The Complete Idiots Guide To Jazz

Traces the origins and history of jazz, its major artists, and its stylistic varieties, and offers suggestions for assembling a recording collection

A beautifully composed journey through music history! Music history is a required course for all music students. Unfortunately, the typical music history book is dry and academic, focusing on rote memorization of important composers and works. This leads many to think that the topic is boring, but bestselling author Michael Miller proves that isn’t so. This guide makes music history interesting and fun, for both music students and older music lovers. • Covers more than Western “classical” music—also includes non-Western music and uniquely American forms such as jazz • More than just names and dates—puts musical developments in context with key historical events

The complex art of conducting may look effortless to the casual onlooker, however, it requires a great deal of knowledge and skill. The success of a performance hinges on the director's ability to keep the group playing together and interpreting the music as the composer intended. The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Conducting Music shows student and novice conductors how to lead bands, orchestras, choirs, and other ensembles effectively through sight-reading, rehearsals, and performances.

In this book you get: a practical explanation of how a multitrack recorder is used to separate vocals and instrumentation ; techniques for fixing a less than stellar performance without completely re-recording the track ; handy forms and documents used to maintain a log of the recording process ; and inspiring ideas for incorporating drum machines, loops, and such effects as reverb and echo to enhance your recording.

Provides coverage of the causes leading to war, famous battles, weapons, and the influence on political and cultural development, and includes biographical information on key figures.

A guide to playing the fiddle offers advice on choosing an instrument and accessories, offers step-by-step instructions on the techniques of fiddling, and includes fingerboard charts and practice tunes.

Presents basic lessons in reading music notation, advice on how to select an instrument, and details how to find your way around the keyboard.

Instruction and tips for creating arrangements, structuring compositions, and writing for various styles of music.

Both an idea guide and a hands-on remodeling book, this illustrated volume takes readers step-by-step through the process of designing, planning, and executing the remodeling of their kitchens. 300+ photos & illustrations.

A musician's vocabulary needs more than Do, Re, Mi... Written in clear, concise, easy-to-understand language, The Complete Idiot's Guide® Music Dictionary covers a multitude of musical aspects indispensable to any musician. Author and music professor Stanford Felix has compiled the most commonly found terms and explains them in a way that even the most novice musician can comprehend. • The only dictionary geared toward the beginner musician • Gives clear, concise definitions of terms, theories, and instruments, as well as important works, musicians, and composers