Think of a song that resonates deep down in your being. Now imagine sitting down with someone who was there when the song was recorded and can tell you how that series of sounds was committed to tape, and who can also explain why that particular combination of rhythms, timbres and pitches has lodged in your memory, making your pulse race and your heart swell every time you hear it. Remarkably, Levitin does all this and more, interrogating the basic nature of hearing and of music making (this is likely the only book whose jacket sports blurbs from both Oliver Sacks and Stevie Wonder), without losing an affectionate appreciation for the songs he's reducing to neural impulses. Levitin is the ideal guide to this material: he enjoyed a successful career as a rock musician and studio producer before turning to cognitive neuroscience, earning a Ph.D. and becoming a top researcher into how our brains interpret music. Though the book starts off a little dryly (the first chapter is a crash course in music theory), Levitin's snappy prose and relaxed style quickly win one over and will leave readers thinking about the contents of their iPods in an entirely new way. 

   With clear and easy-to-understand exercises, The Piano Handbook is perfect for anyone interested in learning the piano or improving their skills. It provides fresh material and techniques in styles ranging from classical to jazz, rock, bebop and fusion, and gives new players everything they need to learn and enjoy the piano. 

   This book's innovative tutorial approach covers classical and contemporary music styles in an integrated way, and the companion CD brings the playing techniques and concepts to life. A full-color photo gallery illustrates the history of the piano and its essential recordings. 

  This hardcover, deluxe edition also features semi-concealed spiral binding so the book stays open on the piano. The Piano Handbook prepares you not just to play, but to perform - and not just as a pianist, but as a complete musician. 
 

   Write the songs that make the whole world sing. A step-by-step guide to writing music, this book shows musicians how to compose simple chord progressions and melodies, and leads them through more advanced compositional techniques and musical forms. 
   Designed for composers of all types of music, it includes instruction on composing stand-alone melodies, using different scales and modes, themes and variations, orchestration, and composing for film, theater, and videogames. 
   Includes a comprehensive glossary of musical terms, as well as an appendix of various computer-based composition tools -

About the Author

   Michael Miller attended the prestigious Jazz Studies Program at the Indiana University School of Music. A former percussion instructor and working drummer, he is also an accomplished composer and arranger. He is the author of more than 30 books, including The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing Drums, Second Edition, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Music Theory, Second Edition, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Singing, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Solos and Improvisation.
 

 
 
 

ArtistSong NameComposerCompositionInstrument

 
 

Music Instrument Directory
 

Gen Instruments	Accordion	Alto Saxophone	Banjo	Bass Guitar
Voice Solo	Violin	Viola	Tuba	Trumpet
Bassoon	Cello	Clarinet	Drums	Dulcimer
Easy Piano	Fiddle	Flute	French Horn	Guitar tab
Harmonica	Mandolin	Oboe	Organ	Other Percussion
Piano Solo	Piano/Vocal/Chords	Recorder	Tenor Saxophone	Trombone

....
 

Music Artists Alphabetical
 

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

....
 

Music Genres
 

Broadway	Choral	Christian	Christmas	Fakebooks
MusicMinus One	CD Sheet Music	Guitar Tab	Wedding	Children
Jazz	Rock	Teach Yourself	School Teachers

...
 

Sheet Music Publishers
 

Alfred	Baerenreiter	Bastien	C. F. Peters	G. Henle
J Aebersold Jazz	Mel Bay	Schirmer	Gift Ideas	Bestsellers