7 Inspirational Books For Musicians
Hey fellow musicians! I hope you’re having a very musical day today! So, after I released the latest article on building more creativity as a musician I received a ton of follow up questions.
Many people asked me if there were any inspirational books I could recommend that were written specifically for musicians.
As you know, having the right mindset is essential for your long term success as a musician. So, I knew this would make a great article and help a lot of people.
These books are all pivotal and have helped me immensely in my personal journey of being a professional musician. I think you guys will really enjoy them.
So, without further ado…here is our list!
7 Inspirational Books For Creative Musicians
(Some of them I even reread a bit everyday before I practice or do a gig. They’re like practicing licks, scales, and chords but for the mind) 🙂
The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music
This book was written by the 5 time Grammy Award winning bass virtuoso Victor Wooten. This book was a ton of fun to read and really helped me find the next level in my plaing. I read this while on a tour bus driving through the Italian countryside. Awesome and moving!
Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within (Book + CD set)
This book was written by the great pianist Kenny Werner. It’s literally a classic. Not only is Kenny a great musician but a great philosopher as well. I read this book in my second semester at Berklee and it provided inspiration for a whole year of 6-10 hour practice sessions.
Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art
I loved this book. Stephen Nachmanovitch really taps into the core message of what we need to understand as improvisers.
Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
This is an incredible study into very specific techniques that separate average performers from world class performers. It literally changed the way I practice and the way I teach. Insight into virtuoso training.
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
When I read this book I felt like Steven Pressfield was truly my mind. One of the most important books on the essential training and mindset needed to make art. I owe so much to this book.
You don’t have to be a guitar player to read this book. You can play any instrument actually. My favorite book ever written. Period. I read from it every week.
No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline
I could have chosen any book here by self improvement author Brian Tracy. He’s that good.
I had a bunch of gigs one summer in several different midwestern states. I used to listen to the audio version late at night on the bus ride to the next gig. It created a lot of clarity for my workflow and future goals as musician.
*** Enjoy these awesome books and I hope they really improve you not only as a musician but as a person as well. ***
On a related note, we also have a whole other awesome page on jazz resources here.
This is a list of things that I personally use to improve my musicianship. I keep adding more cool stuff to it regularly. Check it out!
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