Music Textbooks

[HarleyMan]

Background: Age 54. Beginning piano 'student'.  Voracious reader.

I am looking for one or two good Music Theory textbooks. 

Goal:  Expanding my knowledge of music and music theory. 

I have worked through a couple of Alfred’s and Bastien’s piano theory method books for the 'Older beginner' and now I am looking for something more.  Something like a textbook presentation of Music Theory with indexes that allow me to find something when I need it. (Method books are deficient in this respect.)    Perhaps something like the textbooks used in a Music Theory I & II at the freshman or sophomore year University undergraduate level class.

Below are some texts I found on Borders/Amazon websites and I was wondering if some of the Piano Forum members have taken any classes based on these texts.  If so, what is you opinion of them?  Is any one of these much better than the others, much clearer or more helpful as a reference?  Textbooks (in any discipline) tend to be expensive …so I don't want to blindly purchase poor ones that are difficult to follow or that absolutely require an Instructor to explain every concept in the text. 


1. Piano for the Developing Musician by Martha Hilley, Lynn Freeman Olson ($74.95 New)

2.  Music in Theory and Practice Vol 1 w/ Anthology CD  by Bruce Benward, Marilyn Saker, Bruce Benward ($54.14 New)
2a. Workbook Music in Theory and Practice Vol 1 plus Finale software  by Bruce Benward, Bruce Benward ($28.12 New)
2b. Ear Training w/Transcription CD by Bruce Benward, J. Timothy Kolosick ($57.50)
2c. Music in Theory and Practice Vol 2 with Anthology CD by Bruce Benward, Marilyn Saker, Bruce Benward ($56.25 New)
2d. Wkbk Music in Theory and Practice Vol 2 plus Finale software by Bruce Benward, Bruce Benward ($28.12 New)


3.Music Fundamentals by Elvo S. D'Amante  ($41.76 New)

4. Music for Analysis: Examples from the Common Practice Period and the Twentieth Century  by Thomas Benjamin  ($6.99 used)
4a. Techniques and Materials of Music: From the Common Practice Period through the Twentieth Century by Thomas Benjamin, Michael Horvit, Robert Nelson


5. The Complete Musician Textbook: An Integrated Approach to Tonal Theory, Analysis and Listening by Steven G. Laitz  ($145.00 New)  Weight 7.5 pounds!!

6. The Elements of Music: Concepts and Applications, Vol. I
by Ralph Turek (New $74.68)

6a. The Elements of Music: Concepts and Applications, Vol. II
by Ralph Turek ( New $68.43)
There are also a couple of Ear Training texts/workbooks with CDs from this same author.



7.Foundations of Diatonic Theory: A Mathematically Based Approach to
Music Fundamentals (Mathematics Across the Curriculum) by Timothy A. Johnson  (New $26.37)  (As a mathematician...I find it hard to resist buying this one).

Comments about these and suggestions of other texts to consider will be SINCERELY appreciated,
TIA,
  Harley


Supplemental books that look interesting:
A. Music by Heart Lilias Mackinnon ($25.50 used)
B. Piano Technique Consisting of the Two Complete Books the Shortest Way to Pianistic Perfection and Rhythmics, Dynamics, Pedal and Other Problems of Piby Walter Gieseking, Karl Leimer  ($6.26 new paperback)

[SteinwayTony]

5. The Complete Musician Textbook: An Integrated Approach to Tonal Theory, Analysis and Listening by Steven G. Laitz  ($145.00 New)  Weight 7.5 pounds!!

The Music Theory course (four levels) at my university uses this book.  Apparently it's one of the best.  I don't think I paid that much for it, though.  Try www.bn.com -- I got it from them.

I also purchased the Gieseking book for my own pleasure, but it is not a theory book. 

[Pianostudy]

I'd go with the Turek.. he explains everything very thougthfully and thoroughly.  You can get any of these texts used on amazon for about half the cost than anywhere else.  Also try www.bigwords.com.  But the Turek is the best from my experience.

[bernhard]

Have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,1915.msg14894.html#msg14894
(books on piano history and interviews with pianists)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2949.msg25928.html#msg25928
(Books that deal with the more philosophical side of piano playing)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3006.msg26280.html#msg26280
(comparison between Sandor and Fink)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3034.msg26512.html#msg26512
(best theory books)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2719.msg27081.html#msg27081
(things that improve playing – lots of books)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3200.msg28099.html#msg28099
(Discussion of books including Chang e Sandor – good discussion between John Reef and xvimbi on tension)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3307.msg29126.html#msg29126
(Bernhard discusses negative reviews of Fink’s book)


https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4212.msg39204.html#msg39204
(Discussion of Charles Rosen book – especially in relation to reading books while practising)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4424.msg41175.html#msg41175
(books on music notation)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5306.msg50454.html#msg50454
(books on improvisation)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5619.msg54517.html#msg54517
(books on piano technique)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5629.msg54681.html#msg54681
(advanced theory books)

Supplemental books that look interesting:
A. Music by Heart Lilias Mackinnon ($25.50 used)
B. Piano Technique Consisting of the Two Complete Books the Shortest Way to Pianistic Perfection and Rhythmics, Dynamics, Pedal and Other Problems of Piby Walter Gieseking, Karl Leimer  ($6.26 new paperback)

These are both excellent for memorising music - the psychological theory is probably outdated - but it does not matter - no one really knows waht memory is or how it works, so any theory is going to be outdated sooner or later. But the tricks and procedures are spot on. Both books are worth their weight in gold (or in platinum, or in uranium, whatever is the most expensive right now).

Best wishes,
Bernhard

[HarleyMan]

The Music Theory course (four levels) at my university uses this book.  Apparently it's one of the best.  I don't think I paid that much for it, though.  Try www.bn.com -- I got it from them.

I also purchased the Gieseking book for my own pleasure, but it is not a theory book. 

Thanks SteinwayTony!
Fortunately, it turned out that the local University library has this one and since I'll be taking classes starting Monday I won't even have to buy until the semester is over.
 

I'd go with the Turek.. he explains everything very thougthfully and thoroughly. You can get any of these texts used on amazon for about half the cost than anywhere else. Also try www.bigwords.com. But the Turek is the best from my experience.

I am ordering the Volume I (used) and the workbook (new) and CDs next week.  The library didn't have this one but after checking around it looks like several major universities are using Turek's books for Music Theory classes.  And I like the idea of CDs for Ear Training.  If I like the first volume, I'll order the second volume and workbooks later.
Thanks for the feedback PianoStudy!!

2. Michael Miller – The complete Idiot’s guide to music theory. (Alpha).

Covers more ground than Taylor (melody, harmony, composition and arrangement) and is written in a light, enjoyable way. Does not really covers anything in much depth but it is excellent as an introduction to the subject, and as preparation for more solid stuff (e.g. Walter Piston’s “Harmony”)

Bernhard...have you used Harry Larayne & Jerry Lucas's 'Memory Book' techniques to memorize every post in PianoForum?  I really thought I had searched for references but I found very little compared to the list you provided above! 

Many, many thanks Bernhard!!
I picked up a copy of  'Michael Miller – The complete Idiot’s guide to music theory' this morning and I feel like an idot for not getting a copy of it earlier.  I've always shyed away from the 'idiot' series books.  But this IS a good one as you indicated above. 

I also ordered the Walter Gieseking book. Can't see how I can go wrong for $6.95. 

As for the many, many additional books which you and others suggested in the posts that you referenced above,  I'll be over in the GMU Library on Monday looking for them.  I think you've given me enough to keep me busy for a couple of hours....days....weeks or years here.....

Thanks again,
  Harley

[DogFriedRice]

On Amazon, people are selling an older edition of Piano for the Developing Musician (Martha Hilley, Lynn Freeman Olson) for $3.00 used!!!  I read through the TOC and it seems interesting...  Hell, for $3.00, how can you lose?