Rating: 
Summary: Ironic title, but a good read
Review: The irony of "Piano Lessons" is that it's not about taking piano lessons at all, at least not weekly piano lessons with a teacher, and so you might read this book as a primer on how NOT to learn to play the piano. That said, I enjoyed this book and found it to be a lovely meditation on the beauty of the piano and the difficulty of fitting an amateur passion into a busy, career-laden schedule. I thought to myself that if a fine writer and talented journalist such as Adams could take such a weird approach to learning to play - erratically using music software and turning his back on his lovely new Steinway! -- then I shouldn't be afraid to try. It's been a year since I read "Piano Lessons," and I now own a piano, am six months into weekly piano lessons and am at the skill level where I could play "Traumeri" (although I haven't tried to do so). "Piano Lessons" helped kick-start my own musical adventure. How's it going with you, Noah?
Rating: 
Summary: A treat for new students of music and other readers
Review: The reader learns about Noah Adams of National Public Radio, starting and sticking with a musical instrument as an adult, and more in a thoroughly enjoyable, short book.I was pleased and a bit disappointed when I finished "Piano Lessons." I was glad to have heard Adams' story and sorry that I could not return to hear more. (Adams does recommend books by other authors.)One reason I chose to read his book now: I recently began learning to play nylon-stringed guitar -- my first instrument (if you don't count "song flute" in elementary school and a pass at a desktop keyboard as an adult). My age: 49. My musical talent: none
Rating:
Summary: Wish I had the Steinway that inspired the book.
Review: This book is about Noah Adams' decision to purchase a Steinway and learn to play. This is not a how-to book, but it will provide inspiration to the adult beginner, and it will give you ideas and insight on certain pieces. After reading this book, I went out & got the sheet music for Robert Schumann's Traumerei, which Adams describes lovingly in the introduction (and refers to later in the text). Adams' writing resonates with a love of music, a love of the piano, and an emotional investment in learning to play. The book contains anecdotes about his adventures at piano camp in Vermont as well as tidbits about classical composers and music. It's an uplifting read for a music lover, particularly one who dabbles in classical numbers (although it might be too light & fluffy for a serious, well-trained & educated musician -- not falling into that category, I'm not sure).
Rating: 
Summary: A feel good book
Review: This book is amusing and pleasant. It has nice anecdotes, musical information, names are dropped and a good inspirational message about going after a midlife dream. The 2 stars are for that. Have time on a bus, train or plane? Bring this along its not a bad read. But if you already play the piano and are at home you're better off practicing. If you don't play and want to, well what are you waiting for? Get the inpsiration from the music you love and get a good teacher. As someone else wrote, it's hilarious that Noah would spend $11 grand on a piano and not get a good teacher. I mean with all his connections? If you are thinking of starting, a good teacher is well worth the money, it will get you going faster and you will feel more committed. Spend less on the piano if you have to. A lot of Noah's frustrations in learning could have been made easier with a teacher, but I guess then he wouldn't have written this book. He would have been too busy practicing. But maybe his real midlife dream was this book? When all is said and done, if someone other than a person with a bit of celebrity status, such as Noah, had written this book who would care? You might get better inspiration by learning about the music you love and following your own path.
Rating:
Summary: Good book.
Review: This book stirs one to action. As soon as I finished it I wrote a little song for my Border Collie
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written and truly inspirational
Review: This book was beautifully written and very sincere; I found it not only inspirational to beginner pianists but a wonderful reminder of how much of a priveledge it is to be able to play an instrument that many take so for granted. It gave me a new lease on my own attitude.
Rating:
Summary: Just like All Things Considered
Review: This story could be read in installments on public radio. It's about 10% piano, 90& human interest, telling the stories of a couple dozen characters encountered during a year as a beginning piano student. There's the computer course, the week long piano camp, the lessons from the Mountain Man and the Socialite, interwoven with anecdotes of Glenn Gould, Robert Schumann and other notables. All told with a low-key humor and carefully written to keep the reader interested through to the nice O. Henry-worthy ending.
Rating:
Summary: Pleasant read for anyone returning to piano lessons
Review: This was a very pleasant and quick read -- and it made me want to rush out to the music store to pick up a copy of Traumerei. The author's comments on attending music camp in Vermont and on purchasing a Steinway were particularly enlightening. Good read for anyone who has been away from music for a while and would like to become more musical. Adams reminded me of why I want to play the piano.
Rating:
Summary: Deeply disappointing and somewhat depressing
Review: Well written, pleasant, and nicely paced but I finished this book deeply disappointed and somewhat depressed. I had expected to be inspired by descriptions of the author's dedication and perseverance, his struggle to balance the demands of his dream with those of his personal and work lives, but instead I gradually became depressed by his instant gratification approach to fulfilling his dream - the discarded computerized teaching aid, the pre-paid but forgotten seminar, the half-hearted participation at 'piano camp', and the endless interviews with accomplished musicians (interesting on their own but most of those interviewed had started playing their instruments as children so what relevant experience could they draw on in order to offer useful advice to a middle-aged novice?). At the very end of the book the author at long last commits to master a very challenging piece but the hard work and the difficulties overcome (the essence of this commitment and, surely, the intention of the book) are glossed over by the trivial details of his Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday preparations. I can't recommend this book - it just doesn't deliver.
Rating:
Summary: Piano Dreams
Review: What a wonderful, uplifting, book! Having begun playing the piano again after nearly 40 years away from it, I found myself enjoying Noah Adams descriptions of his joys and frustrations, exhaulting in his successes, and actually learning a few things to boot. A number of people ranted about the fact that Adams spent 11K on a piano. Having diddled around on a number of pianos before purchasing a used Yamaha upright, I can attest to the fact that there are pianos that can not only make even badly played music sound good but seem to call out to you when you touch them. Adams was in the fortunate position of being able to afford a piano that "spoke" to him, despite his somewhat unorthodox method of learning to play it. For an entertaining, enjoyable read, I definitely recommend Piano Lessons.
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