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Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within | 
| Author: Kenny Werner
Publisher: Jamey Aebersold
Category: Book
List Price: $20.00
Buy New: $13.58
You Save: $6.42 (32%)
New (19) Used (10) Collectible (1) from $12.59
Rating:  52 reviews
Media: Paperback
Pages: 192
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6
ISBN: 156224003X
Dewey Decimal Number: 781
EAN: 9781562240035
Publication Date: January 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Paperback book and CD set. Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within is a book for any musician who finds themselves having reached a plateau in their development. Werner, a masterful jazz pianist in his own right, uses his own life story and experiences to explore the barriers to creativity and mastery of music, and in the process reveals that "Mastery is available to everyone," providing practical, detailed ways to move towards greater confidence and proficiency in any endeavor. While Werner is a musician, the concepts presented are for every profession or life-style where there is a need for free-flowing, effortless thinking. Book also includes an audio CD of meditations narrated by Kenny to help the musician reach a place of relaxed focus.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 47 more reviews...
 Mastery through Practice December 30, 2008
Breath, Life, Spirit
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
There are a lot of good reviews for this book and there is also a very good Wikipedia article on it which will give the reader a quick take on what this is about. Everyone probably takes something different from it. For me, it was useful in creating practice time that was much more focused and enjoyable. The aim of the technique is to cultivate instinct & commitment to presence in performance - whether that's in front of an audience or just in practice. It's also about quieting the critic, reducing frustration, being less harsh on yourself and realizing that everyone has the capacity to reach their highest aspiration as long they are willing to put time into practice. But it's a gentle approach and that's the point. The effortlessness comes, of course, when you have mastered the instrument and the technique, but it is also the idea that you don't have to use force in achieving mastery. The technique taught here can be translated to any endeavor. It's not just for musicians or jazz musicians.
This is one of the books that was recommended to me for Music Practitioner training through the Music for Healing and Transition Program. This is a program which trains musicians to play for others in an effort to improve mental, emotional and physical health as well as to aid in the transition process (MHTP - see online if you are interested). Although I was interested in the training at one time, I am not a Music Practitioner. I do, however, think it is extremely useful training for any musician in understanding the ways in which music can be used to help others as well as the self.
This is my last review for this list. Happy New Year.
please get this book for your promising student or yourself! December 16, 2008
David the music guy (USA)
I first read this book about 10 years ago on the recommendation of a friend of mine who like me is a professional jazz musician and music teacher. He had been to Kenny Werner workshops and discovered the book that way. I've bought several copies of this book for friends and students who suffer from any number of issues relating to feeling that their playing isn't up to par. It's basically a book, based on a personal accounting of the author's own struggles with self confidence as a piano,a young adult player trying to find himself while riddled with self-doubt. It's mainly designed for more advanced students and players but is appropriate for anyone/student who has done some hard work and finds themselves unable to produce at a level that gives them satisfaction with where they are musically. The basic premise of the book, in my opinion, is that improvisers need to let go of the need to impress their audience (even considering themselves an audience) and learn to be "in the moment" and experience their own music with open ears and open mind. It's simple powerful conceptually and the book includes a cd and meditations (which I've never done) that are supposed to help with that. I strongly recommend this book.
Keep an open mind about this one December 5, 2008
H. DEHAVEN (Houston, TX USA)
I have to admit that after first reading the book and trying the meditations, I did not fully appreciate what all the 5-star reviews here at Amazon were going on about. My first reaction was "Yea, some of this is useful (though not new) and yea, maybe the meditations could be useful, but this cat really is over the top." Some of the self-empowering parts of the meditations seem corny and unconvincing.
HOWEVER, after a little time (few months) passed, I find myself using parts of the meditations and without thinking about it, my playing is becoming more and more relaxed, more natural, and simply more fun! Other musicians that have heard me (and are not even aware of the book) have made comments like "What the ***** have you been practicing? You have a new instructor? WHERE THE HECK DID YOU LEARN HOW TO PLAY LIKE THAT?!" I have been floored by others' reactions. They seem to pick up on the improvements that I apparently have made even more that I do.
People will notice!
The title is a little misleading (IMHO) because it is not "effortless." You DO have to read the book and follow his directions. At least adopt what works for YOU. The place you will first feel that things are just different is in your practice. Focus improves, you learn more in less time, you just seem to naturally start seeing what you need to work on. There is the key word "work"... You DO still have to work on your music and practice, but this book will give you a subtle edge... I can't even really put a finger on it. I can tell you that it is clearly "Liberating" though, as indicated in the subtitle.
It worked for me. It will probably work for you as well. I have read a number of books like this one and Werner knows what he is talking about. Give it a try!
RHB
Wonderful November 23, 2008
Lina Luu
Brilliant.
I'm glad I was able to find this book. I was especially glad to get the book so soon after I ordered it as well.
great book July 22, 2008
Ashley F. Grella (ny, ny)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm a cellist and this book improved my playing and made me want to go into music therapy.
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