In 1720, Antonio Stradivari crafted an exquisite work of art-a cello known as the Piatti. Over the next three centuries of its life, the Piatti cello left its birthplace of Cremona, Italy, and resided in Spain, Ireland, England, Italy, Germany, and the United States. In 1978, the Piatti became the musical soul mate of world-renowned cellist Carlos Prieto, with whom it has given concerts around the world. In this delightful book, Mr. Prieto recounts the adventurous life of his beloved "Cello Prieto," tracing its history through each of its previous owners from Stradivari in 1720 to himself. He then describes his noteworthy experiences of playing the Piatti cello, with which he has premiered some eighty compositions. In this part of their mutual story, Prieto gives a concise summary of his own remarkable career and his relationships with many illustrious personalities, including Igor Stravinsky, Dmitry Shostakovich, Pablo Casals, Mstislav Rostropovich, Yo-Yo Ma, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. A new epilogue, in which he describes recent concert tours in Moscow, Siberia, and China and briefer visits to South Korea, Taiwan, and Venezuela, as well as recent recitals with Yo-Yo Ma, brings the story up to 2009. To make the story of his cello complete, Mr. Prieto also provides a brief history of violin making and a succinct review of cello music from Stradivari to the present. He highlights the work of composers from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal, for whose music he has long been an advocate and principal performer. The print edition of this book includes a CD of fourteen recordings by Carlos Prieto, including works by J. S. Bach, Dmitry Shostakovich, Astor Piazzolla, and Eugenio Toussaint.

(Bass Method). The Hal Leonard Blues Bass Method is your complete guide to learning blues bass. This book and CD package uses classic blues songs and standards to teach you how to lay down your own solid blues bass lines. Learn to play by studying the songs of famous bluesmen such as B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan (Tommy Lee Shannon), Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Albert King, The Allman Brothers, Otis Rush, T-Bone Walker, Louis Jordan, and many more. Learn actual riffs from blues classics including: Born Under a Bad Sign * Hideaway * Hoochie Coochie Man * Killing Floor * Pride and Joy * Sweet Home Chicago * The Thrill Is Gone * and more.

These books of studies provide invaluable practice material for the building of technique. The three sets of Elementary Progressive Studies, each of which contain 24 studies, comprehensively explore violin playing in the various positions indicated and a note at the head of each study shows further the technical skill to be developed. All of the books contain a good variety of finger technique, keys and bow strokes, and helpful fingerings and bowings are given.

Examines the clawhammer style banjo. Tunes are transcribed in tablature and based on the playing of Wade Ward, Fred Cockerham, Henry Reed, Frank George, and others. Includes tunings and all basic right- and left-hand techniques. Complete with instuctional CD.