Best Ethnic Music Books of 2025

The Ukulele Primer Book for Beginners with Online Video Access by Bert Casey is an excellent starting point for anyone looking to learn how to play the ukulele. The book covers all the basics, from tuning to strumming techniques, and includes easy-to-follow instructions, chord charts, and detailed photographs. What sets this book apart is the online video access, providing clear demonstrations of all the techniques and songs covered in the book. With this book, beginners can learn to play fifteen popular songs and entertain their friends and family in no time. Overall, this is a comprehensive and accessible guide that will help anyone start their ukulele journey.

The Complete Piano for Adult Beginners: Theory and Practice is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn how to play the piano. The book offers a simple and easy-to-follow guide for beginners, with detailed explanations of music notation, practical exercises, and a wide range of songs. What sets this book apart is its focus on adult learners, with a convenient large US letter size print and clear instructions that are designed to help even those who have never played the piano before. With 65 songs and melodies for practice, along with online videos, this book is a must-have for anyone looking to improve their piano skills.

Primo Piano is a great option for adult beginners who want to learn how to play the piano with ease. The book offers 55 timeless piano songs in simplified versions, making it easy for learners to play complex chords and rhythms without any trouble. The songs are short, yet sophisticated, and the diverse selection ranges from classics to international folk songs. The increasing level of difficulty keeps learners motivated and the free downloadable audio files are a great addition. This book is a must-have for adult beginners who want to play the piano with soul and expression.

This book is a must-have for any violin player, containing 54 classical violin solos by some of the greatest composers in history. From Bach to Beethoven, Handel to Mozart, and more, this book offers a diverse selection of popular and less popular pieces suitable for all skill levels. The book is an excellent gift choice for violin students, teachers, and players. The combination of less popular pieces, along with the most popular ones, makes it stand out among other violin music books. Overall, this book is a fantastic resource for any violinist looking to expand their repertoire.

Easily Slip into Another World: A Life in Music is an autobiography of Henry Threadgill, a celebrated composer and one of the three jazz artists who have won a Pulitzer Prize. Threadgill takes readers on a journey through his childhood and upbringing in Chicago, his time in the military during the Vietnam war, and his brilliant career in music, collaborating with an astonishing range of musicians. The book is a powerful meditation on history, race, capitalism, and art, making it a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary American music and jazz history.

This collection of 67 songs for beginner trumpet players is a great resource for those looking to expand their repertoire. The book includes popular songs such as "Let It Be" and "Yesterday" as well as more contemporary hits like "Skyfall" and "Rolling In The Deep." With a mix of genres and eras, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The book is a great addition to any trumpet player's library and is sure to provide hours of enjoyment.

The "Guitar Scales Bible" is an encyclopedia of over 30 unique scales and modes, along with 125 practice licks, designed to elevate guitar playing from amateur to professional. The book provides explanations for each scale and mode, whole neck and pattern diagrams, and a "Take Action" section with lick ideas to ensure that theory hits practical playing skills. Additionally, there are free audio tracks for every lick in the book, making it easy to practice and master. Overall, this independently published book is an excellent resource for musicians looking to expand their knowledge and skills on the guitar.

This collection of 21 modern praise and worship songs for piano, vocal, and guitar is a must-have for any worship musician. The book includes popular songs such as "What a Beautiful Name," "The Blessing," and "Reckless Love," among others. The 138-page book is perfect for both beginners and advanced musicians. The sheet music is easy to follow, and the arrangements are beautiful. Overall, this collection is a great addition to any worship musician's library and is highly recommended.

This book, Americana Classics - Strum Together, is a must-have for music enthusiasts who play the ukulele, baritone ukulele, guitar, banjo, or mandolin. It features 68 classic Americana standards and traditional folksongs, including "This Land Is Your Land," "Gentle on My Mind," and "Take Me Home, Country Roads." The Strum Together series is an excellent resource for players of multiple instruments to jam together. The book contains melody, lyrics, and chord diagrams for each instrument, making it easy to follow along. Hal Leonard LLC, the world's largest source of music performance and instructional materials, published the book. It is a great addition to any musician's collection.

This book, titled "Sacred Mantras & Prayers for Yoga and Meditation: 27 Chanting Melodies for Tongue Drum and Handpan," is a great resource for those looking to incorporate mantras and chants into their yoga and meditation practice. Divided into two parts, the first section includes essential mantras for yoga, while the second section features sacred chants from various traditions. The book also includes sheet music for tongue drum and handpan, making it accessible for beginners. Overall, this book is a unique and valuable addition to any yoga or meditation practice.