The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart

[bachapprentice]

Has anybody read this book by Madeline Bruser and if so is it any good?

[zheer]

Has anybody read this book by Madeline Bruser and if so is it any good?

 No, though how do you go about teaching that.

[dan101]

It looks like it would be an interesting read. However, like the previous poster, I feel that the topic of playing from the heart would be difficult to teach. As a composer, I have the same skepticism for books that claim to teach you how to write a melody... I don't think so. Let us know if you read it.

[amanfang]

I have read it.  There are some practical things, but it's mostly a sort of "feel-good" book.  If you want t feel good about yourself and your piano playing, read this book.

[teresa_b]

I have not read it.  But I recently read an article that said that SLEEP is extremely important, as is playing music in your head when you're not practicing.  So the more nights youhave to sleep after practicing, the better the piece will be learned by your brain.  You can access it here:

https://www.newenglandconservatory.edu/studentLife/documents/PracticingandCurrentBrainResearchbyGebrian.pdf


Teresa

[danny elfboy]

It looks like it would be an interesting read. However, like the previous poster, I feel that the topic of playing from the heart would be difficult to teach. As a composer, I have the same skepticism for books that claim to teach you how to write a melody... I don't think so. Let us know if you read it.

Just like certain books can teach you approaches to come in contact with your emotions, by listening to your thoughts, or recalling memories or having you meditate or PNL, this book attempt the same but from a piano playing perspective. It's a very good book and I have heard students of Bruser vouching for her method. Even more interesting though it's her technical approach. In her website you can see videos of her playing and she just have an amazing technique in my opinion.

https://www.artofpracticing.com/madeline-piano.mpg