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61st out of 411 books
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305 voters
My rating:
add to my books
The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart
This landmark book enlightens amateur and professional musicians about a way of practicing that transforms a sometimes frustrating, monotonous, and overly strenuous labor into an exhilarating and rewarding experience. Acclaimed pianist and teacher Madeline Bruser combines physiological and meditative principles to help musicians release physical and mental tension and unle...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
February 2nd 1999
by Harmony/Bell Tower
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Certain aspect of this book were really helpful, others, not so much. coming from a yoga perspective, the "open heart" concept certainly resonated and it helps my clarinet playing, both posture-wise and musically. When I open my heart, my shoulder blades come down my back and my air pressure gets better. Bruser has lots of ideas to bring out the best, most musical playing in everyone, and how to effectively translate that into a performance situation. I liked how she said instead o...more
Marlee
is currently reading it
I'm absolutely loving this book right now. It's actually written by a pianist but she researched all instruments so it applies to all musicians. She focuses a lot on relaxation which I need a lot of help on! All concepts are well explained and easy to understand. This will help any musician make more out of practice sessions and be more relaxed and ready to perform.
The most valuable concept I gained was the idea that as you practice you make yourself hyper-aware of your surroundings--instead of trying to tune them out completely. Usually we are told to "focus," or "concentrate" and ignore anything that might distract us. Her idea is to do the opposite as you practice. Notice the feel of the bench under your thighs, the quiet buzz of the light fixture, the draft coming from the hallway . . . When you become accustomed to noticing every m...more
This book tells us how we should practice and what kind of thoughts we should have. It tells why we should relax and how we could do it. The book contains many differents ideas, things about piano, violin, viola, percussions and flutes,etc. Quotes from performers and teachers. Also there are questions from readers and answers to them.
One message it gave me is to remember to enjoy. Not thinking about how hard things are, just relax and enjoy what's in front of me. Try to not forget about t...more
One message it gave me is to remember to enjoy. Not thinking about how hard things are, just relax and enjoy what's in front of me. Try to not forget about t...more
Kat
marked it as to-read
Had to return this to the library before reading, but it looks to be a musician's guide to bringing mindfulness meditation and yoga into the practice room. Another cheesily titled book; maybe I need to get over my expectation that books on creative subjects shouldn't have floofy titles.
This was a good book to help me get spirit back into my music. Lately I have been so stressed about several different things. I was focusing on the technical aspect instead of playing/singing from the heart. I enjoyed the warm up suggestions, the sections specific to clarinet players and the memorization suggestions (playing by heart). I especially enjoyed the author's advise on allowing your feelings to happen and to effect you music. There were times when I thought she repeated herself wi...more
Had some good tips mostly for pianists. As a drummer, however, I did pick up some tips that I think will be useful.
So far so amazing. The author is rational, gentle, and kind. If I was to describe this book so far in one word it would be: healthy. Recommended for any artist who finds herself sitting down every day to create, no matter how.
Geared toward pianists. The final two chapters offer some good advice on performance anxiety, but the rest if the book seems like common sense.
A very good book for musicians of all stripes. It puts forth steps for starting your practice sessions, with breathing and stretching exercises, then moves on to tips for really expressing things with your music (yes, even while "just practicing"), outlines posture for various instruments, and has other extremely interesting tidbits and not so tid-bits having to do with all aspects of expression through music.
lovely and good to have on-hand as a reference even after you've ...more
lovely and good to have on-hand as a reference even after you've ...more
This is just a great book to read about music, creativity, and ergonomics, all in one. It was a pleasure to reread, and I highly recommend it.
Anne-Marie
rated it
Recommends it for:
Band Nerds :D
Recommended to Anne-Marie by:
Ms. Kaiser (my flute/piano teacher :)
Shelves:
nonfiction
This book was helpful. REALLY boring in some parts, but pretty interesting in others. The author has a lot of "revelations." For example, she talked about this one time when she was sitting at the piano bench and had an epiphany that changed her entire life. And she wants people to meditate before they play an instrument... sounds like Professor Trelawney to me.
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tamarack
added it
unfortunately i didn't get to finish this before handing it on to a good friend as a birthday gift. it seemed like a good read -- and the friend i gave it to is incredibly delighted with it (and neither of us are classical pianists; though i imagine it would be even better if we were).
The author is a classical pianist, and this determines her approach to the subject. For musicians who only play others' scores, this is an excellent read. For anyone interested in improvisation and seeking direction in their practice sessions, this book is somewhat irrelevant.
Zen meets cello (or any other instrument) practice. This book is a good reminder not to let perfectionism suck the joy out of practicing. Her ideas may also apply to other areas of life that involve presence and discipline.
When I first read this book, it provided me with the tools and inspiration to finally learn and perform music in a more complete and fulfilling way.
If only I could have held on to that...
If only I could have held on to that...
I was looking for secrets...there were no secrets. Good information about the physicality of playing an instrument, but I had heard most of it before.
another one of my bibles, i continue to return to it, and recommend it to many students.
Sharina
is currently reading it
I am reading this from the suggestion of a great friend and mentor!
Wish my teacher had told me some of this.
Mary
marked it as to-read
Practicing is a joy?
Katy
added it
Randy
marked it as to-read
Katie
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Lizzie Amann
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Greg Jones
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