You Are Your Instrument: the Definitive Musician's Guide to Practice and Performance [Paperback]

Julie Lyonn Lieberman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1997

This unique guide helps all musicians: open up new avenues of expression through a pain-free, healthy, fluid approach to music-making; overcome performance anxiety, general tension, and muscular injury; and increase learning skills and facilitate more effective motor coordination. "This is a highly recommended book to read for the musician who needs information about maximizing one's full potential as an artist. This book is practical in that it covers all aspects of musicianship, ranging from the mental preparations involved in performance to the actual bodily care needed to prevent long-term injuries." - BOOK REVIEW

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... both a practice and performance guide and a key to playing in a fluid, pain-free manner." -- The Bookwatch, 1992

"...a concise, intelligently written book of ambitious scope." -- STRINGS Magazine, 1992

"...she is careful to include down-to-earth practical advice and hard scientific information...the book is attractively produced..." -- Continuo Magazine

"a useful resource guide and a beneficial tool for teachers to utilize in assisting students to develop healthy habits." -- American Music Teacher, 1992

Her six-level approach to memorization ... and is worth the price book." -- The Berkshire Eagle, 1992

From the Publisher

This book was turned by 45 publishers in the 1980s because no publisher understood the importance of the topic. The then president of NYC's musician's union loaned the author the money to publish it and the first printing sold out before it had come back from the printer, necessitating 10 mini-loans to order a second printing. It is now in its seventh printing!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Huiksi Music Company; 3 edition (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879730200
• ISBN-13: 978-1879730205
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,522 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a musician's Bible!, June 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: You Are Your Instrument: the Definitive Musician's Guide to Practice and Performance (Paperback)

This is the most helpful book I've ever read. It deals with everything a musician needs to know. It helped me learn how to memorize music more thoroughly, how to deal with stage fright, and how to protect my body from injury. I have given copies of it to all of my friends. Thanks Julie!

46 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good overview, new age slant, not much detail., May 14, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: You Are Your Instrument: the Definitive Musician's Guide to Practice and Performance (Paperback)

The book is quite good. It gives a good overview of the different possible injuries and techniques for preventing them. It does has a very `new age, holistic ' slan, and sometimes seems to discourage traditional (scientific) approaches. It has been written with the lay person in mind, and doesn't go into too much depth in the medical discussions.

Although I enjoyed the book, I can't help feeling that at by the end of the book I hadn't really learnt anything new.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lyonn Liebermann hit the mark, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: You Are Your Instrument: the Definitive Musician's Guide to Practice and Performance (Paperback)

I found this book to be a terrific resource for musicians interested in maintaining a healthy body, avoiding injury or coping with an existing problem. Very accessible and user friendly with lots of great usable suggestions and exercises.