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All the Tunes You've Ever Wanted to Play: All-time Piano Classics : Easy-to-play Arrangements (All the Tunes Piano Music)

by: Carol Barratt

August 01, 1999
Lots of good songs for the price. I found the A5 format fine (not "much too small" as another reviewer commented). Piano arrangements are of intermediate difficulty - perhaps grade 4 or 5 on average.

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The Classic Piano Course: Books 1-3

by: Carol Barratt

April 15, 2002
I very much respect the choices of music in this book - the author has provided classical, folk, ragtime music etc., simplified where necessary, rather than having you play nursery rhymes, which can be infuriating for an adult beginner.

The only fault I can draw is that is proving a little challenging for self-study (which is how I am using it) - it moves quite swiftly, and provides only relatively limited explanations of some of the concepts it introduces, which might be a problem for those who lack the temperament for a bit of an uphill struggle.

I cannot mark it down for this, however, since it appears to be intended for use as a textbook, yet is still my preferred book in my attempts to self-teach.

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Chester's Easiest Piano Course: Bk.1

by: Carol Barratt

October 18, 2003
This book was used by me when I first started learning the piano six years ago. I didn't know anything about the piano I didn't even know how to read music but Chester's Piano Course taught me everything for my basic knowledge of Piano playing. It is a solid foundation course and misses out none of the vital information needed to learn the piano. Teamed with books two and three it is a brilliant course which I would recommend to any young piano beginners. The bright and humerous pictures brighten up the pages to make learning the piano fun and the inovative ways of teaching mean that you will always remember the information taught. I can still play 'Jelly on the Plate' which is the first tune in the book and I still remember all the useful tips ... Read More:

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Starting to Play (Classic Piano Course)

by: Carol Barratt

March 04, 2005
Well paced piano tuition for the adult wishing to play the classical masters. The book jumps pretty well into reading music and builds associations with hand position and fingering. The tunes are interesting right from the start and teachers can play accompaniments to add further interest. Spot the 'familiar' tune as your progress through the book which all helps with your learning.

If going through the book on your own without a teacher be sure to review previous pages. There is constant referral to previous points made sometimes without revision hints. However introduction to new concepts are gently woven around enjoyable pieces (the flats & sharps lesson uses well known pieces).

If your teacher is a classical ... Read More:

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Chester's Easiest Piano Course: Book 2

by: Carol Barratt

March 04, 2005
This book was used by me when I first started learning the piano six years ago. I didn't know anything about the piano I didn't even know how to read music but Chester's Piano Course taught me everything for my basic knowledge of Piano playing. It is a solid foundation course and misses out none of the vital information needed to learn the piano. Teamed with books two and three it is a brilliant course which I would recommend to any young piano beginners. The bright and humerous pictures brighten up the pages to make learning the piano fun and the inovative ways of teaching mean that you will always remember the information taught. I can still play 'Jelly on the Plate' which is the first tune in the book and I still remember all the useful tips that ... Read More:

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Tunes You've Always Wanted to Play: Piano

by: Carol Barratt

2003-02
This book was used by me when I first started learning the piano six years ago. I didn't know anything about the piano I didn't even know how to read music but Chester's Piano Course taught me everything for my basic knowledge of Piano playing. It is a solid foundation course and misses out none of the vital information needed to learn the piano. Teamed with books two and three it is a brilliant course which I would recommend to any young piano beginners. The bright and humerous pictures brighten up the pages to make learning the piano fun and the inovative ways of teaching mean that you will always remember the information taught. I can still play 'Jelly on the Plate' which is the first tune in the book and I still remember all the useful tips that ... Read More:

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The Classic Piano Course: Books 1, 2 & 3

by: Carol Barratt

March 04, 2005
This book was used by me when I first started learning the piano six years ago. I didn't know anything about the piano I didn't even know how to read music but Chester's Piano Course taught me everything for my basic knowledge of Piano playing. It is a solid foundation course and misses out none of the vital information needed to learn the piano. Teamed with books two and three it is a brilliant course which I would recommend to any young piano beginners. The bright and humerous pictures brighten up the pages to make learning the piano fun and the inovative ways of teaching mean that you will always remember the information taught. I can still play 'Jelly on the Plate' which is the first tune in the book and I still remember all the useful tips that ... Read More:

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Classic Piano Course: No 3

by: Carol Barratt

1995
I very much respect the choices of music in this book - the author has provided classical, folk, ragtime music etc., simplified where necessary, rather than having you play nursery rhymes, which can be infuriating for an adult beginner.

The only fault I can draw is that is proving a little challenging for self-study (which is how I am using it) - it moves quite swiftly, and provides only relatively limited explanations of some of the concepts it introduces, which might be a problem for those who lack the temperament for a bit of an uphill struggle.

I cannot mark it down for this, however, since it appears to be intended for use as a textbook, yet is still my preferred book in my attempts to self-teach.

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Carol Barratt: Bravo! Oboe

by: Carol Barratt

2000
I very much respect the choices of music in this book - the author has provided classical, folk, ragtime music etc., simplified where necessary, rather than having you play nursery rhymes, which can be infuriating for an adult beginner.

The only fault I can draw is that is proving a little challenging for self-study (which is how I am using it) - it moves quite swiftly, and provides only relatively limited explanations of some of the concepts it introduces, which might be a problem for those who lack the temperament for a bit of an uphill struggle.

I cannot mark it down for this, however, since it appears to be intended for use as a textbook, yet is still my preferred book in my attempts to self-teach.

Average Rating:

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Chester's Easiest Piano Course

by: Carol Barratt

1999-07
This book was used by me when I first started learning the piano six years ago. I didn't know anything about the piano I didn't even know how to read music but Chester's Piano Course taught me everything for my basic knowledge of Piano playing. It is a solid foundation course and misses out none of the vital information needed to learn the piano. Teamed with books two and three it is a brilliant course which I would recommend to any young piano beginners. The bright and humerous pictures brighten up the pages to make learning the piano fun and the inovative ways of teaching mean that you will always remember the information taught. I can still play 'Jelly on the Plate' which is the first tune in the book and I still remember all the useful tips that it ... Read More: