The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jazz

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jazz
Author: Alan Axelrod
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 130
Release: 1999
Genre: Music
ISBN: 9780028627311

Traces the origins and history of jazz, its major artists, and its stylistic varieties, and offers suggestions for assembling a recording collection

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music History

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music History
Author: Michael Miller
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 340
Release: 2008-07-01
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1440636370

A beautifully composed journey through music history! Music history is a required course for all music students. Unfortunately, the typical music history book is dry and academic, focusing on rote memorization of important composers and works. This leads many to think that the topic is boring, but bestselling author Michael Miller proves that isn’t so. This guide makes music history interesting and fun, for both music students and older music lovers. • Covers more than Western “classical” music—also includes non-Western music and uniquely American forms such as jazz • More than just names and dates—puts musical developments in context with key historical events

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Conducting Music

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Conducting Music
Author: Michael Miller
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 277
Release: 2012-06-05
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1101588756

The complex art of conducting may look effortless to the casual onlooker, however, it requires a great deal of knowledge and skill. The success of a performance hinges on the director's ability to keep the group playing together and interpreting the music as the composer intended. The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Conducting Music shows student and novice conductors how to lead bands, orchestras, choirs, and other ensembles effectively through sight-reading, rehearsals, and performances.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Home Recording Illustrated

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Home Recording Illustrated
Author: Clayton Walnum
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 244
Release: 2003
Genre: Music
ISBN: 9781592571222

In this book you get: a practical explanation of how a multitrack recorder is used to separate vocals and instrumentation ; techniques for fixing a less than stellar performance without completely re-recording the track ; handy forms and documents used to maintain a log of the recording process ; and inspiring ideas for incorporating drum machines, loops, and such effects as reverb and echo to enhance your recording.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Piano

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Piano
Author: Brad Hill
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 286
Release: 2002
Genre: Music
ISBN: 0028641558

Presents basic lessons in reading music notation, advice on how to select an instrument, and details how to find your way around the keyboard.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Fiddle

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Fiddle
Author: Ellery Klein
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 292
Release: 2008
Genre: Music
ISBN: 9781592577682

A guide to playing the fiddle offers advice on choosing an instrument and accessories, offers step-by-step instructions on the techniques of fiddling, and includes fingerboard charts and practice tunes.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Drums

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Drums
Author: Michael Miller
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 316
Release: 2003
Genre: Drum
ISBN: 9781592571628

Covers the history of drumming, different drum types, how to care for them, and basic skills and tips for playing different types of music.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory
Author: Michael Miller
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 340
Release: 2005
Genre: Music
ISBN: 9781592574377

Published in 1992, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theoryhas proven itself as one of Alpha's best-selling books and perhaps the best-selling trade music theory book ever published. In the new updated and expanded second edition, the book includes a special CD and book section on ear training. The hour-long ear-training course reinforces the basic content of the book with musical examples of intervals, scales, chords, and rhythms. Also provided are aural exercises students can use to test their ear training and transcription skills. The CD is accompanied by a 20-page section of exercises and examples.