The Musician's Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness

by Gerald Klickstein

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199841004
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	09/03/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	6 MB

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

IntroductionPart I: Artful Practice1. iGetting Organized/iArtful PracticeDefining PracticeCreating a Practice EnvironmentThe Five Practice ZonesPlanning Your PracticeScheduling Practice SessionsChoosing New MaterialSelf-Recording2. iPracticing Deeply, I/iPracticing DeeplyHabits of ExcellenceEssentials of Artistic InterpretationMental ImagingWarming Up3. iPracticing Deeply, II/iThe Craftsmanship of PracticeStarting New MaterialManaging RepetitionSolving Problems4. iPracticing Deeply, III/iRipening Your RepertoireTaking BreaksMemorization ConceptsMemorization Strategies5. iPracticing Deeply, IV/iBuilding TechniqueUpgrading MusicianshipFueling MotivationCommitting to the Creative Process6. iMusical Collaboration/iMusical CollaborationProfessionalismInteracting in RehearsalCorrelating Solitary and Group PracticeIgniting SynergyForming a Musical GroupPart II: Fearless Performance7. iUnmasking Performance Anxiety/iFearless PerformanceUnmasking Performance AnxietyThe Basic Anxiety EquationAnxiety's EffectsThe Roots of Performance AnxietyPortraits of Anxious PerformersCrafting Confidence8. iBecoming a Performing Artist, I/iBecoming a Performing ArtistThe Heart of PerformanceThe Five Facets of PreparationPreperformance RoutinesBackstage Techniques9. iBecoming a Performing Artist, II/iStage DeportmentShaping Your Stage PresenceStarting and EndingHarnessing On-Stage EnergyConnecting with an Audience10. iBecoming a Performing Artist, III/iDealing with ErrorsPostperformance RoutinesPracticing PerformanceEvaluating Your Progress11. iPerforming like a Pro/iPerforming like a ProThe Peak-Performance MythDesigning Concert ProgramsThree Model ProgramsCreating a Preparation TimelineAuditions and CompetitionsThe Recording StudioPart III: Lifelong Creativity12. iInjury Prevention, I/iLifelong CreativityMusicians and InjuriesCauses of InjuryWarning Signs and ResponsesInjury-Prevention BasicsRecovering from Injury13. iInjury Prevention, II/iBalanced Sitting and StandingMeeting Your InstrumentVoice CareHearing Conservation14. iSucceeding as a Student/iSucceeding as a StudentStudent-Teacher DynamicsAppreciating CriticismEmbracing Career ChallengesCounteracting Substance AbuseBoosting CreativityNotesSelected BibliographyIndex

Editorial Reviews

"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

"The relationship of learning, practice, and mastery in the case of musicianship is explored thoroughly in Gerald Klickstein's The Musician's Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness. Written for especially classical and jazz instrumentalists and vocalists at the university level, the book nevertheless provides important lessons for musicians of widely diverse levels and backgrounds." —John Warren, Juan's World

"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

From the Publisher