Learning Music with Synthesizers

by David Friend, Alan R. Pearlman, Thomas D. Piggot

First Edition; RARE FIRST EDITION (stated) from H. Leonard Pub. Corp, 1st Edition 1974, by David Friend, Alan R. Pearlman, and Thomas D. Piggott, 213 pages, Out-of-Print & quite hard to find in this First Edition.

Genres: Music

213 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

David Friend is an editor, author, and award-winning documentary producer with a career spanning journalism, photography, and film. Since 1998, he has been the editor of creative development at Vanity Fair, following his tenure as Life magazine’s director of photography. His work has shaped major journalistic projects, including the 2005 Vanity Fair story that revealed FBI insider Mark Felt as “Deep Throat,” the confidential Watergate source. He also played a key role in expanding Vanity Fair into books, e-books, television, and digital media, launching VanityFair.com.
As an author, Friend has explored cultural and historical themes in books such as Watching the World Change: The Stories Behind the Images of 9/11 (2006), The Naughty Nineties (2017), and two volumes on human existence, The Meaning of Life and More Reflections on the Meaning of Life. In the realm of documentary film, he is an Emmy- and Peabody-winning producer, with projects including Lakota Nation vs. United States (2023), MLK/FBI (2021), and the widely broadcast CBS prime-time special 9/11.
Beyond journalism and film, Friend has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and the Middle East, coedited 13 Vanity Fair books, and curated photography exhibitions on three continents. His poetry has been published in The New Yorker, further highlighting the breadth of his creative work.

Reviews

[DJ Yossarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't able to read the whole thing before it was due back at the library but what I read was so clearly written, with really helpful illustrations and diagrams. I wish someone would reissue this -- it really is the best introduction to the topic that I've come across.

[khrome · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers the physics and properties of waveforms, synthesis and modification of waveforms, includes hands-on examples using the ARP Odyssey for most sections, and divulges industry tips and tricks (of the 70's.) Given that, the book is poorly titled. :-) You don't actually "learn music" from this book, rather you learn how to break down, and make, sounds from fundamental waveforms. Although all examples are given on the ARP Odyssey, the concepts still apply to most analog synthesizers.

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to understanding electronic synthesis. Particularly useful if you have an Odyssey at hand!