Rating: 
Summary: a great book for music teachers
Review: I use this book and cd for my junior high music classes. It introduces classical music in a humorous but educational way. It makes the subject of classical music more interesting and less intimidating. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Makes the inaccessible much more accessible.
Review: I was pleasantly surprised by this book. For instance, the authors were very successful in describing the history of classical music in 80 pages. That section is organized by composer, giving the reader a 2-3 page description of the life, work, and unique contributions of the major composers (e.g., Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, etc.) and a 1 page description of the less influential composers (e.g., Mahler, Sibelius, etc.) After reading that section of the book, I found that I'm familiar with 80-90% of the composers whose work is played on classical radio in our area (WNYC New York).The book also contains a CD which has some very well known pieces (e.g., excerpts from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony) and some less well known pieces. I thought the read-along descriptions of these pieces in the book were very well done and quite helpful in developing a good "ear" for classical music. The book could have been improved in at least one area. I thought the shameless hawking of the publisher's other related book "Opera For Dummies" was excessive - it seemed like every other page had some quip about why the reader should buy the other book. I kept asking myself, "Why did I pay $20-25 for this book and then have to endure commercials for other books on every other page????" Hopefully, this can be addressed in the next edition of the book. In general, this book is a great way for laypeople to improve their knowledge in this fascinating area quickly so that they can begin enjoying classical music to a greater extent.
Rating:
Summary: Just what I needed
Review: I've always liked listening to Classical Music but didn't know my Brahms from my Bach. I decided recently to try and learn more about this music. There are plenty of books that are hard to read and technical and then there's this book. This is a great crash course in classical music. Learn what all those Allegro con moto things mean. How many movements are there in a symphony, in a concerto?
The book contains a ton of short light biographies on composers along with nice recommendations. Besides that, the book comes with a CD with nine selections of classical music that are broken down moment by moment in the book. It was sheer joy learning how sophisticated and structured the music is. How themes are introduced and worked, how some works tell stories or represent storms, tranquil seasons or the struggles of heros!
If you know almost nothing about classical music and want a great introduction, this is the book. I read it cover to cover in a week and now I can't stay out of the library, I'm too busy listening to classical music with a much greater appreciation!!
Rating:
Summary: Just what I needed
Review: I've always liked listening to Classical Music but didn't know my Brahms from my Bach. I decided recently to try and learn more about this music. There are plenty of books that are hard to read and technical and then there's this book. This is a great crash course in classical music. Learn what all those Allegro con moto things mean. How many movements are there in a symphony, in a concerto?
The book contains a ton of short light biographies on composers along with nice recommendations. Besides that, the book comes with a CD with nine selections of classical music that are broken down moment by moment in the book. It was sheer joy learning how sophisticated and structured the music is. How themes are introduced and worked, how some works tell stories or represent storms, tranquil seasons or the struggles of heros!
If you know almost nothing about classical music and want a great introduction, this is the book. I read it cover to cover in a week and now I can't stay out of the library, I'm too busy listening to classical music with a much greater appreciation!!
Rating:
Summary: The book to read to understand and enjoy classical music!
Review: I've always loved all kinds of music but never really listened to or understood what's going on with classical music. This book was incredible. Just playing the CD that comes with the book and reading the section that walks you through each piece of music opened up a whole new world of music appreciation. With each piece they present possible interpretations of what the composer was actually trying to do/say. This combined with an explanation of the musical forms that they used make you realize that it's not just a random collection of musical phrases. There's very interesting things going on there! There's also a great history section covering all of the big names of classical music and there are plenty of musical recommendations to listen to throughout the book. This is just a great education in music (I've been a musician for 20 years and I still learned something!)
Rating:
Summary: A great text book for teaching music appreciation
Review: I've found the content of this book a great jumping off point for teaching music to Jr. and Sr. High kids. Also, when my teaching gets dull or dry, I pull out Classical Music for Dummies and add a lot of spice and interest to the class by reading from the book. It's usually good for a laugh, or a sudden look of "ah, I get it." (or "you're kidding me, aren't you?)
Rating:
Summary: Humorous and fun way to really learn about music
Review: If you like to have fun when you learn, this book is a home run. I studied a little music in college and this book covers all the essentials very well. Better yet, it does so with humor. This book is really fun! I am using this book to get my 12 and 14 year old sons to develop some appreciation of classical music. We read it together and listen to the cuts on the accompanying CD. The book clearly explains the different periods in music, e.g. baroque, classical, romatic, etc. With great humor, it introduces the reader to the great composers. Furthermore it makes musical forms and styles understandable such as "sonata form" in the symphonies and concertos of the classical period. if you want your kids to appreciate music, this is your best chance at successfully introducing them to it. You will really learn about music with this book and have a hoot doing it. I highly recommend this book.
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Summary: Dave 'N' Scott's Classical Music Intro-Rama
Review: In the school of the "--For Dummies" introductions to basically every topic in life, David Pogue is the class clown. I became acquainted with his breezy style in the "Macs for Dummies" series. Here he leaves the dry world of computers for the even drier world of classical music and succeeds in making it accessible and fun. Along with Scott Speck, he tackles topics like the entire history of music in 80 pages, how to upgrade your seat in a live concert for free, and why the shoes of brass players tend to stick to the stage. I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels there's more to classical music than the movie "Amadeus". The tone in "Classical Music for Dummies" is refreshingly irreverent. They even have a little "snob alert" icon to prepare you for the blusters of philharmonic poseurs. Be warned though that the constant stream of one-liners in the book tend to miss as often as hit. One other word of warning: forget the video portion of the attached CD-ROM. It's worthless and actually corrupted some of my computer files. Just listen to the CD through your stereo and follow along in Chapter 5 of the book. After reading the book and listening to the CD I'm fired up to broaden my classical music CD collection and attend more live symphonies - upgrading my seat for free, of course.
Rating:
Summary: Greatly Exceeded Expectations
Review: Like so many others, I too was reluctant to buy "for Dummies" books. I did on a lark to satisfy my periodic self-improvement yearnings and I am so glad I did. This is a not only informative, but a delightful read. I feel that every subject was covered an then some. I especially loved that the authors "earthed" the exalted subject of classical music. A must-have for anyone who wants to put the music in perspective.
Rating:
Summary: Unpacking Delightful World of Classical Music
Review: Many avenues of culture are closed deliberately to people by insiders who use the jargon of the trade with sophistication and snobbery to raise themselves above the poor unknowing multitudes who have not a clue what is being said. Here, authors do a credible and entertaining aid of unpacking the wonderful world of classical music. As one internet classical station puts it, "Classical music without the attitude." Here, although they do make light of it, it aids the uninformed what is at the heart of things classical. From different periods, to how to attend a concert, to beginning a CD collection, to understanding some theory, this is just excellent entrance. Especially fascinating are the peeks into this world, e.g. the audition of the flute players, divorced and their trials at securing a major symphony chair. The interactive materials with CD make their points well, and aid many in enjoying more fully this delightful world.
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