Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Playing Piano for Pleasure - Finally revived

Great news, sky horse publishing has decided to revive Charles Cooke's brilliant book Playing Piano for Pleasure. It arrives June July 1 in the United States. It has been out of print so long, that it is basically impossible to find a decent used copy of this book less than $80. As a consequence I have been forced to repeatedly sign the book out from the library. Of all the books I have read on piano playing, this one is hands down the best and the main one I return to on a consistent basis.

For those of you who don't know, Charles Cooke was a writer for the New Yorker and a piano enthusiast back in the 30s, and this book he has written is a absolute treasure. Not only is it packed with practical advice that you simply won't find in any method book (as well as other things many piano instructors just take for granted), Cooke also gets to the core of the enjoyment of piano playing. But what I like even more about this book is that he is not just blowing this stuff out his bottom, he cites experts like Hoffmann, Matthay, and numerous others he has interviewed.

http://www.amazon.com/Playing-Piano...mp;ie=UTF8&qid=1305651207&sr=1-2

I commend you for mentioning this very important event!

This little book really is everything it's cracked up to be, and I'm delighted that it will be back in print. My own copy is decades old and has come completely unbound from multiple readings, so I might order the new edition as a replacement.

Thanks for info. Have pre-ordered it. Seems a book like this might be out of print again pretty soon.

it certainly is worth looking for it at used book stores.

I think I paid 35 bucks for my used copy a few years ago. I got a lot of valuable insights from it, and it is even more helpful for people pursuing a classical curriculum.

Thanks for the alert. I just preordered it too!

I've loved this book since my mother found it at the library when I was a teenager. I finally bought a copy about 10 years ago. Some of it's dated, but most is just as relevant now as it ever was.

From time to time, I have searched the 'net to try to find out more about the author but never have learned anything much. The amazon page does have this bit of info:

"Charles Cooke, now deceased, was a New Yorker reporter. During World War II he joined the Air Force. He then became the associate editor of Esquire and Holiday. He was an avid amateur pianist."

Does anyone know any more about him?

I wonder if this is by him, too?

Big Show

Amazon also has a hardcover copy of the original (used) for $66.95. The new paperback edition ($14.95, or pre-order for $9.95) is actually supposed to be released on July 1, according to Amazon. I'm ordering it. Sounds really good!

Sorry, my mistake. You are right, it is July 1 in the United States and June 3 in Canada.

Charles Cooke was a genius and terrific writer who could put difficult concepts about piano into ordinary language even I can understand. His book is where I learned how to practice; that you play Hanon in all the keys; how to set fractures; how to break down poly rhythms and on and on. I still aim to practice at least an hour a day with a metronome and my watch to time the session. He is a saint! I happened on his book many years ago and still have the old paperback I bought for less than $20.00 way back when. I just wish I had the discipline to accomplish what he was able to. That man is my inspiration.

One can find used copies for less if one scouts the used book sites persistently. I paid $15 for a nice hardcover a year or so ago.

Speaking of awesome out of print books, there are currently copies of Philip Johnson's Practiceopedia available for under $60, which is quite unusual. The used price hover around $100 for the past year or so (though with the help of friend I found a used copy for $40... but I haven't seen that happen again since).

That's great news. I did find a used copy (hardcover) just a couple of months ago in absolutely perfect condition. And I paid only 3 dollars for it! I don't know if it had a dust jacket (if it had one it is missing), but otherwise it looks like new.

Oh that's the fractures one, eh?


Yep, that one's good.

I just put in a request that the publisher make a Kindle version.

I'd love to read this book. Unfortunately I can't afford it right now. Hopefully I won't forget about it and I can buy it sometime in the summer.

how's the music like.. any sample that I can listen (eg from youtube)?

Tq

I think you may have misunderstood the type of publication this book is. It's not a book of sheet music, but rather an inspirational guide for a motivated amateur to choose repertoire, plan an efficient practice routine and sustain motivation.

The author does suggest quite a number of intermediate-level pieces from classical repertoire intended to appeal to the typical reader. I don't have a list of them, but I would guess most all of them are public domain by now -- and they're sufficiently well known that performances of them could be heard on YouTube.

Hope this helps -- I was just taking a guess at what your question meant.

My copy just arrived from Amazon - some good bedtime reading!

Just noticed about this!
It's a favorite old book of mine. I got it a long time ago, read it, still have it. It has helped me a lot, especially the thing about "fractures."

And BTW I did one of the 'reviews' on Amazon.
It's on the page for this earlier copy of the book. (The thumbnail for it appears near the middle of the page, on the right side.)

I just ordered my copy from amazon.co.uk, £8.22 free delivery.
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