Classical Music For Dummies

Classical music was never meant to be an art for snobs! In the 1700s and 1800s, classical music was popular music. People went to concerts with their friends, they brought snacks and drinks, and cheered right in the middle of the concert. Well, guess what? Three hundred years later, that music is just as catchy, thrilling, and emotional. From Bach to Mozart and Chopin, history's greatest composers have stood the test of time and continue to delight listeners from all walks of life. And in Classical Music For Dummies, you'll dive deeply into some of the greatest pieces of music ever written. You'll also get: A second-by-second listening guide to some of history's greatest pieces, annotated with time codes A classical music timeline, a field guide to the orchestra, and listening suggestions for your next foray into the classical genre Expanded references so you can continue your studies with recommended resources Bonus online material, like videos and audio tracks, to help you better understand concepts from the book Classical Music For Dummies is perfect for anyone who loves music. It's also a funny, authoritative guide to expanding your musical horizons—and to learning how the world's greatest composers laid the groundwork for every piece of music written since.

Learn to: Select the right classical guitar for you Develop correct hand position and posture Tune your guitar Play along with exercises and pieces on the audio CD The fun and easy way® to start playing classical guitar! Want to be a classical guitarist, but never had a lesson? No problem – this hands-on guide teaches you all the fundamental techniques you need to play scales, melodies, and full-length pieces in the classical style. You get plenty of practice exercises to stretch your skills, selections from the classical repertoire, and a bonus audio CD that helps you play along with the music pieces from the book! Get acquainted with your guitar – familiarize yourself with the unique make-up and parts of a classical guitar Start making some music – play melodies on individual strings, move on to arpeggios, and get your fingers in shape with scales Ramp up your technique – play barres, slurs, and trills; handle harmonics; master right-hand tremolo; and venture up the neck to play in the higher positions Build your classical repertoire – from Renaissance and Baroque to Classical, Romantic, and Modern, play pieces from the major eras in classical music Practice makes perfect – improve your performance with expert guidance through each exercise and piece in the book Open the book and find: Tips and techniques for playing beautiful pieces How to read music notation and tablature Basic finger and thumb strokes Right- and left-hand techniques Musical examples, charts, and photos Music pieces from the guitar greats The best ways to care for your guitar A step-by-step tutorial on changing your strings Bonus CD Includes More than 140 recorded performances of the exercises and pieces featured in the book Pieces performed using a count-off, allowing you to play along in time with the music Tuning notes to help you tune up your guitar

Get more out of music with this essential guide Music Theory For Dummies makes music theory easy to understand, with a friendly, unintimidating overview of everything you need to know to become fluent at knocking out beats, reading musical scores, and learning to anticipate where a song should go—whether you're reading someone else's music or writing your own. Whether you're a music student or a music lover, you'll learn to read, write, and understand music with this informative guide. With expert instruction, you'll put it all together as you compose, arrange, and create original melodies, harmonies, and chords of your own, with helpful tips for performing your pieces in front of an audience. This new third edition presents the most current teaching techniques, the newest music genres and examples, and updated information on all aspects of understanding, creating, and performing music. Studies have shown that music training improves children's' verbal and spatial abilities, and it's been associated with cognitive and mathematical benefits in adults. The music job market is expected to increase over the coming years, and music theory is becoming an increasingly common part of education at all levels. Music Theory For Dummies provides the instruction you need to get more out of music than you ever thought possible. Master major and minor scales, intervals, pitches, and clefs Understand basic notation, time signals, tempo, dynamics, and navigation Employ melodies, chords, progressions, and phrases to form music Compose harmonies and accompanying melodies for voice and instruments Whether you intend to pursue a degree or career in music, or just enjoy listening to it, understanding the theory behind it gives you a whole new appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship behind the pieces that give you goose bumps. It's a mix of technical skill, inborn talent, and plenty of practice – and now you can try your hand at it, with Music Theory For Dummies.

Start your music career off right with this fun guide to the music industry Music Business For Dummies explains the ins and outs of the music industry for artists and business people just starting out. You'll learn how file-sharing, streaming, and iTunes have transformed the industry, and how to navigate your way through the new distribution models to capitalize on your work. It all begins with the right team, and this practical guide explains who you need to have on your side as you begin to grow and get more exposure. Coverage includes rehearsing, performing, recording, publishing, copyrights, royalties, and much more, giving you the information you need to start your career off smart. Music industry success has never been easy to achieve, and recent transformations and disruptions to the business side have made the whole idea even more daunting than before. This guide gives you a roadmap around the landmines, and provides expert advice for starting out on the right foot. Find the right players, agents, and business managers Make more money from your work with smart distribution Build your brand and get people talking about you Get gigs, go on tour, and keep on growing If music is your calling, you need to plan your career in a way that sets you up for success from the very beginning. Put the right people in place, get the most out of your investments, and learn how to work the crowd both virtually and in person. Music Business For Dummies is your companion on your journey to the music career you want.

Want to turn that haunting tune in your head into an awesome sound in your ear? You can! Music Composition For Dummies demystifies the process of composing music and writing songs. It guides you through every step of writing your own music, from choosing the right rhythm and tempo to creating melodies and chord progressions and working with instruments and voices. In this fun and practical guide, you’ll learn how to match keys and chords to the mood you want to convey, work a form without limiting your creativity, and hammer out a musical idea, even when your mind is drawing a blank. You’ll find out how to create popular songs, classically structured pieces, and even film, TV, and video game soundtracks. And, you’ll learn what you need to know about music composition software, including Finale, Sebelius, Pro Tools, and more. Discover how to: Preserve and organize your musical ideas Work with established chord progressions or create your own Develop great rhythms Select the right instruments Find melodies in your head, your instrument, and the world around you Use major and minor scales Work with modes and moods Build melodic motifs and phrases Use the circle of fifths to harmonize Write for multiple voices Make a demo recording Filled with creative exercises to build your composing skills, Music Composition for Dummies is the resource you need to get that melody out of your head and into the world.

Yes, you can turn those great melodies and smokin’ grooves in your head into stunning digital music! And you don’t have to be a musical genius or a computer geek to do it! Composing Digital Music For Dummies shows you everything you need to know to compose great tunes using the hottest digital tools. This friendly, plain-English guide explains all of the digital music basics, including how to work with the latest hardware and software, use templates from the companion CD-ROM to make a quick start, build your first tune, and save it in different formats. You’ll also find out how to add instruments to your score, set tempos and keys, create chord symbols and show fretboards, add lyrics to your tune, and much more. Discover how to: Write and arrange digital music Determine what – if any – equipment you need Create your own ringtones and mp3s Compose with a MIDI controller, or a mouse Work with notation software Use keyboard shortcuts Publish your creations on the Internet Build your own tune from scratch Extract parts from your score for each instrument The companion CD-Rom also includes a demo of Sebelius 5, the most popular music notation software, as well as audio files for all music examples in the book. With this step-by-step guide and your computer, you’ll have everything you need to start writing, arranging, and publishing your own digital music – immediately! Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

The fast and easy way to play this popular woodwind instrument Saxophone For Dummies offers the ideal introduction to this popular and versatile instrument, whether you lack any musical experience or are picking up the sax again after a hiatus. Covering both the alto and tenor sax, this friendly guide explains how to get a good sound, how to read music, and how to play songs in a variety of styles, including classical, pop, and jazz, all accompanied by the audio samples on the enclosed CD. With tips on how to buy or rent the best saxophone, and information on how to care for the instrument, Saxophone For Dummies is a comprehensive guide to playing this popular woodwind alone or in a group setting. Includes tips on buying or renting a new or used saxophone Audio samples of classical, pop, and jazz music are available on the bonus CD Advice on cleaning and maintaining a saxophone If you're picking up a saxophone for the first time or are looking to brush up on your skills, Saxophone For Dummies gives you everything you need to appreciate, understand, and excel at playing this popular instrument.

The beginner's guide to learning the violin – for any musical style Violin For Dummies helps you teach yourself to play the violin, even if you've never read a note of music. From choosing the right violin for you to playing a variety of musical styles, this book has you covered. You'll start with the basics of posture and bowing technique, learn how to tune your instrument and keep it in beautiful condition with regular maintenance. You'll learn how to read – and feel – the music, and how to inject your own personality into whatever you play. Before you know it, you'll be playing classical, jazz, country, and more, as you become a bona fide violin player. The included audio and video instruction encourages you to play along as you learn, and allow you to hear, see, and imitate proper technique. The violin's small size, portability, and mimicry of the human voice have made it popular across cultures and throughout time. This book shows you how to teach yourself the basics so you can start playing quickly. Start with the basics of proper hold and bowing technique Learn how to properly tune and care for your violin Understand the nuances of rhythm and musical notation Play classical, jazz, and other popular styles of music The violin has a reputation of being difficult to learn, but the reality is that it's difficult to master. Anyone can learn, and practice over time will refine your technique and your musical style. You'll have fun, make music, and maybe even fall in love with this instrument that has inspired some of the world's best musicians and composers. Get started today, the easy way, with Violin For Dummies.

The fun and easy way to learn to play the mandolin The newest addition to the highly successful Dummies instrument-instruction line, Mandolin For Dummies gives you easy-to-follow, step-by-step instruction on learning to play the mandolin. Following the time-tested Dummies format, Mandolin For Dummies provides a level of content and instruction greater than anything currently available. Mandolin For Dummies breaks down the fundamentals of this instrument and provides the resources you need to practice and improve your ability over time. Packed with individualized instruction on key mandolin-friendly musical styles, including Irish and Celtic, «old time» American music, blues, bluegrass, swing, and jazz Files available via download provide audio tracks from the book and exercises so you can play along and build your skills – almost 2 hours of music! Clear and useful photos and diagrams ensure you fret, strum, and pick with precision Includes a mandolin buying guide to help ensure you make the right purchases Tips on restringing mandolins and other DIY care and maintenance topics If you're an aspiring mandolin player, don't fret! Mandolin For Dummies has you covered.