Hal Leonard Phantom Of The Opera for Violin

Has a great selection of the best songs!

A touch of background so you can see where I'm coming from.I just started playing about 10 months ago, so still fall pretty squarely in the beginner's category. I've also been listening to the musical for about 20 years, so take both those biases into consideration ;)This book contains 9 songs - it's rather short, but manages to collect the best (imho) music.The arrangements are pretty weak. You've got all the notes you need, but there are definitely areas where you should interpret it in your own voice - dynamics and slurs in particular. Consider it a great stepping stone to building the songs in your own - probably better way.As one reviewer noted, the songs are transposed. I can't guarantee that, but to my ear, it feels about right. There are some spots where it should probably be an octave lower, building to the higher ranges that are started with in the sheet music included. Sight reading while listening to some Youtube covers makes this abundantly clear.It's really not hard to pickup any of the songs included. At my skill level, I was able to take most of them and make them sound pretty good with less than 10 minutes of practice. Rearranging and transposing will take longer, but will be more satisfying. Some of the songs include some 3rd position, but quite a few stay in 1st throughout.I would suggest this for fans who are starting out, and want to be able to pickup and play. If you've been playing a while, it would be better to just listen and learn to play by ear. It's still beautiful music, but this book doesn't quite do it justice. It is worth the ~$6 it's selling for right now.

Growing up I was in honors orchestra until high school and I remember playing phantom of the opera songs so I had to buy this book and it’s easy enough to play after 12 years I still got it lol (with some practice) I do agree with others songs sound pitchy sometimes

I saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway 30+ years ago and loved the music compositions in it. I was so excited to get this book. It goes along with the vocals so if you are looking for the full instrumental medley, this is not what you are looking for. I'm happy with it either way. No one else in my household is familiar with the music so I am so thankful to be able to be able to drive them crazy all the time. It sure is payback for all of the times when they played Mario or Pacman on full volume. I'll be getting Les Miserables next. Hee hee hee

I'm in my late 20s and I always wanted to play the violin, so 6 months ago, I bought one and began to teach myself using the Essential Elements 2000 series. I've been looking for music books to help introduce some variety into my everyday practice routine. I love the music from The Phantom of the Opera, which helps, because I know what the songs should sound like! It stays mostly in 1st position; a few notes here and there go above (which I haven't gotten to yet), but the notes are easy enough to figure out how to play and it doesn't happen too often. If you want to play along with the movie soundtrack, you won't get very far- the songs are in a different key, so you can't effetively play with it.For someone just starting out like me, this book is great- simple (yet still challenging in some parts) and good for variety in an everyday practice routine. For more experienced players, this book is probably too easy.

The selections are great and fairly easy. There is an error at the start of the 12th line of Phantom Of The Opera. The notation fails to include the inscription of returning to the key of C Major from the key of A Major.

The problem with books like this, is the notes always appear to be from higher register instruments; possibly a flute. Whoever prepares the books simply takes notes from woodwind sections and slaps it together to call it a violin solo book. Most of the songs simply begin too high and it is then up to the violinist to adjust the piece. 'All I ask of you' is a perfect example. It begins on the A string D (3rd finger), which is not at all how the song is sung or should initially sound. The player has to shift the pitch to either the open string D or 4th finger D (for vibrato purposes) in order to have a nice build from low to high throughout.So all in all, it's a good book in order to get the notes if playing by ear isn't your thing. Just know you will need to make adjustments to play the song as it is sung. I have given three stars because inconveniences like this ought to never happen in a properly put together (and thoroughly researched) book for any instrument.

I have been playing the violin for about 3 years. I find this book easy to follow. This by far is my favorite play!

Love this film. The singing and the chroriagraphy is brilliant. Stage set is wonderfully made. Costumes are lovely.

Amazing film

My friend loves it

Love Andrew Lloyd Webber. Love The Phantom of the Opera. Just got a violin... and this HAD to be the first music book I got for my violin. :)

Received it today, excellent, exactly as described, can't wait to start learning these songs.