I have an intelligent adult pupil who is interested in learning about chords and harmony who plays piano, but finds the good old Pink book a bit dry. So far I've seen these details (pasted as the paragraphs below) - but I've not seen any of these books to thumb through. What would anyone who's used any of these suggest?
Harmony is Fun (Books 1,2,3: £2.75 each) by Liddell/Cox (1) or Cox/Hewson (2/3). [Book size = Theory is Fun, 64 pages each].
Books 1/2: "Harmony Is Fun presents harmonisation at the keyboard in a step-by-step, straightforward way that is fun without being frivolous. This series of books is for anyone who wants to have fun learning to harmonise at the keyboard or piano."
Book 3: "Maureen Cox and Kate Hewson extend harmonisation at the keyboard in a step-by-step, straight- forward way that is fun without being frivolous. This popular book includes the following topics - major & relative minor keys 4 sharps of flats; major & minor scales, keys and chords in root position, first inversion, second inversion; dominant 7th chord and it's third inversion; binding notes; melodic decoration: essential & unessential notes - passing and auxiliary notes; modulation; etc."
Harmony in Practice by Anna Butterworth, published by the ABRSM £16.95, 268 pages.
An Answer Book is also available for £10.50, 128 pages.
Main book: "This very comprensive book is the perfect companion to any student of harmony. Written in five parts it covers everything from chord labelling to altered notes in extended chords and chromatic movement. The book has an excellent introduction to tonal harmony and is set out with clear diagrams and text."
Answer Book: "Designed as a companion to Anna Butterworth's full Harmony in Practise book this volume sets out the exercises show in the first book and includes the answers as well. A very useful reference book."
ABC of Harmony (Books A,B,C: £8.99 each) by R Wilkinson (72, 74, 104 pages).
[On a music forum someone was saying that these books have less explanation than the Harmony in Practice book, saying that the ABC gave the 'how' to their problem, but the Harmony in Practice also gave the 'why'.]
Book A: "This workbook contains an introduction to harmony covering primary and secondary chords, figured bass and part writing."
Book B: "Book B of this excellent set which is perfect for a systematic study of harmony for the general musician, as well as for requirements of the ABRSM, AMEB and other examining bodies."
Book C: "The final part in this excellent 3 book series takes the student further into the subject of harmony. Chapters on secondary 7th chords,chords of the 9th, 11th and 13th, chromatic chords and Appendices discussing styles and form etc."