In response to the reviews above, it looks like someone does not know how to read music. The CD is meant to play simply the piano part so that you have something to practice your part with with. It is an excellent tool toward vocal independence.


Obviously not intended for the amateur singer   January 1, 2006
A. Fondacaro (Austin, TX)
16 out of 18 found this review helpful

This book and others like it (First Book of Tenor Solos, Soprano Solos, etc...) are not book intended to teach singing to people who have never had any professional training. The previous reviews of this book on Amazon have unfairly deemed this book as being too complicated for people who do not know how to read sheet music.

There are a wealth of resources for those who cannot read sheet music, or who do not intend to be professional singers. They should not buy this book, or any book in the series.

What this book is intended for is for singers who are already involved in professional vocal training or who intend to enter professional training. It requires that you be able to read music, which is like knowing how to walk for humans. It is intended to expand ones repertoire for auditions, and for possible gigs as a trained singer.

That being said, this is an excellent book to consider buying if you are a beginning bassist/baritone and need help finding songs to sing at auditions or recitals. The repertoire for bassists is limited in contrast with the wealth of arias and oratorios for tenors and sopranos (the "preferred" voice if you ask me). But Boytim does a very good job of going through the library of solos and finding ones that are basic enough to give one a chance to focus on pitch, intonation and rhythm, but challenging to an extent that you'll expand your range and be able to work on sight-reading.

Again, do not buy this book if you have never had any training in music or in singing because it is not intended for you. Also, do not malign this book because you bought it anyway and it is too complicated for you.



Companion CD- Baritone Solos Book   October 6, 2005
Kate Smith (CA)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

This is a response to the previous review. While I admire anyone who buys a book of serious solos just for the value of learning, the previous review unfairly maligns the book and the CD. Firstly, anyone who cannot read music will have a difficult time learning any song they are not already familiar with. The CD with piano only should be exactly that, as it is meant for the student to practice with even when they do not have an accompanist present, as these songs are not meant to be self-accompanied. To have vocals on the CD would defeat the ability of the student to practice hearing their own voice singing the song. As for them all being obscure religious songs. These are not pop songs, these are art songs from various periods and the majority of music written prior to the 19th century was religious since the church was the patron of the arts and almost all fine arts were produced in its service. Hal Leanord publishes many pop and broadway collections, as well as more classically oriented collections usually used in the course of serious musical study, of which this is one. I would recommend it for a baritone/bass beginning serious vocal study.


...   December 9, 2005
Diana Katra (California)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I agree with the rebuttals to the original review...the book is not marked "Very Basic Songs for the Beginner," it is rather assumed that the person has SOME musical experience, and the CD would provide accompaniment to aid in learning the piece. You do not have to be a 'professional singer' to plunk out the tune; everyone I know has found this book to be extremely useful, and it is worth the price.


no major problems   February 18, 2008
Sarah J. Weatherford
0 out of 3 found this review helpful

no major problems. Shipping seemed to take awhile but that's all. Book was in great condition