Description
Book SynopsisFrom the preface by Lorin Hollander: ...a remarkable piece of work by an equally remarkable teacher, philosopher, and healer. Ruth explores with wonderful clarity and thoroughness virtually every important aspect of the mind, heart, body, and soul of the creative person. This is truly a book for our age, and would make valuable reading for those pursuing most fields of human endeavor. This small book on a large subject, the culmination of many years of performing and teaching, offers piano students, teachers, and performers useful advice for many stages along the path to becoming a pianist. Friedberg explains the mystery of the connection between the body and the brain of the pianist. What exactly is the role of the body in establishing, helping, or hindering the pianist''s process? How can the mind''s unending activity be harnessed most effectively to facilitate this process? She explores relevant published information and new psychological insights into learning and how it operate
Trade Review...includes an extensive annotated bibliography that shows the amount of research [Friedberg] has devoted to understanding the particular requirements of artistic accomplishment and performance. * Reference and Research Book News *
...although this skillfully concise but comprehensive book is written for the pianist, the issues that she addresses—diet, rest, exercise; breathing; preventing injuries; practice-scheduling, practice-methodology; memorizing; preparation for performance and performing—are relevant and pertinent for every performing musician...each of the book's three sections—mind, body, synthesis—contains an extensive, annotated bibliography. This learned and provocative book is recommended reading for every professional and amateur musician. * Pan Pipes (Journal of Sigma Alpha Iota) *
That Friedberg has the background to speak with authority is immediately apparent...packed with distilled wisdom... * American Music Teacher *
...another kind of book:one that anyone serious about the instrument would do well to read. * San Antonio, Tx Times *
Table of ContentsPart 1 List of Illustrations Part 2 Preface, by Lorin Hollander Part 3 Author's Preface Part 4 Introduction— The Making of a Pianist Part 5 I Body Chapter 6 How Do We See It—or Do We? Chapter 7 How We Treat It—Principles of Nurturance Part 8 Diet Part 9 Rest Part 10 Exercise Chapter 11 How We Use It Part 12 Breathing Part 13 The Pianist's "Alexander" Chapter 14 Mirror, Mirror On the Wall Part 15 And on Arising? Part 16 From Body to Mind Chapter 17 New Help for Bodily Distress Part 18 Why Does it Hurt? Part 19 An Ounce of Prevention Chapter 20 Cherchez le piano Part 21 Endnotes for Part I Part 22 Bibliography for Part I Part 23 II Mind Chapter 24 Motivation Chapter 25 Organization Part 26 Practice—Scheduling Part 27 Practice—Methodology Part 28 Memorizing Part 29 Sight-Reading Chapter 30 Becoming a Musician Part 31 Musical Style Part 32 Theory Chapter 33 Long-Range Planning Part 34 To Teach or not to Teach Part 35 The Soloist Part 36 Professor of Piano Part 37 Symphony and Chamber Player Part 38 Accompanist/Vocal Coach Part 39 Endnotes for Part II Part 40 Bibliography for Part II Part 41 III Synthesis Chapter 42 The "Why?" of Performance Chapter 43 The "Where" of Performance Part 44 Recitals and Competitions Part 45 Organizations Part 46 Churches and Synagogues Part 47 Musical Theater Part 48 Friends Chapter 49 As a Singer Chapter 50 Preparation for Performance Part 51 Synthesis Observed Part 52 Learning the Program Part 53 Concert Clothes Part 54 Securing One's Audience Part 55 Programs Part 56 Recordings Chapter 57 Tension and Anxiety Chapter 58 Performcane Part 59 Just Before the Concert Part 60 During the concert Part 61 Last Words Part 62 Endnotes for Part III Part 63 Bibliography for Part III Part 64 About the Author
