The Keyboard Scale Manual

That's the publisher's claim on the back cover. I agree 100%.I'm an advanced pianist, just below concert level, and will never be a concert pianist. In fourteen years of lessons over my lifetime of 70 years, my training sadly lacks a huge chunk of theory. In my ripe old age, I've been trying to learn a little theory, but even the elementary books, directed at people who can already play, are too advanced for me. They assume you can play from fake books, by memory, or by ear; they assume that you know some chord and scale structure. I don't know any of those things. I know how to read music, play it, and improv a little.I've purchased tons of music theory books and my head spins from reading them. I don't understand it when they talk about the circle of fifths and then explain it technical language and in the next paragraph go on to some other complicated concept, followed by another until so many new ideas are stacked on top of each other that they're all blended together in a murky stew.Apparently, what was missing from my theory libary was this book. Mr. Vogler, the author, is a genius, God bless him! No complicated jargon. No stacking of complex theories on top of each other. Instead, the book is laid out in large, easy to read print, well thought out columns and graphics. The language is clear and simple--no wordiness. The graphics are superb and easy to understand.In five seconds at looking at one of the graphics, I understand a concept that I've been struggling with for more than fifty years to understand. Diminished and augmented chords. Yep. Five seconds. Fifty-plus years. Solved.So many of the books I have bought over give you one scale and then tell you to practice all the the other keys the same way. This is not helpful at all and actually discourages practice.The Keyboard Scale Manual, however, contains all the scales in every mode and every key signature, written out WITH THE FINGERING. I love this. It gives them all to you. What a treasure.Mr. Vogler includes a small bit of basic theory discussion in his book and it's not surprising to discover that the theory he puts forward is as equally easy to understand and assimilate.If you are a pianist who is looking to rebuild your basic theory background, this is the book to start with. I wish I had found it before spending hundreds of dollars on other books. It will dovetail nicely with any other more detailed theory books that you have or choose to purchase. If you're looking for a jumping off point to starting improv-ing and understanding all the amazingly different scales and harmonic potentials, this book will be a marvelous eye-opener.

I am a doctoral piano student and I have nothing but great things to say about this book. I used it myself when I was very young. The biggest advantage is that there is a 2-octave keyboard fingering diagram for every major, minor (harmonic + melodic), and modal (e.g. dorian) scale. This book has been much easier for college students in my beginning keyboard classes to learn fingerings more quickly and accurately, compared to the first manual we used by Hanon which provides only the notes and fingerings. By comparison, Alfred's "Scales, Arpeggios, Chords and Cadences" is more all-encompassing, and I recommend it as well. But for scales alone, The Keyboard Scale Manual is in my opinion the best.

Lots of good music theory went into the making if this book. Along with standard scale definition many more arcane scales are discussed.

It is easy to work with for a beginner and it has all necessary information neatly packaged. It has simplicity and clarity.

A very concise and powerful collection of scales and their fingerings. Very good to have for developing and refreshing scale technique.

I first got this book out of the library and bought a copy within a few days.Learning to play in different key can be pretty intimidating - remembering which notes are sharp and which flat - but this book is a big help. By showing fingering patterns together with the notes for left and right hand over two octaves I quickly began to see the patterns for each key. It made practicing scales far easier and, even, fun.A good teacher is still a good idea but for anyone trying to teach themselves, this book might really help.

Exremely good value for money. Thank you