Tag Archives: books

no walls and the recurring dream

No Walls and the Recurring Dream

no walls and the recurring dream

In her new memoir, Ani DiFranco of Local 1000 (Nongeographic) recounts her early life from a place of hard-won wisdom, combining personal expression, the power of music, political activism, storytelling, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and much more into an inspiring whole. Her coming-of-age story is defined by her ethos of fierce independence—from being an emancipated minor sleeping in a Buffalo bus station, to building a career through appearances at small clubs and festivals, to releasing her first album at age 18, to rejecting the mainstream recording industry and creating her own label.

No Walls and the Recurring Dream, by Ani DiFranco,
Penguin Random House, www.penguinrandomhouse.com.

groove trumpet

Manuel Hilleke: Groove Trumpet

groove trumpet

Author Manuel Hilleke has compiled 11 groove-based original compositions and arrangements for professional section and solo playing. Based on simple song forms, you can practice in different styles such as jazz, funk, rock ‘n’ roll, reggae, and more. Playing guides, graphical instructions for phrasing and articulation, as well as exercises for improvisation are included.

Manuel Hilleke: Groove Trumpet, by Manuel Hilleke, Universal Edition, www.universaledition.com.

songs of a sourdough

Songs of a Sourdough

songs of a sourdough

These five movements form a backdrop for an exploration of life in the Yukon and are built around five texts by British-Canadian poet Robert Service. Adventurer-composer Stephen Lias has a reputation for symphonic work inspired by the geography, history, and wildlife of America’s national parks. For this piece (written for renowned baritone Scott LaGraff), Lias draws on his affinity for far-flung regions to evoke an emotional tribute to the wilderness and its inhabitants.

Songs of a Sourdough: Five Songs for Tenor and Piano, by Stephen Lias, with texts by Robert Service, www.alias-press.com.

playing with ease

Playing with Ease: A Healthy Approach to Guitar Technique

playing with ease

Playing with Ease is a book about ergonomic technique for the guitar, as well as other instruments. Renowned classical guitarist David Leisner of Local 205 (Green Bay, WI) offers an introduction to the basic anatomy of movement, advice on relieving unnecessary tension, pioneering ideas about engaging large muscles, and tips for practicing and concert preparation.

Playing with Ease: A Healthy Approach to Guitar Technique, by David Leisner, Oxford University Press, www.oup.com.

michael drapkin

Michael Drapkin: How to Work on Clarinet Reeds, Drapkin’s Book of Clarinet Calisthenics

michael drapkin

In his two latest books, bass clarinetist Michael Drapkin of Local 802 (New York City) offers advice and assistance on improving your technique as well as your physical instrument. In How to Work on Clarinet Reeds, Drapkin details his step-by-step approach to creating the perfect reeds for his clarinet.

Drapkin’s Book of Clarinet Calisthenics gives players a set of studies selected from Langenus and Baermann for players out of shape, players getting in shape, and players working toward concert-level assurance.

How to Work on Clarinet Reeds, Drapkin’s Book of Clarinet
Calisthenics, by Michael Drapkin, Drapkin Music Publications,
www.drapkin.net.

arban complete conservatory method

Arban Complete Conservatory Method for CC Tuba

arban complete conservatory method

This revised and newly engraved edition of Jean Baptiste Arban’s Complete Conservatory Method for CC Tuba is based on the comprehensive system of study that Arban first developed more than a century ago. Editor and Boston Symphony Principal Tubist Mike W. Roylance of Local 9-535 (Boston, MA) augments the original material so that it is accessible for the modern tubist.

Arban Complete Conservatory Method for CC Tuba Revised for Tuba, by Mike W. Roylance, Carl Fischer, www.carlfischer.com.

the silent musician

The Silent Musician: Why Conducting Matters

the silent musician

This book is not intended to be an instruction manual for conductors, nor is it a history of conducting. It is for all who wonder what conductors actually do. Exploring the relationships with the musicians and music they conduct, and the public and personal responsibilities they face, leading conductor Mark Wigglesworth writes about the role for any music lover curious to know whether or not the profession really matters.

The Silent Musician: Why Conducting Matters, by Mark Wigglesworth, Faber Publishing (UK) University of Chicago Press (US), www.markwigglesworth.com.

contrapunctus xv/es ist genug

Contrapunctus XV/Es ist genug

contrapunctus xv/es ist genug

Orchestral trumpeter and educator Jon Nelson has written and arranged numerous pieces for trumpet. His work has been performed and recorded by the Cologne Stadt Ballet, the Ethos Percussion Group, and Dweezil Zappa of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA). In this arrangement from the Meridian Folio collection by the Meridian Arts Ensemble, he adds a modern variation to “Es ist genug.”

Contrapunctus XV/Es ist genug, by Johann Sebastian Bach, arranged by Jon Nelson Balquhidder Music, distributed by Carl Fischer Music, www.carlfischer.com.

becoming creative

Becoming Creative: Insights from Musicians in a Diverse World

becoming creative

Becoming Creative explores how social and cultural factors enable or inhibit creativity in music. Author Juniper Hill integrates perspectives from ethnomusicology, education, sociology, psychology, and performance studies, while prioritizing the voices of practicing musicians and music educators. In addition to theoretical contributions, many sections have direct applications for practice.

Becoming Creative: Insights from Musicians in a Diverse World,
by Juniper Hill, Oxford University Press, www.oup.com

Triplets: 40 Triplets and 10 Ways to Play Them

Triplets: 40 Triplets and 10 Ways to Play Them, Independence with Triplets

Triplets: 40 Triplets and 10 Ways to Play Them

Local 62 (Trenton, NJ) musician Rick Lawton is a recording artist, teacher, consultant, and author. These two books are in-depth explorations of one of a working drummer’s most fundamental tools: triplets. Triplets: 40 Triplets and 10 Ways to Play Them is a must-have for students and teachers. The accent patterns are written to improve accuracy, playing time, and creativity. Independence with Triplets covers advanced techniques—alternate and extra stickings. Both books include access to free online audio files that demonstrate the lessons and techniques.

Triplets: 40 Triplets and 10 Ways to Play Them and Independence with Triplets, by Rick Lawton, Sticks & Skins, sticks-and-skins.com.