Synopses & Reviews
In The Musician's Way, veteran performer and educator Gerald Klickstein combines the latest research with his 30 years of professional experience to provide aspiring musicians with a roadmap to artistic excellence. Part I, Artful Practice, describes strategies to interpret and memorize compositions, fuel motivation, collaborate, and more. Part II, Fearless Performance, lifts the lid on the hidden causes of nervousness and shows how musicians can become confident performers. Part III, Lifelong Creativity, surveys tactics to prevent music-related injuries and equips musicians to tap their own innate creativity. Written in a conversational style, The Musician's Way presents an inclusive system for all instrumentalists and vocalists to advance their musical abilities and succeed as performing artists.
Review
"One of the most important books on musicianship in recent decades."--Joseph Docksey, Director, Lamont School of Music, University of Denver
"I predict that The Musician's Way will be an instant classic. It is the most useful, comprehensive book I have ever read on developing the skills of a successful performer. Every music lover - student, professional, amateur, and teacher alike - should own this book."
--Jeffrey Solow, Professor of Cello, Temple University; President, American String Teachers Association
"The entire music profession has received a great and much-needed gift from Gerald Klickstein. The Musician's Way is a landmark and essential guide for every serious musician."--Barbara Lister-Sink, Professor of Piano, Salem College; author, Freeing the Caged Bird DVD
"The Musician's Way is the brainchild of an experienced and insightful teacher who has thought long and hard about how musicians can maximize their artistic success while coping with the stresses of music making. In clear and engaging language, the author leads us down the complex pathways navigated by musicians and provides sound directions at every turn."
--Alice G. Brandfonbrener, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Founding Director, Medical Program for Performing Artists, Northwestern University Medical School
Review
"One of the most important books on musicianship in recent decades." --Joseph Docksey, Director, Lamont School of Music, University of Denver
"I predict that The Musician's Way will be an instant classic. It is the most useful, comprehensive book I have ever read on developing the skills of a successful performer. Every music lover--student, professional, amateur, and teacher alike--should own this book." --Jeffrey Solow, Professor of Cello, Temple University; President, American String Teachers Association
"The entire music profession has received a great and much-needed gift from Gerald Klickstein. The Musician's Way is a landmark and essential guide for every serious musician."--Barbara Lister-Sink, Professor of Piano, Salem College; author, Freeing the Caged Bird DVD
"The Musician's Way is the brainchild of an experienced and insightful teacher who has thought long and hard about how musicians can maximize their artistic success while coping with the stresses of music making. In clear and engaging language, the author leads us down the complex pathways navigated by musicians and provides sound directions at every turn." --Alice G. Brandfonbrener, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Founding Director, Medical Program for Performing Artists, Northwestern University Medical School
"You owe it to yourself to read this book." --The Classical Guitar Blog
"A wonderful tool for all aspiring musicians." --Music Ed Magic
"A rare example of clear, concise and useable information on music practice...If I read a better book on practice this year I'll be surprised!!" --HowtoPractice.com
"Mr. Klickstein presents so much helpful information that you will be itching to sit at the piano with his book beside you while you practice....A tremendous resource that would benefit any music teacher." --MusicMattersBlog.com
"The Musician's Way is strongly recommended for its focus on mental imagery and the role of the mind in effective practice...A holistic approach to teaching, The Musician's Way should be on the shelf of every aspiring professional musician and every serious music educator." --Clavier Companion
"Klickstein covers the gamut of issues, tips, and ideas that make up the world of the serious musician....Students hunger for this kind of knowledge." --Notes
"Klickstein takes a common-sense approach and works his way through techniques for improving every aspect of a performer's life, from ways to memorise a piece to dealing with performance anxiety. . . . It's all very well thought through and an interesting read." --The Strad
"A comprehensive guidebook from an experienced, insightful musician....You must read this book." --Stringendo
"Wonderfully thought-out and organized...a book to keep around and to constantly refer back to as you develop as a musician...'The Musician's Way' is a book that will benefit any musician. He touches on aspects of all performers, from guitarists to violinists to drummers to vocalists, and has plenty of tips for everyone...Regardless of what instrument you play or how long you've been playing or what level of musician you consider yourself to be, you will find a tremendous amount of beneficial material in this book. I can't recommend it enough." --David Hodge, GuitarNoise.com
"Engaging and well-written and a valuable resource for every performer seeking to develop their craft and maintain career longevity." --Psychology of Music
"Provides a wealth of information that would otherwise take years to accrue." --British Journal of Music Education
"Articulates both an artistic approach to attaining mastery of an instrument/voice and a practical approach to achieving professional goals....Uniquely holistic." --Philosophy of Music Education Review
About the Author
Gerald Klickstein (@klickstein) is a veteran performer and educator with more than 30 years of experience on the concert stage and in higher education. In July 2012, he was appointed Director of the Music Entrepreneurship and Career Center at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University. From 1992-2012, he was a member of the distinguished artist-faculty of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. His book
The Musician's Way and its extensive website MusiciansWay.com have drawn global praise for their insightful handling of the issues that today's musicians face.
Table of Contents
Introduction Part I: Artful Practice
1. Getting Organized
Artful Practice
Defining Practice
Creating a Practice Environment
The Five Practice Zones
Planning Your Practice
Scheduling Practice Sessions
Choosing New Material
Self-Recording
2. Practicing Deeply, I
Practicing Deeply
Habits of Excellence
Essentials of Artistic Interpretation
Mental Imaging
Warming Up
3. Practicing Deeply, II
The Craftsmanship of Practice
Starting New Material
Managing Repetition
Solving Problems
4. Practicing Deeply, III
Ripening Your Repertoire
Taking Breaks
Memorization Concepts
Memorization Strategies
5. Practicing Deeply, IV
Building Technique
Upgrading Musicianship
Fueling Motivation
Committing to the Creative Process
6. Musical Collaboration
Musical Collaboration
Professionalism
Interacting in Rehearsal
Correlating Solitary and Group Practice
Igniting Synergy
Forming a Musical Group
Part II: Fearless Performance
7. Unmasking Performance Anxiety
Fearless Performance
Unmasking Performance Anxiety
The Basic Anxiety Equation
Anxiety's Effects
The Roots of Performance Anxiety
Portraits of Anxious Performers
Crafting Confidence
8. Becoming a Performing Artist, I
Becoming a Performing Artist
The Heart of Performance
The Five Facets of Preparation
Preperformance Routines
Backstage Techniques
9. Becoming a Performing Artist, II
Stage Deportment
Shaping Your Stage Presence
Starting and Ending
Harnessing On-Stage Energy
Connecting with an Audience
10. Becoming a Performing Artist, III
Dealing with Errors
Postperformance Routines
Practicing Performance
Evaluating Your Progress
11. Performing like a Pro
Performing like a Pro
The Peak-Performance Myth
Designing Concert Programs
Three Model Programs
Creating a Preparation Timeline
Auditions and Competitions
The Recording Studio
Part III: Lifelong Creativity
12. Injury Prevention, I
Lifelong Creativity
Musicians and Injuries
Causes of Injury
Warning Signs and Responses
Injury-Prevention Basics
Recovering from Injury
13. Injury Prevention, II
Balanced Sitting and Standing
Meeting Your Instrument
Voice Care
Hearing Conservation
14. Succeeding as a Student
Succeeding as a Student
Student-Teacher Dynamics
Appreciating Criticism
Embracing Career Challenges
Counteracting Substance Abuse
Boosting Creativity
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index