The Usborne Book of Piano Classics (Learn to Play Series)

Rating:
Summary: It's for kids, but I like it too
Review: I'm thirty-something just learning piano. It's hard for an adult to learn. I ran across "Piano Classics" and thumbed through it, and I knew it'd be a nice way to learn some classic tunes while learning the keys, as there are very few 16th notes (or worse!) and very few stacked notes to fuss with in these arrangements. Plus I knew most of the songs.

This book is aimed at kids (so ignore the drawings), but I think any adult learning to play piano would like it as a way to get one's feet wet. You'll really like the smattering of tunes (there are over 80 in this book). And the fact that you'll have heard most of them makes them easier to pick up and play.

However these classical tunes have been tremendously altered for the book, so you're not going to get what Van Cliburn plays (not even close). But that's OK, as the idea behind this book is to introduce you to some classical tunes, explain some of the terms and give a little info about classical music, and get you to play the songs a little.

You won't learn how to play---you must be familiar with reading music on a basic level. This book gives you very basic but worthwhile material to play and master before moving on...

Rating:
Summary: It's for kids, but I like it too
Review: I'm thirty-something just learning piano. It's hard for an adult to learn. I ran across "Piano Classics" and thumbed through it, and I knew it'd be a nice way to learn some classic tunes while learning the keys, as there are very few 16th notes (or worse!) and very few stacked notes to fuss with in these arrangements. Plus I knew most of the songs.

This book is aimed at kids (so ignore the drawings), but I think any adult learning to play piano would like it as a way to get one's feet wet. You'll really like the smattering of tunes (there are over 80 in this book). And the fact that you'll have heard most of them makes them easier to pick up and play.

However these classical tunes have been tremendously altered for the book, so you're not going to get what Van Cliburn plays (not even close). But that's OK, as the idea behind this book is to introduce you to some classical tunes, explain some of the terms and give a little info about classical music, and get you to play the songs a little.

You won't learn how to play---you must be familiar with reading music on a basic level. This book gives you very basic but worthwhile material to play and master before moving on...