Product Description
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and is a sub-genre of country music. It has roots in Irish, West African, Scottish, Welsh and English traditional music. Bluegrass was inspired by the music of immigrants from the United Kingdom and Ireland (particularly the Scots-Irish immigrants in Appalachia), and African-Americans, particularly through genres such as jazz and blues. In bluegrass, as in some forms of jazz, one or more instruments each takes its turn playing the melody and improvising around it, while the others perform accompaniment; this is especially typified in songs called breakdowns. This is in contrast to old-time music, in which all instruments play the melody together or one instrument carries the lead throughout while the others provide accompaniment. Traditional bluegrass is typically based around a small set of acoustic stringed instruments including mandolin, acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, resonator guitar and upright bass, with or without vocals. Bluegrass music has attracted a diverse and extremely loyal following world-wide. Many enthusiasts often describe their introduction to the genre as akin to having "caught the bug." ... Read more

Product Description
An easy-to-teach, straight forward string method from three renowned pedagogues. A unique letter-note style of music notation is utilized which ensures a smooth transition from rote to note reading. Students are quickly introduced to ensemble playing and play a wide variety of fun-to play melodies, keys and modes. Strictly Strings features a carefully prepared lesson sequence which develops all players' abilities equally. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great deal
I just picked up violin and I love this book. It's for beginners but contains interesting tunes to play. I highly recommend it.

strictly strings
The book was in the shape it was described as. Thank you for providing us a good book at a great price.

fast shipment and great packaging
this book is in terrific condition and was shipped very fast.would by from again

great book to start with
My daughter uses the book to learn to play the cello, it's a great intro!

Very good book if you are getting lessons... not do it yourself.
I'm a cello student and I really like this book a lot.I tried to read ahead though, and it doesn't really explain things well enough for a novice.With my instructor and the lessons, the book is perfect.I recommed the CD's that go along with it... they are sold separately. ... Read more

Product Description
The Second and Fourth Position String Builder is to be used after the Third and Fifth Position String Builder. However, it is also to be used as a continuation of Book III of any of the standard string class methods. Published for violin, viola, cello, bass, piano accompaniment, and teacher's manual. ... Read more

Product Description
Alfred and Highland/Etling are taking a brand-new approach to string instruction that promises to grab and hold every student's attention—String Explorer! Join the adventures of Arco Dakota and Rosalyn Le Bow as they guide your students along the path to successful string playing with the most exciting, yet systematic and logically sequenced instruction of its kind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Colourful and engaging
Everything is shown step by step with challenges and trivia thrown in between. It's a colourful book that'll draw any student. The beginning shows clear pictures on how to hold the violin and properly care for it. It teaches use of the fourth finger as well as pizzicato. There is a broad variety of music and activities. It is broken down into units and has a map in the back for tracking progress. Overall it is a great(not to mention really cute) book for any beginner student.

Good Service
My order arrived in a timely manner.When it got here, I discovered that I had ordered the wrong book.I got hold of the vendor and told him my problem.He said to just send the book back and they would replace it with the correct book.I sent the book back, and they discovered that they were actually out of the book I needed.Within 2 days they issued me a full credit for my purchase.I would definitely use them again.They were very helpful.

Highly Recommended
This book and CD set teach sight reading in a way that appeals to children.The fact that my daughter enjoys using this book means that it's easier to get her to practice playing every day.

Excellent!
This book is excellent for any age and is a great resource,I would recommend it to any age for use. ... Read more

Product Description
The Third and Fifth Position String Builder is to be used after Book 3 of the Belwin String Builder. However, it may also be used as a continuation of any the standard string class methods. In this book, the violin, viola, cello, and bass play together. The book for each instrument, however, is a complete unit and may be used separately for class or individual instruction. In this book, the pupil is carefully taken step by step through the third and fifth positions. The pupil is taught to find each finger, after which simple shifts are introuduced with the same finger, followed by shifts to these positions with different fingers. Each type of shift is presented and developed with interesting melodies. The material in this volume is chosen for its musical interest and its technical value. There are a number of duets which are to be played by either two pupils or with the class divided into two groups. The material in this book is realistically graded so that only a minimum of explanatory material is required. Suggestions for work by rote are presented throughout the book. Published for violin, viola, cello, bass, piano accompaniment, teacher's manual. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An excellent history of Washburn fine stringed instruments

Finally!Thanks to the good offices of Amazon's out-of-print and rare books service, I have obtained a copy of this excellent reference book.About nine inches by twelve inches in size, with an attractive 4-color process (full color) photographic cover, it is an eye-catching coffee table type of book.

More important is the information on Washburn instruments it provides; John Teagle has done his homework (and his research) well.The book is replete with informative old Washburn ads, beautiful full-color photographs of antique as well as modern Washburn guitars, mandolins, banjos and other instruments.

He also confirms my suspicion, which I voiced in another review, that Gorge Washburn's real name was George Washburn Lyon--hence the business name Lyon & Healy.It appears that there was even a George W. Lyon guitar at one point, probably around 1890.Lyon died in 1894, while Patrick J. Healy, the merchandiser of the two partners, lived on until 1905, but between the two of them they had built an instrument manufacturing empire.The Lyon & Healy harp is still the world's finest.

The book details many Lyon & Healy triumphs, awards and firsts--including the acknowledged first "Dreadnaught" guitar, decades ahead of the famed Martin D-1 and D-2s.Altogether a book full of information about America's first and leading guitar manufacturer, world-famous for high quality instruments long before Martin and Gibson made the cut.

I am particularly interested in this famous old line because I own a fine example of the George Washburn New Model of 1897-a parlor guitar with amazing tone and resonance, with Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top, and ebony fingerboard, ivory nut and saddle on the ebony bridge, with mother-of-pearl position inlays on the fingerboard.Their plainest, smallest model.It probably retailed for $15, when new.I've turned down $500 for it.

This is the only book on Washburn I have ever seen.It was published in New York by the Music Sales Company in 1996, and is already out of print.The copy I received is mint, however, and it didn't take Amazon long to locate it for me. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, good luck!

Joseph H. Pierre
Author of The Road to Damascus: Our Journey Through Eternity

... Read more

Product Description
This book is designed for those of you who fall easily into the ignoramus category when it comes to music. It is meant for those with no pitch, no rhythm, no sense of hearing, no talent. It is meant for those who have tried every other method of playing the banjo and have failed.

But before you flush your banjo down the toilet, wait! There is still hope! You have already taken a positive step by buying this book (unless you stole it, that is.)

Most people think that only a genius can play the banjo. This erroneous rumor was undoubtedly circulated by a few banjo pickers who wanted to frighten away their competition. And they succeeded! This book is intended to show that even the ignoramus can become a fine banjo picker. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A great book for beginning Clawhammer players
I learned from this book when I began playing 20 years ago, and I have not found a better one.The tablature is simple, the arrangements are good but not too fancy, and the folksy approach, while laid on a little thick at times, can help a student not to feel intimidated.It would be nice if it had "Clawhammer" or "Old Time" in the title.The revision does, but it also has more complex tablature.I much prefer this one to start students with.

Good Book
Since the author specialized all his life in teaching beginners, the book has what might be called "perfect pitch" for recognizing what the beginner is coping with -- even to the point of saying that he or she probably got grandfather's banjo out of the attic and how to get it back in shape -- which was, in fact, my case!It goes on like that, anticipating what the issue will be.

I've always wonder why the term "practice" is used with regard to musical instruments as in "you've got the practice" while, as the author points out, it would be better to say "you got the play".He shows you how to enjoy doing so.

tool of lucy himself eh?
dare to dance with the devil young ones?, then this is the instrument for you ! you can play all sorts of wonderous demonic tunes and this sacred book will show you how ... i once was an ignoramce but now ah a ding a ling ling with a twiddle and a twaddle and play the songs of my forefarthers and remember the times in the old country, backwoods vaginia

Great book for dummies like me.
This book is fun to read, even if you aren't trying to learn to play the banjo!Seriously, very worthwhile.

Fast way to have fun learning a banjo
I'm pretty much musically inept. I'm borrowing a banjo. I started out with Tony Trischka's How to Play Bluegrass Banjo but quickly got frustrated and gave up. Then, someone recommended this Manual for the Ignormaus. Now, I'm having a great time just frailing' away. I'm even starting to learn the slides that seemed so frustrating in Tony's book. This books just seems to go at a very good pace -- each new, fun little song that you learn has one or two new techniques, so it's actually fun to practice. Yee ha! ... Read more

Product Description
These solos, with piano accompaniment, can be used by individual players as well as for performance by groups. They have proven effective for recruiting string players in the public schools, and for string classes, solo contests and string festivals. Each piece has a distinct value, either for development of certain rhythms, for the development of the left hand and bow arm, and for development of style and musicianship. For more advanced players, these pieces may include shifting into the third position. The third position fingerings may be added by the student or the teacher. Published for violin, viola, cello, string bass, and piano accompaniment. ... Read more

Product Description
Because a fine orchestra depends on fine players, Solo Time for Strings emphasizes individual accomplishment, progress, and achievement while preparing young students for participation in a school orchestra.The series teaches reading in conjunction with note learning, enabling students to start playing melodies as soon as possible, and is appropriate for class or individual instruction.The solos assist in a progressive technical development from "twinkle, twinkle" in Book 1 to music by Vivaldi in Book 5. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Solo Time for Strings, Book 1 (Violin)
I ordered Solo Time Strings, Book 1 (Violin) and Amazon sent the version for Cello...Amazon sucks!!!!! Use Barnes and Noble!!!!!!

This book is for Bass - not Violin
When I ordered this item, what shipped was Solo Time for Strings for Bass Book One (which is also available under a different item number and description).Amazon does not apparently sell Solo Time for Strings for Violin Book One (although they sell Book Two).The description here is competely incomplete.I'm giving the product three stars, because it might be some use for a bass student, but it's no help for a young violinist. ... Read more

Product Description
The best-selling banjo method in the world! Earl Scruggs's legendary method has helped thousands of banjo players get their start. The "Revised and Enhanced Edition" features more songs, updated lessons, and many other improvements. It includes everything you need to know to start playing banjo, including: a history of the 5-string banjo, getting aquainted with the banjo, Scruggs tuners, how to read music, chords, how to read tablature, the anatomy of Scruggs-style picking, tuning the banjo, exercises in picking, 39 songs, how to build a banjo, making Scruggs tuners, biographical notes, and much more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Best book ever printed for learning banjo
I bought the original version of this book in 1978 after frustration with teachers that couldn't teach scruggs style.

I learned how to play Scruggs style 5 string directly from this book. By the time I was 16 I was playing professionally and did so for the next 15 years.

Could I have done it with another book? Probably so. If I had to do it all over again, I would buy this book without hesitation.

There are many more great teachers these days and access to a great deal of information, but for this city boy, who couldn't read music, this book along with a great deal of will and determination is what allowed me to learn the style I loved and provided years of satisfaction and enjoyment of the banjo.

If one is serious about the banjo and has the desire to learn, one will not go wrong buying this book.

Earl's Book in Proper Perspective
After watching a couple of young teenage boys entertain the crowd during a fiddling contest in 1979, I was inspired to learn to play banjo, and the only resource available to me was Earl's book and record. Over the years since, I've found MANY other lesson manuals, and have purchased most of them. Additionally, I've picked up various bits of wisdom from professional banjo players that have changed my perspective on becoming successful in playing the banjo.

At a bluegrass festival back in 1992, I spoke with Eddie Adcock about his style and mentioned that it sounded like Don Reno's. He IMMEDIATELY pointed out that he did NOT use any of Don's licks because, as he put it, "Copying someone else is creative suicide." Also, Earl himself said in in one of his magazine columns that he never played a song the same way twice.

A couple of years after talking with Eddie, I was fortunate to find, in my opinion, one of the best teachers available anywhere, since he used (intuitively, I might add) teaching methodologies expert researchers had spent years discovering that work best for learning physical skills. I recognized them because I had earned a university degree studying those very methodologies 10 year before. As it turned out, my teacher had actually lived with Bill Keith when trying to make it in the music industry in Tennessee as a young man. He told me that it was Bill Keith who had written the tablatures in Earl's book, NOT Earl himself, as one reviewer mistakenly wrote. Any so-called "errors" in the tablature should be attributed to Bill, not to Earl. The number one drawback to using Earl's book, however, is the fact the it cannot teach intonation and timing (aka, playing on top of the beat) that top players use.

As for the "errors" people find between any tablature and what they hear on a recording, in light of the comments from both Eddie and Earl, I believe the proper perspective to take when approaching Earl's book, and any others for that matter, should be to use tablature only as a guide to "locate" the music on the banjo. It should then be adapted to individual player's current skill set and comfort level. Nearly every song I tab out includes ideas from several teachers' tabs, but is always adapted to my own ways of playing, which are grounded in both Earl's and J.D. Crowe's styles. As a result, I now have nearly 200 songs that I can play with many records, although not note-for-note as Earl played them on any particular recording.

Hope this help!

no cd
well i ordered this from amazon thinking that it came
with the cd what a waste would not have ordered it with out
the cd

The Gold Standard
My banjo instructor strongly suggested this book.And I can see why.Obviously, Earl is the Gold Standard.It reads easily, and the exercises are interesting and fun.

This is a must have book for banjo players
I am a complete neophyte at banjo, having just received one as a gift only weeks prior to writing this.However, Earl Scruggs is such an innovator and legend that this book is a must have.The book has some history, an intro, a section on how to make a banjo and lots of tabs.I find that in order to work through the tabs I need to hear the songs but through youtube, the lack of a CD is not an issue.Having some experience on guitar has given me a leg up and I am not sure what I would think if I did not have this experience.Even beyond the tabs, and the advice, the biography, pictures and other information is interesting to read.What I have come to appreciate that the banjo is more than an instrument but a heritage, passed down via people, almost like storytelling.I do not think I will experience this first hand but through this book, I have certainly gained an appreciation of how the five string banjo is part of american history.Now if I can only learn Foggy Mountain Breakdown. ... Read more

Product Description
The first history of the Scottish harp to be published. It sets out to trace the development of the instrument from its earliest appearance on the Pictish stones of the 8th century, to the present day. ... Read more

Product Description
The study of string instruments should include ensemble playing at the earliest possible stage. There is much to be gained from the playing of duets. Each player learns how to listen to the other, and in a short time develops an awareness of balance, musical phrasing, intonation, and tone quality. This type of training is excellent preparation for participation in large groups. These four volumes of duets for two violins will help fill the need for early ensemble experience in the public schools. They should be used in string classes as a supplement to any of the standard string methods. They will also encourage music making outside of the school, with parents or with other students. These duets are ideal for recitals in the public schools and in public school festivals. They may be played by two performers, or by multiple performers on each part, with or without piano accompaniment. ... Read more

Product Description
Fiddling suddenly seemed vitally important, even necessary, for me to learn. Perhaps it had to do with grief for my mom's death, and with the fact that I was just starting to feel the inklings of a midlife crisis coming on. All I knew consciously, though, was that I had to learn it.

After a chance encounter with fiddle music, Vivian Wagner discovered something she never knew she had lacked. The fiddle had reawakened not only her passion for music, but for life itself. From the remote workshop of a wizened master fiddle maker in the Blue Ridge Mountains to a klezmer band in Cleveland, from Cajun fiddle music in Katrina-ravaged New Orleans to a fiddle camp in Tennessee, Vivian's quest to master the instrument becomes a journey populated by teachers and artisans--and ultimately creates a community that fortifies her through an emotionally crushing loss.

Intimate and enlightening, this is a story about the unique gifts of the fiddle, the redeeming power of music, the freedom of improvisation--and the importance of knowing that even though a song may reach its end, there's always a new tune to learn. . ..

"Charming, smart, lyrical and surprising. I recommend it to anyone--savage beast or not--who needs their soul soothed." --Suzanne Finnamore, international bestselling author of Split

Vivian Wagner is an award-winning writer and journalism professor at Muskingum University in Ohio. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including American Profile, Arizona Quarterly, Bluegrass Unlimited, Kenyon Review Online, The Pinch, and many others. She lives in southeastern Ohio with her two children.

Customer Reviews (6)

Compelling story of self-discovery through music.
Vivian Wagner's background as a violinist has transmigrated into her writing.Her lyrical style progresses effortlessly from one movement to the next in her metaphorical musical journey of self-discovery.Along the way she unmasks both the pleasure and pain in her roles of daughter, wife, and mother.As a reader we also get learn about fiddle music.The pretentiouness of the violin is revealed and the fiddle is elevated to equal status with its classical cousin.

This is a compelling and well-crafted book.I highly commend it to you even if you are not a fan of fiddle music.The quality of the storytelling alone make the journey worthwhile.

The music is the message.
Wagner connects the universal language of music to life experiences.While having a natural love for musical exploration may add to the enjoyment of her personal journey, it's not necessarily a requirement.There's a deeper thread here.Her music goes beyond a cathartic for personal trials, parental remorse, and family issues evolving wonderfully into a bright, happy, journey that was pre-ordained by the universe long before she knew what had hold of her.The common human thread of "I have to do this" echoes through the human condition of discovery, rebirth, healing, and finally destiny that all good people experience.In her case, it was the violin, transformed into the "fiddle", which was never a transformation at all, only a different languange spoken to the heart when it opened wide enough to listen.And the beauty of her story is how life, both good and bad, prepares us all for our passions, which if we're listening, is also our destiny.Heart warming and highly recommended.

Lessons from Fiddling
As someone who began playing the fiddle late in life, I highly recommend this book.Ms. Wagner's journey into the world of fiddle music goes far beyond learning how to play a few notes on four strings.As she shares her story with us, we see more deeply how the true lessons of fiddling teach us some of the most important skills of life: "the ability to improvise, change, and evolve. . . ."Indeed, we are all travelers on this journey.

Fiddling as a memoir
This is a wonderful book. A charming, insightful memoir that can be read on many levels. It is about learning to play a fiddle, taking a jaunt through fiddle music and the people who play it. This alone makes it a facinating book. It goes from bluegrass to klezmer to old time fiddling to cajun tunes all tied together with the love for the sound of a fiddle.

It is also a memoir of a woman who has learned that life is unpredictable and rules don't always work. There can be apprehension, great losses and much pleasure. As she learns to fiddle she learns to improvise both on the fiddle and in her life.

An insightful and moving memoir
As a late-blooming folk musician, I highly recommend this book! Vivian Wagner charts her own journey as she explores fiddling and its place in her life.

An amateur classical violinist from an early age, Vivian first felt no connection with folk music or fiddling, other than that it was something her mother appreciated. After her mother's death, she began to explore fiddle playing as a way to reconnect with her mother's memory -- and as her journey continued, it became so much more: learning to fiddle opened up her mind to new ways of looking at life, and musical improvisation became a metaphor for the skills she needed to deal with her failing marriage and the life changes that would bring.

This book is not only for musicians; anyone who has had to re-chart their life as an adult will appreciate the story of how a violin can be transformed into a fiddle and a woman can transform her life from failure to success and hope. ... Read more