We asked our MLP Grads for some of their favourite MfP-adjacent books; books that blend in with our philosophy and approach to music and humanity. What they came back with covered books about the brain and music, healing, the voice, play, ethnomusicology, humanity and the inner journey.
Here’s two from their list. More to come soon.
Got an active inner critic? Try this one:
Kenny Werner – Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within.
Werner is a jazz pianist who teaches musicians to play in a calm, relaxed state that is really a flow state. In this state, one can freely express oneself as an improvising musician.
Especially for those who are less experienced or who are returning to music.
Stephanie Judy – Making Music for the Joy of It: Enhancing Creativity, Skills, and Musical Confidence.
Geared to less experienced musicians or those returning to music. It focuses on written music, but has many ideas useful to improvisers who are just beginning or returning to music.
The Inner Human Journey
W.A. Mathieu – The Musical Life: Reflections on What it is
From the Preface: “Being musical does not necessarily mean being a musician;…It is a way of being awake, an angle of perception, a tilt of the ear….You do not need a musician’s craft to know that both you and music are made from the same design.”
Awe and Wonder
Dacher Keltner – AWE: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life
Keltner writes about the Eight Wonders of Life. Musical Awe is one of them.
Improvisation and Play in Life
Stephen Nachmanovich – Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art
An improvising violinist, he looks at how we improvise in life and music. His philosophy will be familiar to all MfP folk. Many of us in the MLP read this book back in the day.
Do You Love quotes?
Mickey Hart – Spirit into Sound: The Magic of Music
Hart wrote this book with ethnomusicologist Frederic Lieberman. They explore music’s ability to heal physically, mentally, and emotionally, as well as become a tool for personal spiritual transformation. It includes quotes from many diverse musicians.