Classical Music for Dummies by David Pogue

Classical Music for Dummies Reviews

• 
  Marleen

  This fun, friendly and well-thought-out guidebook (for non-initated) has been on my bedside table for the better part of 2011. Each night I would read snippets and get a better understanding of what classical music is all about. For an entire year I would pick 1 composer every two or three weeks, read about him and then go to the library to get his main work on multiple CDs. I would listen to the various pieces (on my iPod, at home, sometimes at work, or in the car), then I'd move on to another composer. It's remarkable that composing music is indeed a men's business.
  My personal foray & exploration into the world of classical music is far from over. It will take me years and years (and years!) to get a broader knowledge of classical music, but that's the fun part. There's so much to discover!
  When I was younger I remember not liking this music and not being open at all for this genre, but strangely enough now that I turned 50 I'm totally embracing it. I think people are open to things when the time is right, I guess. Like a switch that's being turned on.
  So far, I'm enjoying Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Mozart, Bach and Smetana best of all, but there's many other great composers to discover! Classical music is a never-ending treasure-hunt and I'm glad I caught the bug.
• 
  Jasmine Wheeler

  This book is quite a fun read. The authors, unlike some other classical music historians, try very hard to make it fun and user-friendly, and in my case it worked! Readers will laugh when they read this fun book. It covers the history of classical music, why it's important, concert guidelines, and much, much, more!
  
• 
  Jenny

  Loves it. Great humour and a good amount of info. Just what I was after.
• 
  Dana

  Thought this would be a good introduction into classical music. Luckily I had already watched a course on classical music (How to Listen to Great Music by Robert Greenberg) and so was familiar with a number of the great composers and pieces of music this book discusses. There are a wide variety of topics covered and though it is more introductory in nature I learned a ton and recommend it to anyone who wants to get into classical music. I really enjoyed looking up the different pieces of music recommended in the book and listening to them as I read it. I have now slowly begun to be able to identify the kinds of classical music, or rather concert music, that I like.
• 
  Curtis

  An excellent resource covering structure, history, theory, culture and performance.
• 
  Ken

  This was a useful book. Although we have been going to classical music concerts for a couple of years now, I still consider myself a classical music rookie and not particularly knowledgeable. Now I feel like I have a good foundation to build on as I learn more about classical music. One of the most helpful sections for me was the history of classical music, which surveyed major movements in music with spotlights on the important composers from each period. I learned that I had no good idea of when Mozart or Strauss was alive, but now I know. Another useful section contained information on the structures of composition types, such as symphonies, rhapsodies, and concertos. With knowledge from this section, especially, I feel like I will better understand the music at the next concert we attend.
• 
  Bonnie Elise

  I would love to take a college-level course from these guys. This book is really funny, not to mention well-written and laid out, fascinating at times, interesting at others, and a great way to learn a topic I have very little experience with. We read the 80 page chapter on the composers of classical music during dinner with the kids. The stories about the composer's lives were very entertaining.
• 
  Alex

  Fun, informative, and easy to read! This book is great for anyone who wants to learn A LOT of things, but not too in depth. It gives a nice overview of classical music. Really good to use as a kind of handbook.
• 
  Quang-Thanh

  It should be a very quick read. The book provides enough info, not too much, not too little, just right amount of it for you to enjoy classical music and show off to other people. I love it. The only downside to me is that the CD only contains only 8 mp3s while I was expecting more of them.
• 
  Doc Kinne

  Very nice introduction to both the music and the theory. I may have understood more music theory here than before. The included CD was just good enough for illustrative purposes.
• 
  Michael Romeo Talks Books

  This book is a good general overview of Classical music; a good launching pad into further study. Its one drawback is the heavy peppering of extremely lame humor.
• 
  Hom Sack

  This has to be the best book on Classical Music. The authors make the subject easy to understand and enjoy. Added are great humor about music and musicians. Just delightful.
• 
  La lepisma libraia

  Volevo dare un senso al sottofondo musicale della mia (precaria) attività traduttoria. Do un bel 5 perché, da assoluta profana in materia (pardon, negata), un senso l'ho trovato eccome. Sono poche centinaia di pagine che contengono di tutto un po': storia e teoria della musica, biografie dei compositori più rilevanti, descrizione degli strumenti musicali, galateo da concerti. Come ciliegina sulla torta, il manuale mette a disposizione una pagina web con 9 brani gratuiti da ascoltare e destina un intero capitolo alla loro analisi, sviscerando un brano alla volta fin nei minimi dettagli. Aggiungeteci una spolverata di umorismo e quello che vien fuori dal forno è un prodotto che non può mancare a chi si occupa di musica classica (le risate son garantite) o per chi, come me, si è avvicinato a questo mondo per viuzze traverse.
• 
  Kubra Bodur

  Very informative and comprehensive- yet so funny and catchy. I really recommend this book for the beginners of classical music, for any sort of instrument. (I've started to take cello classes and it quite helped me as a survival guide)
• 
  Bernish Tongbram

  Great Read for a beginner like me
  
  The authors are funny. I bet they are great teachers. There is learning, there are jokes and for a subject that sounds so grave, that's a lot to ask for.
  
  Love the tiny music Library they helped me create.
• 
  Carlos Piva

  very informative in many ways
  something to have and consult from time to time
• 
  Lindsey

  Really good!
  
  I never thought I’d say this, but I think I’ll see if there are any other “For Dummies” books I’d like to read.
• 
  Mark Kloha

  This book is kind of funny. They cover what most people think is a serious topic and inject their humor into the world of classical music.
• 
  Harold

  Excellent overview of excellent music: movements, composers, instruementation, et cetera with a CD of sample pieces
• 
  Josh

  A thorough overview for beginners
  
  I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It’s a quick read covering a broad topic in just the right amount of depth and detail.
• 
  Seth J. Vogelman

  A facile book at best for those who know nothing of the genre. For anyone else you are probably not a dummy.
• 
  yamiyoghurt

  I was inspired to learn more about classical music after watching Twoset Violin, and this book was a great beginner introduction to it. The book is accessible and a pleasure to read.
• 
  Lisanne Bouma

  Great introduction to classical music. Love the jokes and funny facts.
• 
  LibraryCin

  4.5 stars. This Dummies book includes sections on music history, including brief bios of some of the famous composers; "Dave 'n' Scott's E-Z Concert Survival Guide"; explanations on terminology, instruments and music theory; and plenty of top ten lists. It is so informative and accessible and everything is explained very very well. And it's funny! I laughed out loud plenty of times while reading.
  
  Actually, the best part is that it comes with a CD, and they'll refer you to a particular track, and sometimes a particular point in that track so you can listen as they explain what you are listening to. For anyone who doesn't know much about classical music but enjoys it and wants to learn more - or even if you think you might enjoy it - it's a really good way to learn.
• 
  Elizabeth

  This is a really nice basic overview of classical music. Composers, orchestras, pieces, instruments, and basic music theory are all covered topics. I do wish there were a few more lists- grouping composers by period, grouping them by country, etc. I do feel you get a good taste of the important composers and their works as well as some insight into orchestras and pieces.
  
  Recommended for someone who hasn't studied music before or needs a quick review.