Rock Band video games have inspired many players to pick up a real instrument. The Rock Band and Rock Band 2 Play-Along series from Hal Leonard Corporation make it easy to learn the songs that made the video game a hit.
These guides are available in a variety of instruments: guitar, bass, drums, alto and tenor sax, trumpet, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, trombone, and more. Players listen to an included CD to hear how their part should sound, and then play along using the backing tracks. In most cases lyrics are also included for reference.
Rock Band Pla y-Along Series, Hal Leonard Corporation, Milwaukee, WI, 2007-2009.
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The Jazz Singer’s Guidebook: A Course in Jazz Harmony and Scat Singing for the Serious Jazz Vocalist
This clear, step-by-step approach is designed to help singers improve their grasp of jazz harmony and gain more control of the music they sing. The Jazz Singer’s Guidebook covers the basics of accompanying yourself on piano, writing good lead sheets, music structure, improvisation, embellishments, melody variations, scat solos, and more. An included CD contains 41 examples from the book.
The Jazz Singer’s Guidebook: A Course in Jazz Harmony and Scat Singing for the Serious Jazz Vocalist, by David Berkman, Sher Music, Petaluma, CA, 2009.
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The Opera Companion
A catalog of major operas lists composers, librettists, as well as dates and places where the operas were first performed. Designed as a reference for devoted opera fans, as well as a guide for beginners, the book explains the structure of opera in chapters on the overture, melody, aria, and recitative. A short history of opera and a glossary are also included.
The Opera Companion, by George Martin, Amadeus Press, New York, NY, 2008
Song Writing: A Complete Guide to the Craft
This guide to song writing is the perfect reference for all songwriters, no matter the genre. Seasoned songwriters will
find a go-to reference and beginners will find a step-by-step guide. Stephen Citron blends the art and science of songwriting, breaking down a composition to its most basic elements and then analyzing and explaining it in language that even a novice will understand.
No prior knowledge of music composition and theory is needed, as he clearly and concisely guides readers from conceiving a good idea to putting down words to advanced concepts like rhythm, rhyme, meter, melody, and harmony. It also gives up-to-date information and tips for getting your song arranged, recorded, and copyrighted.
Song Writing: A Complete Guide to the Craft, by Stephen Citron, Limelight Editions, New York, NY, 2008.
The Singer’s Companion: A Guide to Improving Your Voice and Performance
Brent Monahan simplifies the art of learning to sing well by providing practical advice andtechniques taught by renowned experts, universities, and conservatories. Monahan, a professional singer in many genres, has been teaching for 30 years. He covers a comprehensive list of topics such as stance, breathing, phonation, resonance, range, choosing a teacher, vocal exercise, diction, interpretation, and selecting material. The book is peppered with dozens of charming quotes and advice from brilliant singers and teachers.
The Singer’s Companion: A Guide to Improving Yourur Voice andandand PerfPerfPerfPerformanance, by Brent Jeffrey Monahan, Limelight Editions, Pompton Plains, NJ, 2006.
Song: The World’s Best Songwriters on Creating the Music
that Moves Us
From American Songwriter magazine comes this compilation of songwriting wisdom from 100 of the biggest names in the business, covering all genres from rock to folk to alternative. Song includes interviews with such greats as Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens, Jack Johnson, Ray Charles, John Denver, Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, Beck, Lou Reed, and Roger Miller.
Song is an entertaining and informative guide to the craft of songwriting and a resource for aspiring, amateur, or professional musicians.
Song: The World’s Best Songwriters on Creating the Music that Moves Us, edited by Douglas Waterman, Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, OH, 2007.
The Very Best of Frank Sinatra: Original Keys for Singers
Frank Sinatra has been called the greatest singer in American pop history and one of the most successful entertainers of the 20th century. Hal Leonard’s The Very Best of Frank Sinatra contains 40 swinging Sinatra classic tunes arranged in their original keys, including: “Come Fly with Me”; “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”; “It Was a Very Good Year”; “My Way”; “Night and Day”; “Summer Wind”; “The Way You Look Tonight”; “You Make Me Feel So Young”; and more.
The Very Best of Frank Sinatra: Original Keys for Singers, Hal Leonard Corporation, Milwaukee, WI, 2006.
Lyrics: Writing Better Words for Your Songs
Even the most prolific of songwriters have moments where they have trouble coming up with the right words. Lyrics offers advice for those times and provides tips for the whole lyric-writing process. The book includes a comprehensive sourcebook showing how lyric ideas are used in rock and pop music, and interviews with some of today’s most interesting and celebrated songwriters.
Lyrics: Writing Better Words for Your Songs, by Rikky Rooksby, Backbeat Books, San Francisco, CA, 2006.
101 Singing Tips and 101 Recording Tips: Stuff All the Pros Know
The book 101 Singing Tips presents valuable how-to insight that singers of all styles and levels will benefit from. Topics covered include: vocal and breathing exercises, staying healthy, preparation, technique, understanding music, singing harmony, microphones, and career advice. Photos, examples, and diagrams throughout the book make it an easy-to-use reference. An accompanying CD contains 43 demo tracks.
In 101 Recording Tips you’ll find suggestions, advice, and other information garnered through a lifetime of home and pro studio adventures. Many tips were learned firsthand from legendary producers, engineers, and artists. An accompanying CD includes 30 demo tracks for nearly one hour of audio demonstrations.
The books’ author, Adam St. James, is a longtime music journalist and has been a lead singer
in many bands. During the course of his career he has interviewed many singers and much of their advice went into preparing this book.
101 Singing Tips: Stuff All the Pros Know and Use and 101 Recording Tips: Stuff All the Pros Know and Use, by Adam St. James, Hal Leonard Corporation, Milwaukee, WI, 2006 and 2004.
The Frustrated Songwriter’s Handbook
Whether you are a total novice or a seasoned pro, The Frustrated Songwriter’s Handbook will revolutionize the way you write music and tap into your creative resources.
Its immersion musical method is designed to help you smash through creative blocks, become recklessly prolific, and make quantum leaps in compositional skills. Co-authors Nicholas Dobson—who has been writing music since the age of 11—and Karl Coryat—author of Backbeat’s Guerrilla Home Recording—promise to help you eliminate your songwriting phobias, form a self-motivated group of composer friends, sort through your best ideas, concoct new musical styles, and use technology to increase your creativity.
The Frustrated Songwriter’s Handbook: A Radical Guide to Cutting Loose, Overcoming Blocks, and Writing the Best Songs of Your Life, by Karl Coryat and Nicholas Dobson, Backbeat Books, San Francisco, CA, 2006.
American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today
Organized by decade, American Singing Groups is an exciting history of popular music in the US. Entries detail each group’s career, key members, and influences plus comprehensive discography of each. This one-of-a-kind reference is filled with musical facts and rare photos that will fascinate fans and collectors.
Author Jay Warner is a six-time Grammy Award-winning music publisher, record collector, and music historian with a vinyl collection of more than 100,000 recordings. Much of the information in this compendium comes from his personal knowledge of pop musicians and more than 100 artist interviews.
American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today, by Jay Warner, Hal Leonard Corporation, Milwaukee, WI, 2006.
Opera: The Basics
Opera: The Basics is an ideal guide for students or anyone who is interested in learning more about this enduring and well-loved style of music, and its history over four centuries. The book is organized in two parts. The first part, Terms and Topics, traces the origins of opera, introduces the reader to basic opera terminology, and discusses artistic and social expression in opera. In part two—Genres, Styles, and Scores—the book explores the history of major genres and styles, including serious, comic, and vernacular opera. Sidebars throughout the book explore key opera figures and topics relating to the genre’s heritage.
The resource section of the book is a comprehensive bibliography, discography, videography, and a list of websites relating to opera. Author, Denise Gallo, is a senior music specialist at The Library of Congress and co-director of the Music History Division at The Catholic University of America.
Opera: The Basics, by Denise Gallo, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, New York, NY, 2006.
Lyrics: Complete Lyrics for 1,001 Songs, from Yesterday’s Favorites
to Today’s Hits
In Lyrics: Compete Lyrics for 1,001 Songs from Yesterday’s Favorites to Today’s Hits is a useful and fun reference for musicians and fans alike. An unprecedented collection of popular lyrics that will appeal to all music fans, it includes songs from yesterday and today, from Broadway to Rock ‘n’ Roll. Songs are indexed by title, artist, songwriter, and musical, film, or television. Highlights include: “Against the Wind,” “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Hakuna Matata,” “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” “MacArthur Park,” “Rocket Man,” and “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.”
Lyrics: Complete Lyrics for 1,001 Songs, from Yesterday’s Favorites to Today’s Hits, Hal Leonard Corporation, Milwaukee, WI, 2006. Unlocking the Masters
Opera's First Master
The Unlocking the Masters series examines the work and impact of individual composers. Each book comes with at least one CD to creatively link music and text.
In The Great Instrumental Works author M. Owen Lee discusses composers in chronological order and groups them according to the various traditions in which they wrote, giving readers an overall view of how classical music has developed over the past three centuries. Lee includes little-known biographical tidbits that entertain and amaze, while readers come to understand how music expresses feelings.
In Shostakovich Symphonies and Concertos: An Owner’s Manual David Hurwitz explores Dmitri Shostakovich’s 15 symphonies and six concertos, work by work. It also explores his life (1906-1975) and the challenges he faced as a citizen and artist living in the rigid Soviet regime.
Claudio Monteverdi has been called the first great opera composer and Opera’s First Master: The Musical Dramas of Claudio Monteverdi traces his development as a composer, places his operatic works within the musical and theatrical framework of his era, and details the complex forces that led to the emergence of opera in late 16th century Florence.
Chopin: A Listener’s Guide to the Master of the Piano takes a detailed tour through the life and works of Federic Chopin, master of the keyboard.
Composer of The Nutcracker, one of the most popular works ever penned, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a composer of sublime music, whose work was rooted in personal torment. Author Daniel Felsenfeld guides readers through some of the “Little Russian’s” beloved works in Tchaikovsky: A Listener’s Guide.
Unlocking the Masters Series: The Great Instrumental Works, by M. Owen Lee; Shostakovich Symphonies and Concertos, An Owners Manual, by David Hurwitz; Opera’s First Master: The Musical Dramas of Claudio Monteverdi, by Mark Ringer; Chopin: A Listener’s Guide to the Master of the Piano, by Victor Lederer; Tchaikovsky: A Listener’s Guide, by Daniel Felsenfeld, Amadeus Press, Pompton Plains, NJ, 2006.
Vocal Workouts for the Contemporary Singer
Vocal exercises are key to a healthy and powerful singing voice. Vocal Workouts for the Contemporary Singer provides complete exercise circuits to match all voice types and levels. Grounded in tradition, yet updated for singers of rock, R&B, hip hop, and other contemporary styles, these 26 exercises will help expand your technique, power, stamina, range, and expressive breadth. The accompanying sing-along CD makes vocal exercises and practice always accessible.
The book also includes routines to organize practice time according to your skill level and schedule, as well as detailed descriptions and helpful tips for how to develop and maintain your voice. This comprehensive singing guide also offers advice on vocal study and auditioning.
Vocal Workouts for the Contemporary Singer, by Anne Peckham, Berklee Press, Boston, MA, 2006.
The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Opera
One of the most exciting and enduring forms of entertainment, opera has given rise to countless passions over the centuries. The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Opera explores the dramatic and ever-changing world of this complex art form, tracing its roots from Ancient Greece through to the present day. This volume is ideal for background reading, study, or as a reference, and is a beautiful publication for both beginning and seasoned opera fans everywhere.
The book is written by a team of experts in the field and organized chronologically by era, with each section containing biographies of major composers, librettists, and singers of the period. Detailed synopses of more than 200 operas are supported by more than 500 vivid illustrations and plot and character outlines. Recommended recording boxes suggest the best CDs and DVDs available for listening to and watching opera at home, and cross-referencing allows readers to follow a subject of interest in more detail.
The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Opera, edited by Stanley Sadie et al., Billboard Books, New York, NY, 2004.
How to Write Songs on Keyboards
How to Write Songs on Keyboard teaches both guitarists and keyboardists the basics of writing. It provides guidance to those who have never written a song, and helps all song writers improve song structure and lyrics.
The book is laid out in easy-to-follow diagrams, and every music example and technique can be heard on the accompanying 90-track CD. Even aspiring tunesmiths with no previous keyboard experience will be able to find effective and inspiring chords for their songs. The book covers simple major and minor chords, inversions, chord sequences, and harmonies.
How to Write Songs on Keyboards: A Complete Course to Help You Write Better Songs, by Rikky Rooksby, Backbeat Books, San Francisco, CA, 2005.
Choral Music in the 20th Century
Choral Music in the Twentieth Century is a comprehensive guide to choral music, covering secular, sacred, folk, and jazz-influenced music for vocal ensembles. The book follows the history of the music from early days of the century, to the very recent past.
The book’s geographical scope is just as sweeping. Arranged by region, it includes not only European and American idioms but also less familiar ones from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Choral Music in the Twentieth Century, by Nick Strimple, Amadeus Press, Pompton Plains, NJ, 2005.
Singing Salsa: Techniques, Traditions, and Applications
In this 43-minute DVD professional salsa singer Willy Torres teaches the techniques and secrets of traditional and modern salsa singing.
The exciting bilingual DVD covers breathing, warm-ups, and three-part harmony. Bolero, son, guaracha, salsa, and other forms are explained in detail. Torres also discusses improvising techniques and gives performance tips. The DVD features full-band demos from some of the hottest players of Latin music.
Singing Salsa: Techniques, Traditions, and Applications, featuring Willy Torres, Hal Leonard Corporation, Milwaukee, WI, 2004.
Writing Dylan: The Songs of a Lonesome Traveler
Few in popular music have had as varied a career and as lasting an impact Bob Dylan, whose songs have entered the cultural consciousness in a way that some call revolutionary. In this bold and comprehensive new study, the definitive guide to Dylan’s work, author Larry David Smith explores the convergence of biography, artistic philosophy, and musical style in Bob Dylan’s output.
The author, who was granted unprecedented use of Dylan’s lyrics in his analysis, interprets Dylan’s narratives, characters, plots, and values, and reveals the artist’s mission-oriented approach to art. Writing Dylan tackles each period of its subject’s five-decade career, offering an inventive investigation into the thought behind the craft.
Writing Dylan: The Songs of a Lonesome Traveler, by Larry David Smith, Praeger Publishers, Westport, CT, 2005.
Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encylopedia
Uncloudy Days, it is a compendium of profiles of the influential names in gospel music, following the careers of over 650 gospel artists and personalities from 1900 to the present. It uncovers the histories of artists that will be familiar to gospel music fans such as Thomas Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, Clara Ward, and the Winans, as well as some who may be unknown.
The 100-plus interviews reveal many stories for the first time. Author Bil Carpenter relates such fascinating tales as how a sex scandal almost silenced the Boys Choir of Harlem and how 615-pound Gloria Spencer suffered circus-like exploitation. The book also includes a glossary of gospel terms, gospel trivia, and lists of best-selling gospel and gospel crossover hits.
Accompanying the book is a 14-song CD, featuring new gospel music by Mavis Staples, Ann McCrary, and Bryan Wilson, as well as some classics.
Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia, by Bil Carpenter, Backbeat Books, San Francisco, CA, 2005.
Songwriting Secrets: Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen fans love the Boss because he writes songs that are pleasing to the ear and easy to relate to. Author Rikky Rooksby examines the styles employed by Springsteen, from complex sound structures found in his early albums to the folk simplicity of his later work.
Songwriting Secrets: Bruce Springsteen, is a tribute to Springsteen’s talent and an instructional book for aspiring songwriters. Rooksby deconstructs Springsteen’s verse and chorus construction, chord sequences, and lyrical composition. A career overview and annotated discography are also included.
Songwriting Secrets: Bruce Springsteen, by Rikky Rooksby, Backbeat Books, San Francisco, CA, 2005.
The Right Way to Sing
These days, reality shows such as American Idol and Rockstar INXS perpetuate the myth that the only good singers have a wealth of natural talent. Many forget that the voice is an instrument that can be trained and mastered. That’s precisely why Linda Marquart, a professional voice instructor, has written The Right Way to Sing.
Amateur vocalists, choir members, voice coaches—all will learn about the intricacies of the human voice. Covering basic and advanced techniques, the book invokes Marquart’s depth of experience to help vocalists with basic terminology, proper breathing, posture, sight reading, and more.
The book features an introduction by Tony award-winning singer Lea Salonga. If you have any interest in harnessing the power of your voice, or if you’re an instructor looking to engage your students with straightforward yet effective techniques, The Right Way to Sing will show you how.
The Right Way to Sing, by Linda Marquart, Allworth Press, New York, NY, 2005.
Songwriting Success: How to Write Songs for Fun and (Maybe) Profit
Songwriting can seem like an overwhelming process involving extensive knowledge of musical language and theory—often leaving a beginner frustrated. In Songwriting Success: How to Write Songs for Fun and (Maybe) Profit, author Michael Lydon breaks down the crafts of melody and lyric writing into easily digested lessons that anyone can follow.
Lydon, a songwriter and founding editor of Rolling Stone magazine, addresses the following questions: Should I work on the music or the lyrics first? What makes a lyric memorable? Should I start with the chorus? How important is the ability to read music? Lyndon shows the beginner how to integrate the craft’s many skills. The companion CD takes budding songwriters step-by-step through the writing of a song—from the initial idea through crafting melodic hooks and catchy choruses to rating a demo version for marketing the song.
Songwriting Success: How to Write Songs for Fun and (Maybe) Profit, by Michael Lydon, Rotledge, New York, NY, 2004.
