By exploring the many different types and forms of contemporary musical instruments, this book contributes to a better understanding of the conditions of instrumentality in the 21st century. Providing insights from science, humanities and the arts, authors from a wide range of disciplines discuss the following questions: * What are the conditions under which an object is recognized as a musical instrument? * What are the actions and procedures typically associated with musical instruments? * What kind of (mental and physical) knowledge do we access in order to recognize or use something as a musical instrument? * How is this knowledge being shaped by cultural conventions and temporal conditions? * How do algorithmic processes 'change the game' of musical performance, and as a result, how do they affect notions of instrumentality? * How do we address the question of instrumental identity within an instrument's design process? * What properties can be used to differentiate successful and unsuccessful instruments? Do these properties also contribute to the instrumentality of an object in general? What does success mean within an artistic, commercial, technological, or scientific context?

In Ways of Listening, musicologist Eric Clarke explores musical meaning, music's critical function in human lives, and the relationship between listening and musical material. Clarke outlines an "ecological approach" to understanding the perception of music, arguing that the way we hear and understand music is not simply a function of our brain structure or of the musical "codes" given to us by culture, but must be considered within the physical and social contexts of listening.

In Mastering the Art of Performance: A Primer for Musicians, Stewart Gordon offers seasoned advice to musicians intent on meeting the challenges of performance. Through real-life examples and pre-performance exercises, this accessible manual gives musicians and other performers practical insights into every aspect of performance. While other books merely identify and describe the problems associated with performance, this book offers detailed suggestions for solving them.
First, Gordon tackles the critical planning and preparatory stages, helping performers to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. The book's easy-to-follow exercises address the self-doubt and anxiety many musicians contend with, helping them to analyze why they perform, set goals and assess the level of energy needed to achieve them, and develop a performance philosophy. The book also offers techniques that will help musicians deal with some of the classic pitfalls of performance preparation, including repetition and drill, changing bad habits, and developing memory.
For the performance itself, Gordon's insights help musicians with pacing and managing stage fright. For the aftermath, Gordon arms performers with strategies for dealing with criticism and conducting a constructive self-evaluation, equipping them to face the challenges of a lifetime of performances, including career plateaus and burnout.
Gordon draws from more than forty years of experience in front of audiences to offer readers invaluable tips and personal reflections. While aimed primarily at musicians, the book will be useful to anyone facing the pressures of performance, such as actors, dancers, and even public speakers.

The Ultimate Breathing Workout, from Raise Your Voice author, Jaime Vendera, is THE program for singers who wish to develop lungs of steel This compact 80 page book features the most intense breathing program ever created for vocalists. Based on a nine step breathing program designed to increase breath capacity, strengthen the lungs, diaphragm, back, and abdominal muscles will turn you into a breathing machine, and enable you to hold out notes for over a minute. As well, The Ultimate Breathing Workout features advance breathing exercises, including the Breath Builders and Applied Breathing Isometrics. This book contains one illustration and ten audio examples accessible through jaimevendera.com via link within the book.

Learning to play an instrument can be fund and, at times, frustrating. This lively, accessible book helps young people cope with the difficulties involved in learning a new instrument and remaining dedicated to playing and practicing. Teens from renowned music programs - including the Juilliard School's Pre-College Program and Boston University's Tanglewood Institute - join pro musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Paula Robison, and James Galway in offering practical answers to questions from what instrument to play to where the musical road may lead.
In this revised and expanded edition, Amy Nathan has updated the book to address today's more technologically-minded young musician. Expanded sections cover the various ways students can use technology to assist in mastering an instrument and in making practice time more productive, from using the Internet to download pieces to be learned and playing along with downloaded tunes to practicing with computer-based practice programs, CDs, and videos/DVDs of musical performances. She also addresses concerns of young composers and conductors, two groups not mentioned in the original edition. The book's updated Resource Guide suggests where to get additional help, both online and off.

Contents are: Chorus from Judas Maccabaeus (G.F. Handel) * Musette, Gavotte II or the Musette from English Suite II in G Minor for Klavier, BWV 808 (J.S. Bach) * Hunters' Chorus from 3rd Act of the opera Der Freischutz (C.M. von Weber) * Long, Long Ago (with variation) (T.H. Bayly) * Waltz, Op. 39, No. 15 (J. Brahms) * BourrA(c)e, Sonata in F Major for Oboe, HHA IV/18, No. 8 (G.F. Handel) * The Two Grenadiers, Die Beiden Grenadier, Op. 49, No. 1 for Voice and Piano (R. Schumann) * Theme from Witches' Dance (N. Paganini) * Gavotte from Mignon (A. Thomas) * Gavotte (J.B. Lully) * Minuet in G, Wo0 10, No. 2 (L. van Beethoven) * Minuet from Sei Quintetti per Archi No. 11, Op. 11, No. 5 in E Major (L. Boccherini) * Practice Suggestions (Doris Preucil).

(Guitar Method). The Hal Leonard Guitar Method is designed for anyone just learning to play acoustic or electric guitar. It is based on years of teaching guitar students of all ages, and it also reflects some of the best guitar teaching ideas from around the world. Book 1 includes tuning; playing position; musical symbols; notes in first position; C, G, G7, D, D7, A7, and Em chords; rhythms through eighth notes; strumming and picking; over 80 great songs, riffs, and examples.

This comprehensive analysis aims to explain the basic theory on scales and to encourage the reader to explore also with more unusual scale choices. There are numerous scales more or less close to the basic scales that are usually used with a particular chord type. This book guides you to these territories.