The Living Piano: A Complete Guide to Listening, Learning, and Playing

Separate spreads reveal how the piano is made and how it works, its geographic origins and history, and its place in the orchestra, creating the perfect introduction to this grand instrument and its alluring musical magic.

Grade 5-8. Each of these selections presents an overview of its subject, discussing the family of instruments to which it belongs, its history, how it is made, and how it is played. Also included are biographical sketches of classical composers who wrote music for the instrument, samples of their work on a CD, and a mention of great players of that particular instrument. Sidebars provide additional tidbits, such as how these instruments are used in types of music other than classical. The full-color photographs and reproductions, clean layout, and attractive design of these books are appealing. Unfortunately, the information about the instruments themselves is slight. Approximately half of each volume is taken up with the biographical sketches and the same material seems to be rewritten in different titles in the series. Piano, for example, states that "Ludwig Van Beethoven received his first keyboard lessons from his father." Clarinet's sketch of Beethoven begins with the same sentence, substituting the word "music" for "keyboard." While these sketches give some context for the music on the CDs, they are the least effective element of the series. The CDs are uniformly fine although the packaging is a little awkward. The titles are ultimately dogged by the question of audience?who will read these short, profusely illustrated but sophisticated books??Tim Wadham, Dallas Public Library, TX
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Music, music, music Adroitly uniting book and CD, Barrie Carson Turner's Living Music series introduces four instruments frequently played by school-age children; titles include The Living Piano; The Living Clarinet; The Living Flute; and The Living Violin. Each book provides background on the instrument's history and how it is made and played, biographies of 10 composers, a brief gallery of great musicians and an index. The accompanying full-length CD from EMI features the same composers, in the same order. The handsome design features plentiful color photographs and art reproductions inset into muted backgrounds of sheet music.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.