 2-3 minutes on short scales7-10 30 minutes per day; 5-10 minutes on scalesOver 10 or intermediate level 45 minutes to 1 hour per day; 10-20 minutes spent on scalesHigh School and above 45 minutes to 1 hour per day; 15-20 minutes spent on scalesNot only will this book help you develop coordination between your hands, but it will also develop finger strength, a strong sense of rhythm, clarity, and speed, which are all important for playing the piano. Read more

Flash Cards reinforce concepts as they are presented in the Music Lesson Book 1. Each card contains a musical symbol or rhythm pattern for the student to identify. Included on the cards are musical terms, keys on the keyboard, notes and rests, rhythm patterns, notes on the staff, steps and skips, intervals on the keyboard, and melodic and harmonic intervals on the staff. The back of the cards contain questions to ask the student about the information on the front of the card. Answers are provided, making the cards easy to use for parents with limited musical backgrounds. Read more

An outstanding compilation of piano etudes and exercises from the ever-popular Bürgmuller's 25 Progressive Pieces, Opus 100, Czerny's Practical Method for Beginners on the Piano, Opus 599, and Hanon's The Virtuoso Pianist. Etudes are organized into four units according to difficulty and emphasize different aspects of technique and musicianship. Hanon exercises are included within each unit to reinforce the need for finger strength, independence and agility. Information about each composer's life, music and books is also provided. Read more

Classical music was never meant to be an art for snobs!In the 1700s and 1800s, classical music was popular music. People went to concerts with their friends, they brought snacks and drinks, and cheered right in the middle of the concert. Well, guess what? Three hundred years later, that music is just as catchy, thrilling, and emotional. From Bach to Mozart and Chopin, history's greatest composers have stood the test of time and continue to delight listeners from all walks of life. And in Classical Music For Dummies, you'll dive deeply into some of the greatest pieces of music ever written. You'll also get: A second-by-second listening guide to some of history's greatest pieces, annotated with time codesA classical music timeline, a field guide to the orchestra, and listening suggestions for your next foray into the classical genreExpanded references so you can continue your studies with recommended resourcesBonus online material, like videos and audio tracks, to help you better understand concepts from the bookClassical Music For Dummies is perfect for anyone who loves music. It's also a funny, authoritative guide to expanding your musical horizons―and to learning how the world's greatest composers laid the groundwork for every piece of music written since. Read more

Unleash the song of your soul with Zen Guitar, a contemplative handbook that draws on ancient Eastern wisdom and applies it to music and performance.Each of us carries a song inside us, the song that makes us human. Zen Guitar provides the key to unlocking this song—a series of life lessons presented through the metaphor of music. Philip Sudo offers his own experiences with music to enable us to rediscover the harmony in each of our lives and open ourselves to Zen awareness uniquely suited to the Western Mind. Through fifty-eight lessons that provide focus and a guide, the reader is led through to Zen awareness. This harmony is further illuminated through quotes from sources ranging from Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix to Miles Davis. From those who have never strummed a guitar to the more experienced, Zen Guitar shows how the path of music offers fulfillment in all aspects of life—a winning idea and an instant classic. Read more

With more than 60 essential solo piano masterworks in their original form, this book guarantees a lifetime of exploration and challenge at the keys. Titles: The Avalance, Op. 45, No. 2 (Heller) * Bagatelle, Op. 5, No. 10 (Tcherepnin) * Ballade, Op. 100, No. 15 (Burgmüller) * Bear Dance (Bartók) * Clair de lune, from Suite bergamasque (Debussy) * Consolation, Op. 30, No. 3, from Song without Words (Mendelssohn) * The Easy Winners (Joplin) * Elfin Dance, Op. 12, No. 4 (Grieg) * The Entertainer (Joplin) * Fantasy in D Minor, K. 397 (Mozart) * First Arabesque (Debussy) * First Gymnopédie (Satie) * Fughetta (Zipoli) * Für Elise, WoO 59 (Beethoven) * A Giddy Girl, from Histoires (Ibert) * Golliwog's Cakewalk, from Children's Corner (Debussy) * Grillen, Op. 12, No. 4, from Fantasiestücke (Schumann) * Impromptu in A-flat Major, Op. 142, No. 2 (Schubert) * Invention No. 8 in F Major, BWV 779 (Bach) * Invention No. 13 in A Minor, BWV 714 (Bach) * Invention No. 14 in B-Flat Major, BWV 785 (Bach) * Knecht Ruprecht, Op. 68, No. 12, from Album for the Young (Schumann) * Le Coucou (The Cuckoo) (Dacquin) * Le fille aux cheveux de lin, from Preludes, Book 1 (Debussy) * Le petit nègre (Debussy) * The Little White Donkey, from Histoires (Ibert) * Maple Leaf Rag (Joplin) * Menuet in G Major, WoO 10, No. 2 (Beethoven) * Minuet in G Major, Op. 14, No. 1 (Paderewski) * Moments musicaux, Op. 94, No. 3 (Schubert) * Nocturne in B-flat Major (Field) * Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2 (Chopin) * Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1 (Chopin) * Notturno, Op. 52, No. 4 (Grieg) * O Polichinelo, from The Baby's Family, Book 1 (Villa-Lobos) * Prelude in A Major, Op. 28, No. 7 (Chopin) * Prelude in C Major, BWV 846, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 (Bach) * Prelude in C Minor, Op. 28, No. 20 (Chopin) * Prelude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 3, No. 2 (Rachmaninoff) * Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28, No. 4 (Chopin) * Puck, Op. 71, No. 3 (Grieg) * Remando (Nazareth) * Romance, Op. 24, No. 9 (Sibelius) * Rustles of Spring, Op. 32, No. 3 (Sinding) * Sarabande, from Suite No. 4 in D Minor (Handel) * Solfeggio in C Minor (C. P. E. Bach) * Sonata in A Major, K. 331, from Rondo Alla Turca (Movement 3) (Mozart) * Sonata in A Major, Op. 120 (Movement 1) (Schubert) * Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI/35 (Movement 1) (Haydn) * Sonata in C Major, K. 545 (Movement 1) (Mozart) * Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVI/37 (Movement 1) (Haydn) * Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, from Pathétique (Movement 2) (Beethoven) * Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight) (Beethoven) * Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36, No. 1 (Clementi) * Sonatina in C Major, Op. 55, No. 3 (Kuhlau) * Spanish Dance, Op. 12, No. 1 (Moszkowski) * Spanish Dance, Op. 5, No. 5 (Granados) * Spinning Song, Op. 14, No. 4 (Ellmenreich) * Tango in D Major, Op. 165, No. 2, from Suite España (Albéniz) * To a Wild Rose, Op. 51, No. 1, from Woodland Sketches (MacDowell) * Toccata in A Major (Paradisi) * Träumerei, Op. 15, No. 7, from Scenes from Childhood (Schumann) * Twelfth Street Rag (Bowman) * Venetian Boat Song, Op. 19, No. 6 (Mendelssohn) * Venetian Boat Song, Op. 30, No. 6 (Mendelssohn) * Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 39, No. 15 (Brahms) * Waltz in D-flat Major, Op. 64, No. 1 (Chopin) * Waltz in E Major, Op. 39, No. 2 (Brahms). Read more

The author of the New York Times bestseller This Is Your Brain on Music reveals music’s role in the evolution of human culture in this thought-provoking book that “will leave you awestruck” (The New York Times).Daniel J. Levitin's astounding debut bestseller, This Is Your Brain on Music, enthralled and delighted readers as it transformed our understanding of how music gets in our heads and stays there. Now in his second New York Times bestseller, his genius for combining science and art reveals how music shaped humanity across cultures and throughout history.Here he identifies six fundamental song functions or types—friendship, joy, comfort, religion, knowledge, and love—then shows how each in its own way has enabled the social bonding necessary for human culture and society to evolve. He shows, in effect, how these “six songs” work in our brains to preserve the emotional history of our lives and species.Dr. Levitin combines cutting-edge scientific research from his music cognition lab at McGill University and work in an array of related fields; his own sometimes hilarious experiences in the music business; and illuminating interviews with musicians such as Sting and David Byrne, as well as conductors, anthropologists, and evolutionary biologists. The World in Six Songs is, ultimately, a revolution in our understanding of how human nature evolved—right up to the iPod. Read more

Autistic people and musical individuals often have perfect pitch, a gift they were born with. The musical gift may be accompanied with learning differences such as reading comprehension problems, trouble with mathematics, and significant difficulties in learning how to read music. This book was written by a music therapist and an autistic researcher, and is endorsed by leading experts in the field of autism and special-needs education. The Rancer Method is presented as page-by-page instructions to be implemented with readily-available method books so that every piano teacher can follow it and do well by their students. "By focusing on the abilities rather than the deficits of people with learning, perceptual, motor, and other differences, Kupferstein and Rancer have developed a revolutionary piano pedagogy that will empower individuals with autism and other differences by unleashing the power of what can be done."Stephen M. Shore, Ed.D.Internationally known professor, consultant, speaker, and author on issues related to the autism spectrum and special education. Person on the autism spectrump>"This book will help the quirky kid who is different to be successful in music. This method may help open musical doors for many individuals on the autism spectrum."Temple Grandin, authorThinking in Pictures and The Autistic Brain. Read more