On February 16 1969, John McLaughlin flew into New York, from London, in a snowstorm. The following day, Miles Davis, his hero, invited him to play on a record. Two years later, on the path of Bengali mystic Sri Chinmoy, John launched The Mahavishnu Orchestra-an evocation in music of spiritual aspiration and extraordinary power, volume and complexity, far beyond anything else in jazz or rock. Curiously, it was also a huge success. John McLaughlin brought rock music to its pinnacle, the end point in an evolution from Mississippi blues through Coltrane, Hendrix and The Beatles. And then, in November 1975, he hung up his electric guitar and walked away from the stadiums of the rock world for an ongoing, restless career in music of other forms. To most of the world, John McLaughlin looked like an overnight success, with a backstory going back only as far as that February in 1969. Yet he had been a professional musician since 1958, experiencing all the great movements in British music-trad jazz, rock'n'roll, R and B, soul, modern jazz, free jazz, psychedelic rock-a guitar for hire at the centre of 'Swinging London', a bandmate of future members of Cream, Pentangle and Led Zeppelin, but always just under the radar. Drawing on dozens of exclusive interviews and many months of meticulous research, author and music historian Colin Harper brings that unrepeatable era vividly to life. This landmark new work retrieves for the first time the incredible career of John McLaughlin before he conquered the world-and then chronicles how he did so.

Violin Globetrotters brings together 12 toe-tapping original tunes in styles from around the world - from Arabic to Chinese and from klezmer to the Argentinian tango - for the budding violinist. This unique book presents a kaleidoscope of musical traditions, with supporting background information and backing tracks that capture each sound-world. To help with technique and interpretation, every piece includes tailored warm-ups and stylistic tips from the author. With options for violin or piano accompaniment, and an inspirational CD, Violin Globetrotters is the ultimate resource for aspiring violinists looking to go travellin' ... Winner of the Music Industries Association Best Education Publication in 2011.

Piano Star Theory is an activity book for young players in the early stages of learning the piano. Packed full of engaging exercises and games, it can be used alongside any beginner piano tutor to help develop a student's understanding of musical notation. The imaginative activities link to practical music-making, building aural awareness and boosting the confidence of young musicians.Key features: * Written and practical theory activities, covering the note values, rests, pitches, time signatures and other symbols most commonly found in beginner piano tutors * Short, specially written pieces which can be sung, clapped or played * Quizzes, puzzles and a Piano Star Theory board game * Colourful illustrations and fun stickers * The perfect companion to the Piano Star beginner repertoire books.

340 pages Every chapter of The Violin Lesson is a masterful presentation in which Simon Fischer tackles the obvious and seemingly intractable problems of playing and teaching the violin. Richly illustrated with hundreds of photographs, this book is engaging and candidly narrated. Nobody who is seriously interested in playing, teaching or studying the violin - at any level from professional to amateur, advanced to elementary - can afford not to add The Violin Lesson to their library.

In his typically thorough but straightforward way, he addresses technique, musical artistry and psychology as manageable and interconnected units, often illuminating the problems from new and unexpected angles and transforming even the most intimidating matters into inviting subjects with clear solutions. In Background Essentials, Fischer covers seldom-discussed essential elements of musicianship, technique and how to practice. The chapter on Avoiding Aches and Pains offers understanding of the causes of injuries, as well as new and effective remedies and prevention practices.

(Guitar Educational). Since its appearance in Guitar World in 1990, Vai's intensive guitar regimen has been the Holy Grail for serious players. Here is the lesson that shaped a generation of guitarists. Vai sat down with guitarist/transcriber Dave Whitehill and outlined his practice routine for the January 1990 issue of Guitar World . Never before had a guitarist given such an in-depth explanation of his musical exercise regimen. It became a must-have for guitarists. Many of the players interviewed in GW have cited it as an influence on their development as guitarists. Here's a chance to experience the workout in its original form and to learn some of the things Vai has done to develop his formidable chops and remarkable music vocabulary. In this book, Steve Vai reveals his path to virtuoso enlightenment with two challenging guitar workouts one 10-hour and one 30-hour which include scale and chord exercises, ear training, sight-reading, music theory, and much more. These comprehensive workouts are reprinted by permission from Guitar World magazine.

34 Super Mario Themes Arranged for Solo Piano by Koji Kondo, Shiho Fujii, Asuka Ohta, Soyo Oka, Kenta Nagata, Hirokazu Tanaka, and Mahito Yokota.

23 top hits from folk-rock icon Bob Dylan arranged for the ukulele: All Along the Watchtower * All I Really Want to Do * Blowin' in the Wind * Don't Think Twice, It's All Right * Forever Young * I Feel a Change Comin' On * I Want You * I'll Be Your Baby Tonight * It Ain't Me, Babe * It's All Over Now Baby Blue * Knockin' on Heaven's Door * Lay, Lady, Lay * Like a Rolling Stone * Maggie's Farm * Mr. Tambourine Man * Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) * Rainy Day Women #12 and 35 * The Times They Are A-Changin' * You Ain't Goin' Nowhere * and more. Includes full lyrics and easy-to-read chord boxes.

This easy step-by-step method emphasizes correct playing habits and note reading through interval recognition. Lesson Book 3 introduces "overlapping pedal"; new time signatures 3/8 and 6/8; and the primary triads in Major and Minor keys. Concepts include: passing one under two and one under three; playing major scales in contrary motion; the chromatic scale; the minor scale.
For reinforcement of each principle as it is introduced, supplementary material is carefully coordinated, page for page, at each level of instruction. Coordinating supplemental books for Level 3 include: Classic Themes * Composition * Duet * Ear Training * Ensemble * Fun * Hymn * Merry Christmas * Merry Christmas Ensemble * Musical Concepts * Notespeller * Patriotic Solo * Recital * Repertoire * Sight Reading * Technic * Theory and Top Hits! Solo, Christmas and Duet Book.

A comprehensive collection of studies for beginners to improve their reading and technical ability. Covers: positions 1 through 7 in all keys while introducing scales, arpeggios, written-out chords, and a variety of rhythms and time signatures.

Contents are: Study Points for Volume 2 * Chorus from Judas Maccabaeus (G.F. Handel) * Musette, Gavotte II or the Musette from English Suite III 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 (T.H. Bayly) * Waltz, Op. 39, No. 15 for Piano (J. Brahms) * BourrA(c)e from 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).

(Piano Solo Personality). Stellar solo arrangements of a dozen smash hits from Coldplay: Clocks * Fix You * In My Place * Lost * Paradise * The Scientist * Speed of Sound * Trouble * Up in Flames * Viva La Vida * What If * Yellow.

(Really Easy Piano). 23 Disney favorites from the classics to contemporary blockbusters arranged for intermediate players. Includes: Baby Mine * Beauty and the Beast * Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo * Breaking Free * Can You Feel the Love Tonight * Chim Chim Cher-ee * The Climb * Under the Sea * When She Loved Me * When You Wish upon a Star * A Whole New World * You'll Be in My Heart * Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah * and more, complete with song background notes, and playing hints and tips.