Links

BOOK - The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Classical Music This book is a great resource for parents wanting to know about classical music. It is NOT a college text, so the information is not given in the "language of musicians". The book is a visual feast as well as a literary guide to classical music. There are charts, graphs, pictures, recommendations and many other devices to highlight the major theme of the book -- music's progress through history.

LINK - PianoPage - The PianoPage is a great resource for parents. It is a major "hub" of links to the whole topic of "piano". The sponsor is the Piano Technicians Guild so this site is especially helpful to the proper maintenance of your piano.

LINK - Michael Mezhinsky Piano Tuner - Michael has provided me with expert tunings and I recommend him. Phone: (412) 881-0883.

LINK - eMusic - eMusic is the site I use to download classical music to my computer when I don't want to purchase a CD. eMusic is reasonably priced. They have several levels of membership. They stock the complete Naxos collection --several thousand CD's - which I cannot recommend highly enough. I recommend you browse through their site and see if it's a place you may find useful for your musical needs.

LINK - Naxos - The Naxos site is the home to one of the most innovative classical recording companies on our planet. Not only do they produce top quality CD's from exceptional musicians and ensembles the world over but they do so at a very reasonable price. There is a strong educational thread in the Naxos philosophy to the consumer. They have several products that will thoroughly educate you on the major masterworks of classical music. They also have information on their WebSite as to becoming an intelligent concert goer.

LINK - Musical Heritage Society - Musical Heritage Society has grown from my initial contact with it in the 70's. But through the years I've purchased dozens of quality recordings that have been staples of my listening diet. Their marketing is will suited to the informed consumer and music lover. Their recommended CD's are always well considered. Their periodic catalogues are well organized to help you in your selection their CD offerings. I like Musical Heritage Society because I can often be made aware of some music that a little off the beaten track; especially my personal love of music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Major CD outlets such as BMG are targeting the mass market and need to stay focused to what the mass market will purchase. Since Musical Heritage Society is targeting a more musically sophisticated audience they can be more adverturesome in what they offer their customers.

LINK - Alabris - I've found Alabris a great site for purchasing used and hard to find recordings and books; though they also deal in movies. I found a very fine used hardback copy of the Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians for under $100; new in paperback is priced at $500.

LINK - Classical Music Archives - I've found this site very helpful to me personally as I can download a great segment of the standard classical repertoire in MIDI files. The advantage for me is that I have a program that can translate the MIDI file into standard notation and then I can arrange the composition for my students. But I have also used this site to find recordings of the standard teaching literature (Bach Minuets, Clementi Sonatinas) to give to my students to give them some help in learning their assigned pieces when they get into this literature. NOTE: The "performances" are not always very artistically done - though I admire the creativity of many whose work is really praiseworthy considering the limitations of MIDI technology.

LINK - The Teaching Company - The Teaching Company is a great way to expand your knowledge after completing your formal education. Courses are purchased and sent to you in a variety of formats - cassette, CD, DVD. The courses developed by Dr. Robert Greenberg on various musical topics are excellent. You will find his classes listed in the Fine Arts and Music section of the Teaching Company WebSite. For anyone wanting to expand their knowledge of music I would enthusiastically support the courses offered by The Teaching Company.