Mindfulness in Music: Notes on Finding Life's Rhythm

Tiempo de Mirar

by Mark Tanner

"Peppered with intriguing exercises and motivational quotes" - BBC Music mag

“Mark Tanner has written a mindfulness manifesto for music” - BBC Radio 3: Music Matters

"Mindfulness in Music is both informative and thought-provoking - a fascinating read on many levels" - Julian Lloyd Webber

Mindfulness in Music is a joyful exploration into the meditative nature of music and its holistic beauty.  Mark Tanner reveals how composers and musicians have always embraced mindful connections, and how everyone can cherish the same life-affirming chords.  Whether listening to a forest soundscape, playing trombone in a ska group or listening to Beethoven or Beyonce, he reveals the natural ecology to all forms of music, and the creative mindful instinct we share. Through unique meditations, personal reflections, and holistic notes, this astute author shines a spotlight on the humanity and spirituality in music.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Librarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Mark Tanner is a concert pianist, composer, teacher and writer.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“To be moved and mesmerized by beautiful sound is to be human.  In music we can find solace and inspiration aplenty; though born into the material world, we look to music for inspiration to help us reach beyond its more obvious dimensions.”

Whether you have a well versed musical vocabulary or not this is a pleasing read and a very interesting take on mindfulness. With plenty of mindful books with a concentration on Buddhist teaching, MINDFULNESS IN MUSIC was a nice step away into a new approach using mindfulness through the medium of music. Mark Tanner, a well-known pianist, offers great insight from multiple perspectives as it relates to music. Whether you are a musician or a listener, there is plenty that is offered within these pages for you.

“...music has the power to recalibrate our expectations and at the same time help us to make better sense of our complex lives.”

At 144 pages, this was a quick read that was not short on thought-provoking information.  Broken down into six parts: Music as Mediation, The Rhythm of Life, Sound & Sensuality, The Language of Music, Parallel Universes, and The Art of Possibility; I especially loved the chapter Parallel Universes and its inclusion of music as a sixth sense. I could not agree more with this sentiment. The pages are also peppered with activities, or ideas, on how one can practice mindfulness through music.  I also really enjoyed that splattered among the pages were music-related quotes from famous composers, physicists, etc.

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent..”

While getting into this book I instantly wanted to pick up THE MINDFUL PIANIST, also written by Mark Tanner. MINDFULNESS IN MUSIC is so beautifully presented with very high-quality pages similar to that of cardstock. I cannot stress enough how in awe of how beautifully put together this book was. This was a very engaging and thought-provoking read and I would recommend to anyone with an interest in a new approach to mindfulness and digesting music.

Many thanks to Mark Tanner and Leaping Hare Press for a finished copy of this novel all the was from the UK in exchange for an honest review. It was my pleasure to provide my thoughts.

[Bea Ramón Iglesias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un gran libro, que habla tanto de la música como de la consciencia. Me gustaron las enseñanzas trasladadas a la propia vida.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one to linger over and savor, like a beautifully aged wine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Leaping Hare Press for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

#MindfulnessInMusic #NetGalley

[Joel Fitzgibbons]

I can't imagine ever recommending this book to someone over "Effortless Mastery". In its attempt to appeal to an audience of laymen while also providing advice to musicians, it fails to deliver on either goal effectively. As a player I cannot say I benefited much from the reading of this book, and as a listener I cannot say I have come to reevaluate how I listen to music. Quotes from various big names about the nature of music do little in aiding the writer. I have yet to read anything else by this author, and I do not intend to do so, so I can do little to compare this to the writer’s other works. I have no doubt in their talent as a musician, and I am unquestioning of the truth in their words, however I cannot say that I got out of this book anymore than could have been learnt from a book on the more general subject of mindfulness meditation.

[Texturas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante, con algunas reflexiones bellas sobre cómo nos conectamos con la música y cómo ésta nos aporta bienestar. Pero, personalmente, no creo que aporte nada demasiado profundo ni relevante, ni al músico intérprete ni al oyente.
Veo ideas mindfulness genéricas: estar más presentes, escuchar los sonidos que nos rodean...

Se nota que el autor tiene muchos conocimientos, que es un gran intérprete y que todo lo que cuenta es sincero, pero quizá se queda demasiado en la superficie, sin profundizar ni aportar unas ideas más relevantes. Además, creo que apenas hay ejercicios de meditación ni de cómo aplicarlo, como sí prometía la sinopsis.

[Gogelescu Ion Petre · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be moved and mesmerized by beautiful sounds is to be human. In music we can find solace and inspiration aplenty; though born into the material world, we look to music for inspiration to help us reach beyond its more obvious dimensions.

[Marios Andreou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many wonderful examples have been given to drive in the points made…as an amateur musician I thoroughly enjoyed the book, have seen much relevance and probably will take on a few of the challenges raised

[Georgia Dentel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given to me by a piano friend, I enjoyed this little book written by a concert pianist. Falling somewhere between music and meditation, I found his notes on finding life's rhythm both fun and intriguing. he is super smart and has a vocabulary that won't quit.

[GONZA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astonishing book that develops a new way to listen to music. I am not even sure I understood everything but what I got was very interesting. A recommended reading.

Libro molto affascinante che sviluppa un nuovo modo per ascoltare la musica. Non sono sicura nemmeno di aver capito tutto, ma quello che mi é rimasto in mente é veramente interessante. Una lettura obbligata.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

[Agnė Pasaravičienė · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Mindfulness in Music" briefly represents different approaches on understanding, listening, practicing and teaching music. Author's perspectives are coming out of his personal experience and knowledge that he collected through the years of his professional music career. I believe that this little book can expand and deepen one's outlook on music regardless of one being a professional musician, an amateur or a curious listener.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful, and indeed, mindful, read. Thought-provoking passages endeavour to make music more consciously enjoyable and vital for player and listener alike, without attempting to decode its ethereal magic.

The publisher likewise seems to have considered every detail of this elegant publication, with fine paper, typeface, and illustrations embellishing the richness of the read. A complete delight.

[Snufkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very easy and quick read, taking us on a tour of the wonderfulness of listening, of music, and of sounds.
With the title, I had expected something a little more guided or more to do with a mindfulness practice, so if that is what you're looking for this doesn't cover it. But for music lovers it is more of a book sharing the delights of sounds and music.

[Miss D · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very good book, if you are a musician or know music I highly recommend it, as a layman I found some of the references a bit technical, but not detrimentally so, there are plenty of references and stories that made it an accessible and enjoyable read and plenty of inspiration to deepen my appreciation of music.

[Precious Ugbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really picked this book at random. Didn't so much as read a blurb and was completely stunned at how brilliant the book was. Fantastic read! I loved its pace, the writing voice and the way the author interconnected the art of music and mindfulness, truly ground breaking!

[Zach Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very insightful read on how music affects us in so many ways. How we approach and interact with music and how music, sometimes unknowingly, approaches us. I loved this book and highly recommend it to everyone!

[Ann T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Quatro Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

This was an interesting book to understand how music can be incorporated mindfully into daily life. I look forward. to listening to some of the music referenced in this great little book and to take more time out in life to enjoy music in a different, more mindful way.