Piano for Dummies by Blake Neely
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Book Reviews of Piano for Dummies
Book Review: Look elsewhere.
Summary: 2 Stars
Even though the book does embody several hints on playing the piano, two stars are still generous. The book lacks coherency and is a mind-dulling read at best. Constant attempts at humor make for twitching and disgust. It is hard to stay focused and interested in this book, no matter how ambitious the pianist. There are other great books out there that demonstrate the piano beautifully and that have a much stronger appeal. My recommendation is to keep looking and don't stop here.Book Review: really for dummies...
Summary: 2 Stars
It was my first "for dummies" book and most probably the last. The book is big and empty; the author should have used at most 50 pages. The CD contains short musical clips that you've probably heard before or you can download for free. I gave it two stars because the book actually helps a small tiny bit contrary to its size.
I recommend instead "Alfred's Group Piano for Adults" it's much better but I'm not sure if it's the best one out there.
Book Review: Helped Very Little
Summary: 2 Stars
I was expecting this book to help my playing,But it helped very little. It seemed like I was reading more than even touching the piano. The book is a ok referance book, but didn't explain some of the important things in enough detail. So it really wasn't what I was looking for in a self-teaching book.Book Review: Define "Dummy"....
Summary: 1 Stars
As a stone cold adult beginner, I thought why not go for the book that sounded as if it was for a stone cold beginner - "Piano For Dummies"?
Well, I certainly am a 'dummy' - shelling out over $20 for this discouraging pap is the dumbest thing I've done in years.
I wrestled with it for quite a few weeks - trying to eke out hard information between the stupid humour and piano facts that I never asked for in the first place, dumb drawings and unhelpful layout. Then I called for a professional, feeling really discouraged. This book doesn't really even let you know at what point you might sit behind a piano and actually try playing? It's that bad.
So I booked myself in with a professional piano teacher who within minutes made me realise it was the book and not me. I showed her the book which she referred to as "dreadful and patronising". She won't even allow me to have it back!
She then handed me these two which are ideal for the older learner:
- Piano For Adults (Bastien) ISBN 0-8497-7300-8
- Accelerated Piano Adventures (Faber) ISBN 1-56939-132-7
The former is my slight preference but both are leagues ahead of "Piano For Dummies". Sorry if that personally offends anyone, author included, but it is truly awful. I've now progressed more in a week than I did in two months with the Dummies book.
Avoid.
Book Review: I feel like a dummy for buying this book
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought several books on learning the piano at the same time. I found this book to be the least useful. As several other reviewers mentioned, the author's sense of humor is pathetic and he tries to throw in a "zinger" every other paragraph. "Thats's right, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, pengiums and parakeets...". Believe me. I not exaggerating on this. I cringed at almost every one of the author's attempts to be humorous. However, this was not enough to discourage me from continuing to read the book. That occurred after having to read over 50 pages before the author presented the first exercise. An excercise that it does not use a middle C hand position, requires you to move your hand, does not indicate which fingers to use for which keys, etc. After looking at this first exercise, I decided not to continue. I suspect that the author has never taught a single piano lession. I also picked up two books called "Total Piano" and "Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course" both of which I've found quite good so far. If you have a digital piano with a MIDI interface, check out "Teach Me Piano". I've been using it for a few days now, I can't say enough good things about this piece of software.