Violin For Dummies by Katharine Rapoport Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Violin For Dummies
Book Review: Can you really learn to play the violin with this book?
Summary: 1 Stars
I think it would be more beneficial for everyone if book reviews were ongoing. So, with that being said, I will update this review as I make my way through it.
At first glance,
PROS:
1)easy to navigate through chapters
2)no issues with shipping
3)A LOT of content
Cons:
1)pictures are REALLY dark. no exaggeration folks. it is really hard to make out the details. but this won't be to big of a problem with most of the pictures.
I will try to update this after a few chapters. I had to select a star rating for this to post, but this will change in future posts.
Book Review: Dummies are great
Summary: 5 Stars
I haven't gotten too far with this one. I've been focused on the harmonica one for now, but this has the same great format as all of the other dummies books that I've bought. It takes you from ground zero and builds you up...Book Review: Easy to Follow, gets you started pretty quick
Summary: 4 Stars
3 months ago I rented a violin with the idea that at age - well, never mind -I would finally fulfill a childhood passion and learn to play. I bought Violin for Dummies to get started. I am now 3/4's of the way through the book and have found it very easy to follow. I can finally read sheet music, something that always eluded me. I can now play all kinds of music from Bach's G Minor Gavotte to Paul McCartney's Mull of Kintyr (not in this book). This book will not get you into the community orchestra since a lot of technique is only learned from one on one instruction. However, if you are like me and you just want to play but money is tight and you can't afford that instructor right now, then your money will be well spent on this book.
The one complaint that I have is that they will give you a sample piece of music that is supposed to reflect things you have just learned. Sometimes that music includes other notations like "slurs". They introduce a piece of music with slurs in the first part of the book and it's another 100 pages or so before you actually learn what a slur is. Not a big deal. You can still play the piece and ignore the notation (you won't play it right but will be playing a variation of that music which is fine) but you feel like you missed something that you should know.
Others have commented on dark photos - that may have just been that print run of books. The photos in my book were fine and there are not that many photos for it to be an issue. The CD does more for you than the photos do. My only complaint with the CD is that they often group several pieces of music together on one tract so if you are trying to loop one piece of music, the grouping makes it more difficult.
Book Review: FINALLY!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have spent the last several years owning and trying to learn how to play a violin (I prefer playing it as a fiddle). I also have asked several music store owners if there was a book on care and maintenance for a fiddle--I was always told "No. You really just kind of learn that kind of stuff as you go..." I never once thought of looking up such a thing on Amazon and boy am I glad that I did! I don't know why more music stores don't carry this item. This book arrived within one week of ordering in brand new condition and I can't wait to get down to the nitty gritty of puttting some of this books suggestions to use. I have briefly glanced over it and it appears to cover all the topics that most beginning or intermediately experienced violinists yearn for! This book is invaluable to fiddlers everywhere!Book Review: Good learning book
Summary: 5 Stars
I ordered a violin over the internet, and then ordered this book. Though the pictures are dark, it contains a ton of valuable information for someone who is a novice. The included DVD was most helpful, and it is fun to play along with the songs. I would recommend this book to anyone who, like me, hasn't even touched a violin before. I already play piano and organ, so didn't have to learn music--perhaps making it a bit easier for me to learn from this book.