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Joined: Jan 2012
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My job gives me some time when I can sit and read. So, i'm looking for book recommendations for when away from piano.
Maybe theory (keeping in mind i'm very new, so nothing to complicated) or even just something interesting or inspirational.
So, what would you recommend and why?
Cheers, Mark
Ferry & Foster upright
Alfred's self teaching - Book 1 Started Mid September 2012 End Sept - Page 39 End Oct - Page ??
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I'm currently reading Effortless Mastery. It's all about losing yourself in the music and rising above the self-conscious being when performing or practising. It also talks about the idea of every note being perfect and beautiful, and that there's no such thing as a wrong note.
It's the first book I've read of its kind - I tend to stick to fiction - but I'm reading it faster than my fiction books. In other words, I love it.
I wish there was more relevant to me, because I don't play jazz piano at all, and I don't perform improvisation. But there's a lot of food for thought in it. Even if you're like me and you completely skip the meditation chapters.
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The Perfect Wrong Note by William Westney is good, also Soprano on her Head by Eloise Ristad is also a nice read, both are helpful in dealing with practice techniques and also performance anxiety issues.
You also might be interested in reading something like The Lives of Great Composers by Schonberg (many of Schonberg's books are a good read), or Beethoven's biography by Solomon.
private piano/voice teacher FT
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Big +1 to Effortless Mastery. I either own, or have checked out from the university music library, a number of piano-related books. EM is my favorite. It is kind of like a bible that you can go back to over and over to find pearls of wisdom that directly apply to your musical journey. Definately inspirational.
Also for more of a non-fiction novel-like read, the "Piano Shop on the Left Bank" is good for pure piano love.
Estonia L190 #7004 Casio CDP S350
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Thanks for the suggestions. Been looking at the Effortless Mastery one and it seems you can get book, book & cd or book & dvd. I'll have a good look.
Any more suggestions as more than welcome.
Ferry & Foster upright
Alfred's self teaching - Book 1 Started Mid September 2012 End Sept - Page 39 End Oct - Page ??
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I like "The Musician's Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness" by Gerald Klickstein. It was recommended by another PW member. I get lots of good ideas from this book.
Carl
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Another vote for "The Piano Shop on the Left Bank" - a great read.
There are a number of historical threads on here in a similar vein, including one dedicated to book reviews that has been quiet for a while - have a look there.
Edit - made a comment re. Solomon/Beethoven - just looked it up and its a different guy to the one I was thinking of.
Last edited by KeemaNan; 01/26/12 10:27 AM.
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Here's some online reading, which is also available in book format if you prefer: http://www.pianofundamentals.com/book
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Here are two more:
"On Piano Playing" by Gyorgy Sandor and "Pumping Ivory, the Pianists Self-Improvement Guide" by Robert Dumm.
It's been mentioned quite a bit on this forum but I also found "Playing Piano for Pleasure" by Cooke a very sweet, inspiring and informative read.
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Lots of info here. Viewing it on my phone is no easy task though. May look to see if I can put it in pdf but that could take some doing with so many pages to run through.
Ferry & Foster upright
Alfred's self teaching - Book 1 Started Mid September 2012 End Sept - Page 39 End Oct - Page ??
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Check out "Grand Obsession" by Perri Knize. She's a piano world member to boot!
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You can check out this thread too: ABF Book Review Depository
- Debussy - Le Petit Nègre, L. 114
- Haydn - Sonata in Gm, Hob. XVI/44
Kawai K3
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Lots of info here. Viewing it on my phone is no easy task though. May look to see if I can put it in pdf but that could take some doing with so many pages to run through. OK, ignore me, its already available onm the site to download as a PDF PDF format For anyone that wants it.
Ferry & Foster upright
Alfred's self teaching - Book 1 Started Mid September 2012 End Sept - Page 39 End Oct - Page ??
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Here are two more:
It's been mentioned quite a bit on this forum but I also found "Playing Piano for Pleasure" by Cooke a very sweet, inspiring and informative read. 1+ I like Cooke's take on fixing difficult passages in a piece and his bit on sightreading practice. Good info there, particularly for beginner's.
I don't care too much for money. For money can't buy me love. -the Beatles
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I just started The Music Instinct: How Music Works and Why We Can't Do Without It by Philip Ball. I purchased it for my DH last Christmas; started reading it myself last night.
Yamaha C3X In summer, the song sings itself. --William Carlos Williams
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"The Great Pianists: From Mozart to the Present" by Harold Schonberg
"The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers" by Thomas Fleming
"Harvey Penick's Little Red Book of Golf" by Harvey Penick
"The Thomas Sowell Reader" by Thomas Sowell (economist, educator & social commentator - sometimes called "the smartest man in America")
"Great Masters: Mozart - His Life and Music" by Prof. Robert Greenburg (on CD from The Great Courses)
Trap
Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin
Current favorite bumper sticker: Wag more, bark less.
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Big +1 to Effortless Mastery. I either own, or have checked out from the university music library, a number of piano-related books. EM is my favorite. It is kind of like a bible that you can go back to over and over to find pearls of wisdom that directly apply to your musical journey. Definately inspirational. I'm currently reading Effortless Mastery. It's all about losing yourself in the music and rising above the self-conscious being when performing or practising. It also talks about the idea of every note being perfect and beautiful, and that there's no such thing as a wrong note. If you liked that book (I did, immensely), you might also like to read Victor Wooten's "The Music Lesson" and "The Inner Game Of Music" by Barry Green and Tim Gallowey (same guy who wrote The Inner Game Of Tennis). Both books are "philosophically" along the same lines as Effortless Mastery. John
"My piano is therapy for me" - Rick Wright. Instrument: Rebuilt Kurzweil K2500XS and a bunch of great vintage virtual keyboards. New Kurzweil PC3X.
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Some more reading suggestions: Basic theory: "The complete elementary music rudiments" - Mark Sarnecki. Body / mind / soul integration: "Indirect Procedures, a guide to Alexander Technique for Musicians" - Pedro De Alcantara. This is NOT a piano technique course or treatise, it is about "how you use yourself". "Effortless Mastery" - Kenny Werner. (mentioned above) "The Music Lesson" - Victor Wooten. "The art of practicing: a guide to making music from the heart " - Madeleine Bruser. "New Pathways To Piano Technique - Luigi Bonpensiere. (good luck finding that, it is a rare 1953 book) General and inspiring reading for new ideas, technique, practicing, etc:"Playing Piano for Pleasure" - Charles Cooke (mentioned above) "Piano Lessons : Music, Love, and True Adventures". - Noah Adams Performance:"Mastering the art of performance : a primer for musicians". - Stewart Gordon. "Anxiety and Musical Performance". - Dale Reubart. Specific subjects:"The everything rock & blues piano book" - (Starr, Eric) "The everything music composition book" - (Starr, Eric) Happy reading John
Last edited by John_In_Montreal; 01/26/12 09:13 PM.
"My piano is therapy for me" - Rick Wright. Instrument: Rebuilt Kurzweil K2500XS and a bunch of great vintage virtual keyboards. New Kurzweil PC3X.
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"Playing piano for pleasure" is a great one.
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..."Harvey Penick's Little Red Book of Golf" by Harvey Penick... No no no no no.... Golf? How did golf get in here? Sometimes I wonder about you, Trap? You didn't get into Rostosky's medication. Did you? Seriously....I'd like to add...Plan on reading them all. But... Check them out from the library. Don't have to buy books. Your local library will happily borrow you anything from just about anywhere. My last book like this came from a University Library. Borrowed by my little local library. Even the Unibomber used to get books in their original language through the little library in Helena, Mt. Also, if you're just looking for a fantastic true story that is a fantastic book. Try Seabiscuit. Only book I read in one day. It ain't small either.
Ron Your brain is a sponge. Keep it wet. Mary Gae George The focus of your personal practice is discipline. Not numbers. Scott Sonnon
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Piano
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Piano
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