ESSENTIAL MUSIC BOOKS for piano and keyboard players

Let me give you a tour of the music books I've collected over the years and I'll tell you which are the most essential books for learning piano and keyboards as part of your piano and music lessons curriculum. I'll give you my recommendations for the best piano books for self teaching to give you a good understanding of chords, scales and musical genres. Please use my affiliate links below if you to choose to purchase anything, thanks!
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[@gerardvila4685]

Just for the record (I don't know if Woody's going to read this 2 years later, but worth saying all the same): Playing an instrument and singing are not the same. Yes, once you play one instrument well it's feasible to learn another from books. But singing is a whole different ball game. Instead of buying 2 different singing books, you would have got better value for money buying one or two lessons from a good singing teacher, who will tell you what you are doing wrong (note: this is unpleasant but necessary) and what to do to correct it - usually breathing, posture or both. It doesn't matter what kind of music you want to sing, the basics are the same. Then all you need is practice and time, like any other instrument. If you just want to maintain a decent minimum level the easiest solution might be to join a choir, though you do have to be capable of singing more or less adequately to begin with.

[@sublibrarian]

I would also recommend the Complete Jazz Keyboard Method by Noah Baerman (in 3 vols. beginning-intermediate-advanced each with digital audio downloads or CD)

[@JoseVGavila]

Thanks for the tips, very useful!

[@peterhguk]

Just bought a used PA 300 (nice price!) so I hunted out this video. The Real Book now on order

[@billfriesTPA]

Woody - thank you for the recommendations. I purchased and just started reading “Metaphors for the Musician.” I am about 12 chapters in and I am loving this book! Randy, the author, is sharing all of the tips and tricks of jazz piano he learned along the way and they are all quite good! For example, his “Sequencer” learning pattern in chapter six is brilliant. Also, his tricks for figuring out which chord inversions to use in chapter 10 are solid too. Can’t wait to work through the rest of the book. Thank you again for sharing this video with us!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

glad you're liking the book, I bought it myself based on some very favourable recommendations on a keyboard forum, you've got further through it than I have!

[@alexanderwatt7047]

Hi Woody. I have Jazz & Pop Piano Paradise from Fishel Pustilnik. From entry level to intermediate, I regard these (I have three volumes) as a great, enjoyable resource. These are probably my favourites but I have quite a few others (including the standards real book you mention at the outset)....

[@czeeb9705]

Thanks for the treasure trove of next books to buy. Ordered Metaphors as the first one.

[@SuperWave86]

Nice video!! I have that guitar book you showed learning about everything of the guitar! My favorite book! 📚

[@dennisgoossens3352]

i've only done 20% of this book but it's a must have.... now this Book i haven't even dived into but it's a must have as well... seriously what the hell

[@dessiplaer]

Felix Caveleri (probobly misspelled) was the keyboard player for the Young Rascals. In the sixties, my brother played in a local band.that played a show at which the Rascals were the headliners. Syndicate of Sound, and the Classics were there also. Good video. Thanks for the info.

[@celtickendall]

Two things: 1) Tim Vine is one of the funniest people on the planet. I appreciate your good taste in joke books. A favorite: "A small, blue garden bird, made out of mahogany. Be great if I had a related joke,... wooden tit?") 2) A book recommendation for folkies like me: "Interview with a Vamper" by Peter Barnes. It's mostly a compilation of materials from various folk dance piano workshops over the years at the New England Folk Festival. For all that, it holds a lot of useful notions that sort of amount to very distilled and limited-scope versions of some of your jazz theory books. Also, the author is a tremendous wit.

[@GeoffPlitt]

Great books, woody!

[@VoidloniXaarii]

Andrew Loomis drawing books are IMHO great

[@WoodyPianoShack]

did i have one? you guys don't miss much...

[@mariyaakigawa8351]

Thanks for a tips!

[@dykodesigns]

Jazz piano, I can think of the most feared song in jazz: John Coltrain’s Giant steps! Amazingly complex and his pianist feared it. I also quite like Blue Rondo De La Turk, that song has some interresting tempo changes in it, but the Al jeareau cover version took those out. When it comes to James Brown, Funky drummer is one of those holey grail for drummers to play.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

you might enjoy central park west by coltrane, similar changes to giant steps but different melody and in ballad tempo. beauty!

[@eaglechildkeys]

The Real Book is simply wonderful. The Bible of the musician. True :))

[@dessiplaer]

Alos, did you update you MODX to the new operating system?

[@rolandgerard6064]

I suppose he did but he needs to go through the pattern mode sequencer and all the new functions ;-)

[@WoodyPianoShack]

not released yet afaik, but looking forward to the seq!

[@MrVleker]

Love your channel! Have you checked out the Roli Seaboard? I think it would make an interesting video. Also I would love it if you could take a look at the Korg Triton!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

neither of those are on my hot list of stuff to make vids about, but i appreciate the suggestions nevertheless! :)

[@mr_floydst]

Interesting video on an unexpected topic. Makes me wonder, did you inspire your children to learn piano (oh wait, you just answered that in the video ;-) ). I want my kids to learn an instrument of their choice, but so far, they're not really interested, which is kind of sad. But as far as I remember, that's perfectly normal as I really had no interest in learning the piano when I was a kid, but now I'm quite happy I know the basics. So maybe I should make them learn it for a year or two...

[@WoodyPianoShack]

my kid would love to be able to play piano, but he's not prepared to put any effort into the process. kids today...!!

[@JoseVGavila]

I feel your pain!. My son could have at home any keyboard he wishes (well, I have plenty of them around!) but... no, thanks. Playing the XBOX is lots better, it seems. Oh well...

[@akinolaolufemiolalekan7631]

Pls try to motivate them to put a lot to it. Cause they'll thank you in future.

[@akinolaolufemiolalekan7631]

Love this video. it's highly inspiring. But pls what do you do for a living.

[@qqryqq123]

any chance you could share the forum you got the... mp3s...? I also purchased the "wrong version" of the book unfortunately (couldn't fine the right one on amazon uk)

[@PeterWalkerHP16c]

Teaching little fingers to play.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

that's a tough one

[@PeterWalkerHP16c]

@@WoodyPianoShack Not as tough as my music teacher and her ruler were in 1967. It's still in print.

[@hartleygabolinscy3152]

👍👍👍🌏👍👍👍

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

I bought the Denyer guitar book rather soon after I started playing guitar. Wonderful book, but there's so much in, including so much advanced stuff that it gets intimidating and maybe even discouraging, so beginners might better stay away from it (which advice probably has the opposite effect).