A musician of rare artistry, the self-effacing yet charismatic Yo-Yo Ma connects with his audiences with startling effectiveness. He remains devoted to the classical repertoire yet has long roved far beyond the Western classical music canon. Despite his real superstar status and thriving solo career, he has often sought out musicians outside the classical sphere and collaborated with them on fascinating recordings. Above all, he is committed to the ever-evolving musical odyssey of his Silk Road Ensemble, itself part of a broader Silk Road Project aiming to explore the deep and varied artistic connections between East and West. Ma's legions of admirers seek out his musical genius in his recordings. Here they can become acquainted with the energetic and charming Ma himself and trace the trajectory of his unique and distinguished career.

Guitar Chords for Beginners contains 65 different chords arranged in easy fingerings. Fretting hand technique for playing guitar chords is looked at in detail with diagrams. Where necessary, some chords are taught incrementally because taking on only the harder aspects of a chord's fingering first means our hand is freer to adjust. Others are shown with different fingerings for you to choose which you prefer. Each guitar chord has a downloadable example audio track enabling you either to hear if you have played it right, or to hear what you need to work towards. Playing guitar chords may seem like a contortion for the hands of the beginner so there is some guidance on stretching to keep the hands flexible. There is an introduction to movable power chords and barre chords, in which barre chords are shown as easier cut-down versions of full barre chord shapes. At the back of Guitar Chords for Beginners there is a list of suggested songs that contain chords from within the book.

Originally published in 1924, this book is the result of many years' quiet thought and observation in connection with the authors own teaching. It focuses mainly on the essential skills of violin playing, rather than on the peculiarities that all players adopt to suit their own requirements. The book contains broad common-sense views, preferring not to concentrate on any particular "school" or "method." It is also written with some humour and in a very colloquial style. Complete with detailed diagrams and photographic plates. Contents Include: Part 1 - Explanation - Argument - Tone - Advice to Beginners - The Left Side of the Body - The Right Side of the Body, (The Bow Arm) - Left Hand Technique - Finger Action - The Third Position - The Second Position - Higher Positions - Sliding - Fingering - Bowing - Sautille - Ricochet or Elastic Staccato - How to Practise Double Stopping - Extensions - Right Hand Pizzicato - Left hand Pizzicato - Harmonics - The Shake - Tremolo or Vibrato - Sight Reading and Memorising - Controlled Movement and Concentration - How to Become a Musician - Musical Development - Conclusion, "Dont's"

Originally published in 1920, this neat little book is the result of the authors desire to tabulate in a concise form, his own ideas on violin playing, with regard to both the technical and the interpretive aspects of the subject. The authors views are placed before the reader in as clear a manner as possible. This little work should prove valuable to a wide circle of violinists - both amateur and professional. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Contents Include: Chamber Music, Choice and Care of Violin Strings and Other Accessories - The Lesson - The Left Hand, Intonation - The Left Hand, Position of the Wrist, Fingers, Thumb, Palm - The Left Hand, Scales, Various Methods of Fingering, Hands with Poor Stretches, Trills - The Bow - Spiccato, Martele, Staccato - Arpeggio, Ricochet, Legato - Expression and Interpretation: Variety of Tone - Vibrato - Phrasing - Rubato, Rhythm and Time Generally

This book combines a performance guide for violinists, an analytical study, an exploration of Bach's style, and an investigation of musical form and continuity. J.S. Bach's three sonatas and three partitas for solo violin have been mainstays of the violin concert repertoire since the mid-nineteenth century; their long performance history, evidenced in recordings as well as in editions, offers an opportunity to study the ways in which notions of Baroque style have evolved. Central to the book is the question what type of analysis is best applied to Bach's music: wherever possible, Lester draws his analytical tools from eighteenth-century techniques, developed for this repertoire.

The definitive account of Jeff Beck's journey from his childhood in 1940s South London to the world-wide success of 2010's album Emotion and Commotion and beyond.Author Martin Power has talked to former Yardbirds members Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty as well as manager Simon Napier-Bell and fellow musicians including Max Middleton, Stanley Clarke, Simon Phillips, Jimmy Hall, Mo Foster, Doug Wimbish and many others. Supported by full album reviews, rare photographs and an up-to-date discography, Hot Wired Guitar is the most complete and comprehensive account of the life and times of Jeff Beck, the man who took the electric guitar and showed the world just what could be done with just six strings and 'one hell of an attitude'.

Originally published in 1930, this little book is not an exposition of the art of violin-playing, nor does it claim to teach a system of technical study. The authors aim was to help students and less experienced teachers through some of the more frequent problems from which they will, almost inevitably, be faced. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Contents Include: Posture and the Holding of the Instrument - 'Bow Measurement' - On Bowing Generally - Intonation - Various Difficulties - Playing of Chords and Chord Passages - Shifting and the Portamento - The Playing of Octaves - Double-Stopping - Harmonics - 'Artificial' Harmonics - Vibrato - Tenths and Fingered Octaves - Memorizing, Playing From Melody - Conclusion, Inspiration, A Repertoire Always Ready

Includes hundreds of chords and chord progressions in all styles in all 12 keys. For beginning to intermediate guitarists. Contains progressions in all styles, including rock, blues, jazz, folk, alternative, country and more.