Playing Piano for Pleasure

by Charles Cooke

Book Overview

Here is a book that will be enjoyed by all pianists not only for the stimulating advice it provides, but also for the style with which it is written.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671578014
• ISBN13: 9780671578015
• Release Date: January 1960
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 186 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

It's "personal," just as the author says :-)

I first read this book years ago, when I wasn't a serious pianist, and it helped me to become serious. Mr. Cooke very well conveys his joy and enthusiasm, plus his seriousness about music and the piano despite being an amateur -- and these qualities are nicely contagious. Also he gives many specific suggestions that may be useful to some pianists. For example, I gained from his suggestions for fixing tricky passages, which he calls "fractures." He likens the process to the healing of a bone fracture, which, as he explains, becomes the strongest portion of the bone when healed. However, the book is anachronistic in two seemingly contradictory respects. On one hand, there is a casualness and inefficiency of expression that we would rarely if ever find nowadays in a published book -- I guess the word is "quaint." I don't mean in any way that it is "rambling," but with the benefit of word processing, I'm sure Mr. Cooke would have deleted, condensed, or re-phrased much of the material. But despite the casualness, while he begins by saying how personal the book is and expressing merely the hope that his thoughts might be helpful to some people, he writes most of the book as though the recommended practices MUST be followed -- or else! Both of these things -- the casualness and yet the harsh didacticism -- reflect the era, and they mark the book as the period piece that it is. But, take it for what it is, and you can only gain from it. I benefited from other specific suggestions too, such as for the practicing of cross-rhythms. But I disagree with a number of the other dictums; at least they wouldn't be good for ME. For example, I don't agree that it is crucial or even necessarily good to practice at least an hour each and every day no matter what, and I don't agree that it's necessarily bad to let yourself "forget" pieces that you're learned. In fact, I have found that sometimes it is only by "forgetting" a piece that you can later bring good new perspectives to it. Nevertheless, this book is "5 stars." We can quibble about some of the specifics, and we can quibble with aspects of the author's approach. And if you're looking for an instructional and inspirational book on piano playing, there are other, far superior books, particularly Seymour Bernstein's "With Your Own Two Hands." But Mr. Cooke's book has much to say in its own right, and you might literally LOVE it. But please don't necessarily take everything in it too seriously, and don't feel guilty if you don't follow everything the author says!

Great advice for the amateur pianist

This is a wonderful book for any dedicated amateur pianist. It contains great, detailed advice for planning practice sessions--more practical detail than I've seen in any other piano book. Moreover, the writing is delightful. Mr. Cooke was a journalist for the New Yorker in the 30's and 40's and obviously really knew his craft. While most of the book is devoted to improving piano skills, he does drop a hew hilarious anecdotes. One priceless one involves his use of a silent keyboard and how he manages to drive James Thurber crazy with all the mysterious tapping. I've incorporated many of his suggestions for improving practice into my own daily routine. His suggestions are practical, spot-on, well documented and easy to understand. Some bits of the book are somewhat dated. I take personal exception to his recommendation of Hanon. But, all in all. if you're a dedicated amateur pianist, this book should be on your shelf.

Yes, yes yes!

I am completely thrilled that they reprinted this book. I have an original 1941 edition that I have been reading and rereading ever since I got it. It's not just for the beginner, the novice, or the person who used to play the piano. Anyone who counts themselves as a hobby pianist, or has some problems with enjoying their practicing as much as playing "finished" pieces will garner a lot from this book. And anyone who enjoys piano at all will probably enjoy reading Cooke as he extolls on his beloved hobby. For those who are working seriously at their piano he offers concrete practicing tidbits on everything from how to divide your practice time, to memorizing. His lists of suggested music at different levels are a great place to start if you don't know where to look for your next piece of music. A wonderful, wonderful book.

Inspired and Inspiring

A wonderful book for any classical pianist. Cooke's ideas are useful, his writing is entertaining, and his enthusiasm is infectious.One caution: Ignore the chapter on polyrhythms. Cooke advocates the "least common multiple" method, which only works for simple cases and tends to produce choppy jigsaw-puzzle playing even then. For a polyrhythm such as 7 against 8, the method is a fiasco -- unless you really want to count out 56 mini-beats and position one note exactly 4/7 of the way between two others.Overall, however, the book is a gem. I've never met a pianist who didn't enjoy it.

I grew as a pianist within months.

I read this book 15 years ago. I have been looking for the book, as I believe it is the best an adult learner may find. Not only does Playing Piano for Pleasure give clear guidance for learning to play the piano, but it also suggests pieces one might play. These pieces are presented in sequential manner, that is, from easy to difficult. I have not played for a while and remember, Cooke writing somewhere in the text, "The saddest thing one can say is that 'I used to play the piano'." Unfortunately, that is where I am with my piano playing. Cooke's Playing Piano for Pleasure will help me pick it up again. Some of the topics covered include, GOALS: The place of Music in the Life od the Amateur, Climbing Higher on the Ladder of Piano Literature; MEANS: The Pleasant Necessity of Practising; REPERTOIRE: Transforming the Weakest passages into the Strongest, Memorizing, Interpretation, Retention; TECHNIQUE; and SIGHT READING. A must read for all piano enthusiasts.