More Good Reads

From time to time (and in lessons and comments) David has cited some interesting books that deal with learning and practice. I've read a few of them, and recently these intersting ones:

Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story, in Music Lessons, by concert pianist Jeremy Denk. (Random House, 2022) Denk was a child prodigy, and really gets down into the theoretical weeds talking about dynamics and structure in various classical pieces. But his takes on practice, stage fright, performance preparation, etc., apply to any instrument or style of music.

Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within, by Kenny Werner, another piano prodigy. (Jamey Aebersold Jazz, 1996) garners reviews that are either five stars or one. Nothing in between. In large part because Werner folcuses on a lot of spiritual aspects of practice and performance (and the book includes a CD of guided meditation narrations). More interesting persective.

And finally, while it doesn't really go into practice theory, for a really fun read check out Larry Adler's autobiography, It Ain't Necessarily So. (Grove Press, 1984.) Adler was a world famous classical, jazz and pop chromatic artist who traveled in a circle that included great writers, composers, songwriters and actors, and who led a pretty wild life. He did not play diatonic harp, and wasn't much of a blues harmonica fan, but he speaks highly in the book about two blues performers he got to see: Sonny Terry and Rice Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson II). He toured Europe with USO shows during WWII, and if you've been wondering what it was like for American Hohner players to try to get new harps during that time, Adler's adventures are really fun to read about.