Customer Reviews

The Musician's Soul: A Journey Examining Spirituality for Performers, Teachers, Composers, Conductors, and Music Educators/G5095

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Jordan's book allows for the reader to explore his or her own musical experiences at a level of depth and passion that is often forgotten. I learned of this book from a well-known choral director who said it changed her life. . .I went out and bought it immediately and while saying that it has 'changed my life' sounds very cliché, it has changed my conscious relationship with music. When I was teaching high school choir, I read excerpts to my choirs. I continue to read sections of it, especially the quotes, as one might read a devotional book. Some may feel that Jordan does not expand enough on certain ideas, I feel that he expands just enough allowing each individual the opportunity to struggle with the ideas presented and come to his or her own conclusions. This is a book that I would work into my curriculum at the college/university level.

This book is an emotional and spiritual approach to making music. This is the aspect of music that is so often forgotten. As band directors we are more focused on technique and often forget that the primary purpose of music is to express emotions. The book focuses the reader inward under the premise that the performer's spirituality affects the performance of the music. One chapter focuses mimetics and envy. The author makes the point that many if not all problems conductors and performers have are a result of envy. The author includes several exercises that would be useful for young and experienced performers. The book is also full of thought- provoking quotes. This is an excellent book for any performer.

This is a marvelous book! It speaks to the inner musician, the core of the artist. Jordan discusses not how we make music as much as why. Young musicians would do well to use thses ideas to help tap into their expressive potential. Older musicians have the opportunity to reflect on a lifetime relationship with beauty. Truly uplifting.

This is a good book in many ways, but something about it doesn't quite satisfy me. There are many, many excellent quotes in it - but the thing that struck me was that the author says much less than I'd like to hear. He prefaces each chapter with pages of quotes, and then states a basic idea and doesn't develop it very much. I oftentimes wanted him to elaborate on a concept because it didn't seem very clear - but that didn't happen. I think the most interesting parts in the book were the sections where you had to write in responses to questions asked. However, yet again I wasn't really quite sure what the point of the exercises were. The book is worth reading - especially since the quotes are so good - but I'd like to see another edition of it with more detail from the author.

This book should be required reading for all musicians who teach, conduct, or otherwise guide the progress of other musicians. Dr. Jordan speaks about the unspoken: how we feel about the teaching we do and how our self-image impacts the quality of our teaching. We cannot do our best work (and neither can our students, musicians, etc.) if we do not accept ourselves because we cannot create a healthy environment. Dr. Jordan's work resonates deeply within all musicians who have been hard on themselves and their colleagues (which means all musicians!). His ideas have changed the way I teach, sing, and feel about all of it. I hope this book leads to further discussion on how musicians affect each other and themselves.

This book easily fits into both categories of music and spirituality. In fact, it should be required reading for any creative and artistic person. Music, like all creative endeavors, is a manifestation of the person's interior life. The more conscious the musician is of the self, the greater his/her ability to bring music into the world. The author has definitely made a significant contribution to an area of musical life that deserves to be explored, discussed, and taught. Young musicians will find much wisdom in the author's insights and his words will resonate among those of us more seasoned in the art. Every serious student of music should add this to his/her library. Conscientious teachers of music should recommend, if not review, this book with their students.

I bought this book back in March and it set on my shelf until this past weekend. I wish I hadn't waited so long. Many issues Jordan addresses in the book spoke directly to my own personal AND professional situation, especially the concept of "shedding."

If I had one criticism of the book, it would be his use of quotes..a bit of overkill, I think.

This is an excellent book. I'm looking forward to getting the next two books in the trilogy.

I was given this book on musical conducting in order to aid my understanding of my amateur choral singing. To my surprise it has applications to my professional life in architecture and to the way I relate to other people in general. It all comes down to knowing who you are and being in touch spiritually. A discussion on "mimetics and envy" was particularly interesting, since I have long sensed it is a motivating force, particularly in the arts, and yet I have found relatively little written about it. I suppose that in choral singing the results of discordant interpersonal interactions are so easily HEARD that it makes sense that a conductor would feel compelled, more than the rest of us, to explore the consequences of mimetic envy and the need to have "self-emptying love". The book is filled with quotations and references to point the interested reader toward further exploration of the subject. A good book for anyone working in the arts or for anyone leading teams of people who must work together creatively.

I just wanted to say that I had to read this book and write three, two page essays on it. My only problem was, there was nothing to write about. He says the same thing different ways. I really don't see what people are getting out of this book. If you're a human being with emotion and you understand music's emotional neediness, then you don't need this book. I don't usually write negatively about things, but this book just upset me because there are people actually buying into everything and paying for a book that common sense would tell them already. If you have half a brain, you don't need this book.

As an inexperienced conductor, I am extremely lucky to have read this book early in my development as a conductor. It really does speak of the core of real music-making - the heart. And it teaches you how to excel in this area of humane musicianship and pitfalls that all musicians do always fall into.

A great book! and I would like to recommend it to any serious mucisian and especially the conductors.