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Top 7 Books on Musical Composition Mastery
Discover the 7 best books to elevate your musical composition skills and unleash your creativity in songwriting and music creation.
Book Summaries
A Way of Being
Rick Rubin, a legendary music producer, shares profound insights on creativity and the artistic process, encouraging readers to embrace their unique creative journeys.
3 Key Takeaways:
- Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human
- The universe functions like a clock: Everything has its time
- Awareness and listening are essential to the creative process
Jeff Tweedy, frontman of Wilco, shares his heartfelt and practical advice for aspiring songwriters, encouraging creativity and overcoming self-doubt in the songwriting process.
3 Key Takeaways:
- Anyone can write a song: Embrace your inner songwriter
- Focus on writing one song, not many: The power of singular creation
- Overcoming obstacles: Time, judgment, and self-doubt
Barry Green adapts Timothy Gallwey's principles to music, offering valuable techniques to overcome mental barriers and enhance your musical experience, making it a must-read for musicians.
3 Key Takeaways:
- The Inner Game: Overcoming mental interference to reach your full potential
- Awareness, Will, and Trust: The three core skills of the Inner Game
- Performance, Experience, and Learning: Balancing the three dimensions of musical growth
Liberating the Master Musician Within
Kenny Werner, an acclaimed jazz pianist, provides transformative insights on overcoming mental barriers and achieving a state of flow in musical performance, essential for any composer.
3 Key Takeaways:
- Effortless mastery is about playing without thinking
- Fear and ego hinder musical growth and expression
- Connecting to the inner space unlocks creative potential
The New Musician and the Science of Learning
Cognitive psychologist Gary Marcus shares his journey of learning guitar at 39, blending personal experience with scientific insights, making it an inspiring read for new musicians.
3 Key Takeaways:
- Music is not innate but a skill constructed from existing brain faculties
- Practice and talent both matter in musical development
- Learning music rewires the brain and enhances cognitive abilities
Pat Pattison, a respected Berklee College of Music educator, offers practical exercises and insights to enhance your lyric writing skills, making it essential for aspiring songwriters.
3 Key Takeaways:
- Object Writing: Dive Deep into Sensory Experiences
- Showing vs. Telling: Create Vivid Imagery
- Metaphors: Collide Ideas for Powerful Expressions
