Promising

Haven't really got stuck into this yet, but from what I have looked at/tried it presents things in a simple way for those without any musical knowledge or skill. I've already picked up a few tricks.

Stunning

This play is amazing! The techniques Churchill uses to keep your interest are interesting in themselves. A fantastic plot that keeps you engrossed. A brilliant play that combines the issues of class and gender in an unusual way. A joy to study, going to see this play is is a must.

Review # 61

With 60 other reviews here, I doubt anyone will wade through them to read this, but if you have, then it's appreciated.<br />Why I took the time to write this is because the 'Slash' is one of the best rock 'n' roll books you will ever read. And if you've got a 'must-read' list of books for your life, then this one should be added.<br />And it's not one of those large type 'quick-reads,' this type is quite small but comfortable on the eye nevertheless, and will give you your money's worth.<br />As others have mentioned, Slash is brutally honest with his story, and this is commendable, even though he's lucky to have survived the perils of heroin and booze addiction.<br />No one is ever truly clean of any addiction, it niggles away from time to time year's later, but I hope Perla, London, and Cash keep Slash on the right track; he's got a good few years, and albums in him yet; and the grandaddy years will suit him.

Sleepergirl tells all (maybe)

I have one Sleeper CD (picked up from a charity shop) and can vaguely remember some of their other song titles, which doesn't make me a big fan. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Louise Wener's good-humoured trawl through her quest for pop stardom, from early days as a geeky bespectacled preteen to photogenic rentagob darling of the indie press in the heady days of Britpop.<br /><br />The book's at least as much about Wener's upbringing and prestardom days as it is about tales of stoned or drunken excess as flavour of the month indie popstar and for that I was grateful. As a near contemporary I could relate to several aspects of Wener's childhood, taping the Top 40 on cassette every Sunday evening, watching Top of The Pops with dismayed and appalled parents, etc.<br /><br />Wener's tone is witty, rather sardonic and slightly amused, almost as though she can't quite believe that people were taking her seriously while she said the most outrageous things she could think of to wind up journalists and get all important coverage (and cover pictures, where the mags wanted the doe eyed 'It Girl' lead singer without her Sleeperbloke band nonentities).<br /><br />I'd have liked more about the actual music, if only to remind myself of some of their songs which are a fairly hazy memory now, but if Sleeper didn't in the end win the Britpop War, Wener and her long term partner (and former Sleeper drummer) seem to have won a post music industry peace.<br /><br />Oh, by the way, there's a ringing endorsement on the book cover from Fearne Cotton but please don't let that put you off - it's a darned good read.

Superb resource

I use this regularly in drama clubs and in a variety of lessons for KS2 children. It offers a range of games categorised by purpose (eg training voice, energising, imagination etc)so it's easy to pick starter games for the particular session you have planned. I've also used the games in Xmas parties and such like as well as time fillers at the end of the day. An invaluable resource for any teacher.

Music Theory in Practise - Grade 2

This grade 2 theory book is good practise for those eager to progress in music studies. It continues on from Music Theory in Practise Grade 1, with more and harder exercises. This book extends some of the topics already covered in Grade 1 and also introduces some more complex theory. It contains exercises in:
· Ledger lines
· Time Signatures
· The Major Keys of A, B flat and E flat
· Triplets
· The minor keys of A, E and D
· Grouping of notes and rests
· Intervals
· Composing simple four-bar rhythms
There is also a list of performance directions required for the Grade 2 Music Theory exam, and some exercises, which are good revision of everything covered in the book. Most sections contain brief instructions. For a full understanding The AB Guide to Music Theory should be bought. There are references throughout the Grade 2 Music Theory Book to the AB Guide. The Grade 2 book covers everything required for the Grade 2 Exam. I would definitely recommend this book.

Excelent!

This was another excelent purchase, it arrived on time in great condition and was exactly what i was looking for!

Othello

It's difficult for me to review this as it was bought for my son for his AS level course, so I expect it is useful to him but whether it is good.....well is any book good when you HAVE to read and study it!!!

Music Theory For Dummies

An excellent book for anyone who is interested in learning the basics of Music theory, allthough slightly disjointed it covers most basic aspects of theory and is very useful in helping understand the nessassary principles of theory. The only real problem with it is the Americanized terminology, and the correct names of notes being substituted for the over the pond counterparts.<br />Overall A good read and a deffinate must for teaching aids or to set you off on your way to becoming a knowledgable Musician.

Sexy Sadie's Story

Sadie Frost is, or was, a tabloid regular thanks to her membership of the privileged Primrose Hillbillies set and marriages to Gary Kemp and Jude Law. Now she puts her side of the story or at least as much as Jude Law's lawyers will let her.<br /><br />M'learned friends certainly had their blue pencil out before this book hit the printers. Miss Frost explains why her marriage to Gary Kemp broke up (he was too earnest and intellectual - yes, that surprised me as well. They are not the sort of adjectives you normally associate with pop stars) but there is nary a mention of why the one to Mr Law failed, certainly no mentions of infidelities or nannies. One page they are together and then they split. Nor is there any explanation (for"legal and privacy" reasons) about what really happened at that infamous children's party in Soho (p219) that made headlines a few years back.<br /><br />Miss Frost does talk about her own drug taking (pp118, 128, 161, passim); her insecurity and her dysfunctional relationship with her father (passim) - could they be related?; her severe post-natal depression that had her sectioned while in America (pp227-228); how when she worked for Francis Ford Coppola the hairdresser hired for the film was not interested in the hair on her head (surely, it's bush not tush?) (pp185-186) and her obvious love for her children (passim).<br /><br />Perhaps we have no right to know certain aspects of someone's life but then if you want to keep your life private, don't write an autobiography. <br /><br />Crazy Days could have done with a proof reader - Marrakech is the preferred spelling and we meet Mark Bolan (Marc); Meg Matthews (it's Mathews); Fran Culter (Cutler); Stephen Spielberg (Steven); Pete Docherty (Doherty); Spizzenergi (not Spizz Energy); Beatrice Dahl (it's Dalle) and the fashionable thoroughfare in west London is King's Road not the King's Road.<br /><br />Should you splash out £19.99 on the book? No, and here on amazon you don't have to but if you want to read more about Sadie Frost's childhood and early career than about her later life, then you will probably enjoy it...<br /><br />

First Steps in Music Theory: Grades 1 to 5

This little book is a brilliant guide for the beginner in music theory, or for the student who just needs to brush up on basic knowledge. It is suitable for children and adults and explains such matters as rhythm, key signatures, time signatures and virtually all the details of basic music theory in a straightforward and easy-to-understand way.
There are very few really"easy" guides around on music theory, but this must be one of the best.

A pair of star-cross'd lovers

Two teenagers from rival families fall in love, marry secretly, and take their own lives rather than live without each other. Despite the teenage melodrama,"Romeo and Juliet" remains one of Shakespeare's most enduring and popular plays, even if it wasn't his best -- lots of death, teen lovers and enchanting dialogue. <br /><br />In the city of Verona, the Montagues and Capulets are locked in a deadly feud. Then a Montague teen named Romeo, infatuated with a Capulet girl named Rosaline, sneaks into a party to see her.... but instead encounters another Capulet girl named Juliet, and the two immediately fall in love. Since their families hate each other, their love must be expressed in secret. <br /><br />Hoping to unite the two families, the kindly priest Friar Lawrence assists the two in marrying in secret. But then Juliet's cousin Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel, leading to the death of two men -- and Romeo's exile from Verona. Even worse, the Capulets have decided to marry Juliet to Count Paris -- leading to a desperate plan that goes horribly awry. <br /><br />This edition also has Jacqueline Ritten's"Juliet's Story: A Retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet," a rather nice if excessively"teenagerish" short story that tells of Juliet's memories and inner thoughts. <br /><br />"Romeo and Juliet" is a play that is hard to pin down -- some see it as the poetry-laden embodiment of romantic love, while others view it as Shakespeare's witty jabs at fickle teenage infatuation and how melodramatic the kids are (Juliet is only thirteen!). But whatever you think it is, it's undeniable that it's a beautifully written, often-wrenching story. <br /><br />Despite the simplicity of the story, Shakespeare spins it in a silken web of lush poetry ("O swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon/That monthly changes in her circled orb") and the famous speeches where Romeo and Juliet speak at night on a balcony. The mostly romantic play takes a dark turn towards the end, when only a few minutes might have changed the fates of"Juliet and her Romeo." <br /><br />And Shakespeare seems rather fond of his characters here, depicting Romeo as a passionate young boy and Juliet as rather sweetly insecure young girl; there's also a fairly good cast of young men whose spirits are more elevated than their brains, and the kindly friar who rather naively hopes to use the kids to create peace. <br /><br />But Shakespeare was also clearly aware that passionate teenage love is not necessarily the truest love ("Young men's love then lies/Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes"), and leaves you wondering what might have happened if Romeo and Juliet had lived. <br /><br />Whether a gentle mockery of young love or a passionate, idealized romance,"Romeo and Juliet" is a timeless and lovely little play. Not the best of the Bard, but still quite good.

Not Exactly Cheery!

Euripides wasn't exactly known for his light hearted approach to drama, but these are exciting plays. Short, pithy and to the point, violent, grim human dramas, the gut wrenching positions in which the characters find themselves evoke empathy even after all these centuries. Because of their humanity it saves the plays from some of the ridiculous situations and conventions that Greek drama of the day demanded, the Deus Ex Machina, the sometimes stilted chorus, the random tragic acts that just happen. It's still great drama, and that's what matters after all.

Great little intro

This is an enjoyable and very clear introduction to what can often be a rather obscure domain. I can warmly recommend it to anyone who's reading this!