The Perfect Wrong Note

(Amadeus). In this groundbreaking book, prize-winning pianist and noted educator William Westney helps readers discover their own path to the natural, transcendent fulfillment of making music. Drawing on experience, psychological insight, and wisdom ancient and modern, Westney shows how to trust yourself and set your own musicality free. He offers healthy alternatives for lifelong learning and suggests significant change in the way music is taught. For example, playing a wrong note can be constructive, useful, even enlightening. The creator of the acclaimed Un-Master Class workshop also explores the special potential of group work, outlining the basics of his revelatory workshop that has transformed the music experience for participants the world over. Practicing, in Westney's view, is a lively, honest, adventurous, and spiritually rewarding enterprise, and it can (and should) meet with daily success, which empowers us to grow even more. Teachers, professionals, and students of any instrument will benefit from this unique guide, which brings artistic vitality, freedom, and confidence within everyone's reach.

An emotionally charged story about the power of dreams, and how passion can turn to obsession. Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music - because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence. When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it? Thrilling and powerfully written, this is an explosive debut for YA readers which tackles the dark topic of domestic abuse in an ultimately hopeful tale.

An imaginative and passionate synthesis of form and function, Landing on the Wrong NOte goes beyond mainstream jazz criticism, outlining a new poetics of jazz that emerges not from the ivory tower but from the clubs, performances, and lives of today's jazz musicians.

An illustrated guide for the amateur and professional musician that teaches us how to transform practicing from an often laborious activity into an exhilarating and rewarding experience Foreword by Yehudi Menuhin • “Give this book to any musician you love and to any person who loves what music does for them and for the world.”—Richard Stoltzman, clarinetist In The Art of Practicing, acclaimed pianist and teacher Madeline Bruser combines physiological and meditative principles to help musicians release physical and mental tension and unleash their innate musical talent. She offers practical techniques for cultivating free and natural movement, a keen enjoyment of sounds and sensations, a clear and relaxed mind, and an open heart and she explains how to: • Prepare the body and mind to practice with ease • Understand the effect of posture on flexibility and expressiveness • Make efficient use of the hands and arms • Employ listening techniques to improve coordination • Increase the range of color and dynamics by using less effort • Cultivate rhythmic vitality • Perform with confidence, warmth, and freedom Complete with photographs to show essential points of posture and movement for a variety of instruments, this is the definitive guide to turning practice from a sometimes frightening, monotonous chore to a fun, fulfilling activity.

Good Strategy/Bad Strategy clarifies the muddled thinking underlying too many strategies and provides a clear way to create and implement a powerful action-oriented strategy for the real world. Developing and implementing a strategy is the central task of a leader. A good strategy is a specific and coherent response to—and approach for—overcoming the obstacles to progress. A good strategy works by harnessing and applying power where it will have the greatest effect. Yet, Rumelt shows that there has been a growing and unfortunate tendency to equate Mom-and-apple-pie values, fluffy packages of buzzwords, motivational slogans, and financial goals with “strategy.” In Good Strategy/Bad Strategy, he debunks these elements of “bad strategy” and awakens an understanding of the power of a “good strategy.” He introduces nine sources of power—ranging from using leverage to effectively focusing on growth—that are eye-opening yet pragmatic tools that can easily be put to work on Monday morning, and uses fascinating examples from business, nonprofit, and military affairs to bring its original and pragmatic ideas to life. The detailed examples range from Apple to General Motors, from the two Iraq wars to Afghanistan, from a small local market to Wal-Mart, from Nvidia to Silicon Graphics, from the Getty Trust to the Los Angeles Unified School District, from Cisco Systems to Paccar, and from Global Crossing to the 2007–08 financial crisis. Reflecting an astonishing grasp and integration of economics, finance, technology, history, and the brilliance and foibles of the human character, Good Strategy/Bad Strategy stems from Rumelt’s decades of digging beyond the superficial to address hard questions with honesty and integrity.

"With its gentle affirmations, inspirational quotes, fill-in-the-blank lists and tasks — write yourself a thank-you letter, describe yourself at 80, for example — The Artist’s Way proposes an egalitarian view of creativity: Everyone’s got it."—The New York Times "Morning Pages have become a household name, a shorthand for unlocking your creative potential"—Vogue Over four million copies sold! Since its first publication, The Artist's Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery. The program begins with Cameron’s most vital tools for creative recovery – The Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-conscious, and The Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist. From there, she shares hundreds of exercises, activities, and prompts to help readers thoroughly explore each chapter. She also offers guidance on starting a “Creative Cluster” of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors. A revolutionary program for personal renewal, The Artist's Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life.

A4 trim size - 8.27" x 11.69" (21.006 x 29.693 cm). "The Art of Piano Fingering - Traditional, Advanced, and Innovative" is a new book by virtuoso concert pianist Rami Bar-Niv.The 212-page book was first published in February 2012 and it is the first of its kind and scope in the history of piano playing.The book is intended for anyone who plays the piano, from children to college students, from adult amateur to professional piano teachers and performing pianists. The book teaches how to create your own efficient and injury-free piano fingering, starting with traditional, continuing with advanced, and concluding with innovative fingering.The book offers useful exercises and in addition to fingering issues it also deals with related piano playing techniques, phrasing, and interpretation. The text is illustrated with countless score samples, pictures, and diagrams. Endorsements/Reviews:***"The Art of Piano Fingering by Rami Bar-Niv, fills a tremendous void in the realm of the pianistic world. Published in 2012, it is the first book of its kind in the 303 year history of the piano. Order a copy; you will be immensely grateful you did."Dr. Walden Hughes, Professor of Piano,Northwest Nazarene University.***"Bar-Niv's book is superbly indexed and valuable as a reference source... he also analyzes difficulties, formulates solutions, and even suggests exercises to help us master difficult solutions... Bar-Niv suggests ingenious fingering solutions... Anyone who plays the piano with serious intentions can benefit from reading and studying this book." Lyn Bronson, CA Music Teacher, Summer 2012. ***"This book is truly the first of its kind, and it is perhaps three hundred years overdue. The depth of coverage will surprise even the most accomplished pianists."Jeremy Todd, adult piano student.***"Rami's new book on fingering is a "must have"! I highly recommend it to everyone."Kevin Coan, Moderator of the E-group "Piano-Teachers". ***"I highly second that recommendation.Linda Kennedy, piano teacher." ***"Bar-Niv gives many wonderful fingering tips for students, teachers, and perofrmers.Becky Hughes, MTNA's "American Music Teacher".***"You must not miss this outstanding book on piano fingering. Rami Bar-Niv's comprehensive coverage of the subject belongs in every piano teacher's library. Reward yourself with this gem. We have waited 300 years for this book on piano fingering so read this review and then order it promptly. You will not only be richly rewarded with a resource you will refer to frequently but also take great pleasure in reading its clear, intriguing text. Highly recommended. Though this is the first known book devoted to this essential aspect ofachieving beautiful, artistic, comfortable study and performance, it sets a high standard with its clear, comprehensive coverage of the subject. Do not hesitate to purchase this book for you will use it often to find a storehouse of solutions to keyboard puzzles.The Art of Fingering is an adventure into the resources of the human hand as well as how toteach these explorations inventively and thoroughly from the elementary to the advancedlevels. The piano has been with us for three centuries now, making this first book that isdevoted to fingering a most valuable and much needed resource."Mary Gae George, NCTM,Co-author of Artistry at the Piano.

My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me: 1. I’m in a coma. 2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore. 3. Sometimes I lie. Amber wakes up in a hospital. She can’t move. She can’t speak. She can’t open her eyes. She can hear everyone around her, but they have no idea. Amber doesn’t remember what happened, but she has a suspicion her husband had something to do with it. Alternating between her paralyzed present, the week before her accident, and a series of childhood diaries from twenty years ago, this brilliant psychological thriller asks: Is something really a lie if you believe it's the truth?