The Piano Handbook: A Complete Guide for Mastering Piano by Carl Humphries Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Piano Handbook: A Complete Guide for Mastering Piano
Book Review: Well, Really Three and A Half Stars at Most....
Summary: 4 Stars
But, okay, I can see how for some folks it's a four-star work.
Me, I just don't like a book that's got typos and other such mistakes. For example, in Unit 2 when introducing black notes, there's a picture which mislabels the "F" key "A" instead! It's the kind of thing which might drive an absolute beginner nuts. My copy has a page where part of a paragraph was printed too light, such that almost a whole sentence is missing. And as an intermediate-level student, I found this book a bit dry, despite the great production values, even despite the text which does try and often succeed in being a bit more engaging than a typical reference work. But unfortunately it reads rather too much like that typical reference work (yes, I know, it's advertised as a "handbook" after all -- though a rather large one, I must say). And speaking of production values, I really think they should have used bigger rings for the spine; it's a nice idea, the comb, but the rings (or is that "teeth"?) are just adequate for turning pages, and if you aren't very careful you're very likely to cause a tear! Or the margins/gutter where the holes need to be reinforced.
Anyway, nothing that's going to blow your socks off if you browse around, though it looks very nice at first glance, yes. I don't quite see the utility of it as a real self-taught course, though...rather too terse, though more informative than the coffee table book it might be mistaken for at first.
All in all, I'm keeping my copy, but mostly because it seems like it's in a class all by itself -- not that it fulfills the implied potentials of that class. IOW, a good idea, though a better execution depends on a second edition.
Book Review: Great book but only if you have a piano background
Summary: 4 Stars
I have read the other reviews on this book and agree with most of them. I learnt piano as a child but stopped playing in my late teens. This book is perfect for me because I can already read music. I have been using it to "remind" myself how to play once again so I have started right at the beginning and plan to work my way right through the book.However, if I was only now starting out, I think that I would soon get discouraged. It moves very quickly. It is definitely not for someone who has never played before and wants to teach themselves. That's the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars.Book Review: Not the best beginner book
Summary: 2 Stars
If you have prior experience and are looking to rekindle the fire, this may be the book... in which case it may deserve 4 or 5 stars.
But I am a beginner, and there seems to be a lot of material delivered too fast!
The good: Glossy pages, Spiral binding, a lot of material (it all looks complicated to me, so I guess it's good)
The bad: Too much too fast, not a self learning beginner's book.
I got the Alfred series, and I feel that their pace is much more in tune with my learning speed.
Book Review: An Excellent Approach
Summary: 5 Stars
If your an adult beginner looking for a supplemental book to go with your basic piano book, this is the one you should pick up. It moves fast, so I would suggest "Alfreds Basic Adult Piano Course" in addition to this book. The beauty of this book is that it gives you a a large number of great tunes; which you'll enjoy playing and learning when "Twinkle Twinkle", "Aunt Rhody" and "Jingle Bells" start to drive you and others around you crazy! I understand that the best way for a person to learn is to study a bit above their level, and this book will provide just that. Just take it slow and don't forget to use that metronome!Book Review: Lessons that go quickly beyond the basics
Summary: 5 Stars
For those of us who have taken piano lessons as kids and want to begin again at the adult level, The Piano Handbook is an excellent tool providing all the material you need. While initially covering the basics, it quickly gets into advanced concepts that require one's serious desire to finally play the piano for fun and pleasure.
Listening to the enclosed CD is very helpful in showing you just how each of the lessons should sound and the touch required to make the simplest selection a pleasure to play and hear.
You become convinced that Carl Humphries understands that there are few shortcuts to playing the piano well, but also knows that to keep your attention, progress must be swiftly enabled so that learning becomes less tedious. I still don't like playing scales and if there is any downside to the handbook, it is that scales must be practiced without any explanation of their importance.
If you've ever aspired to becoming a master of the piano, you should certainly take a look at what Humphries has created to make the task enjoyable and more quickly attainable.