Metaphors for the Musician

I keep going back to this book...and it has widened my inquisitiveness. wished it had more in the 'diminished scale chapter' for additional songs and especially chord prog's before and after using the dim chord suggestions. I am not an advanced keyboard player but understand the chord extension systems. Not an accomplished right hand improviser but understand some of the techniques and ideas to move on further. I have the 'Burt Ligon's Comprehesive Techniques' Text and my first read was 'patterns for Jazz' and Jerry Coker's "Improvisng Jazz". Bless Mr. Coker....bought when i was forty years younger. Any suggestions for more ideas or composers on the "diminished unuverse" AND 'very smooth jazz" chord progression would be immensely appreciated. I am 71 and still love this stuff and still trying. My girl friend keeps asking why i spend so much time at it. You folks know the answer. It is an art form. Besides she plays horrible obnoxious and loud Metallica Heavy Metal guitar. OH, well at least she plays backing tracks for her year 2000 Karma keyboard. I often ask her why she spends so much time at it...she resonds with a blank stare like why don't I get it. ONE THING...she like my playing'''you know how it is.

Previously I had only owned The Jazz Piano Book by Mark Levine. This really completes the picture instead of just throwing scales/chords at you and theory. Sure there is theory, but he presents it in a practical manner. This is for the player that already has those chord/scale books and still cannot do what he/she wants with the music. His discussion of practicing slow will really convince you of it, and his method for applying slow practice is tremendous. In fact, as I think about it almost every subject from scale [...] to Harmony is presented in a way that really feels like he is talking to you, not like you are reading info in a book. His discussion of harmony/tonal centers is different from any I have ever read!Buy this book even if you own other improv/theory books it will help you bring it all together! As with anything else, a book is not a magic amulet to make your playing better but this will really help you move forward if you have plateaued...

I continue to discover insights into the learning process that I actually use every time I sit down to play the piano.

I can't seem to put this book down. Even if it's theory you are already familiar with, he really helps you to see it from a different perspective whilst helping you to get a clearer understanding. If you are looking to improve your skill & mastery of the jazz idiom, this book provides essential theory that can help you to develop a sound foundation to do just that.

I was looking for a book to help revive my outlook on practice and theory in general. Someone told me about the Berklee Jazz Piano book by Ray Santisi. Metaphors for Musicians came up as a suggestion, it looked interesting so I bought it. I love this book! I've been a keyboard player for years and have never come across a book with such a unique approach. It has really given me a fresh approach to practicing. A very inspiring book! I ordered both this and the Berklee Jazz Piano book. I'm so involved in Metaphors for Musicians that I haven't got around to reading the Berklee Jazz Piano book yet. Thank you, thank you thank you, for such a great book!

This book is meant to be studied. And practiced. It's not intended to be read and put on the shelf. You're supposed to read parts, practice what you've read, etc. It's focused on keyboard players, but other instrumentalists can also benefit from it. I play guitar but discuss parts of the book w/ a keyboard player. Worthwhile.

A must have if you are serious about playing jazz at a higher level. Mr. Halberstadt has certainly "earned his wings" as he found his passion in jazz piano. If you want to understand how jazz is "assembled, I would have this book in you reference library.

The advice in this book is all true, but it’s even better to get the experience living through it like the author has. Highly recommended.

Metaphors for the musician provides inspirational insights into music, technique and puts theory at the service of the music. It is written clearly and concisely and offers a wealth of ideas to inspire and try in your music. It would help if you read music notation; however, I am a poor reader, and the ideas are easy starters for experimentation and help to knit together many ideas you have probably already come across but didn't quite appreciate all the interconnections and possibilities.The author encourages the reader to experiment and use the material in the book as a series of practical conceptual exercises. The ideas presented can be used in conjunction with one another and offer unlimited possibilities to enrich your music. The book is mainly aimed at readers interested in jazz keyboard music; however, the material can be used to enrich other genres or for other instruments."Metaphors for the Musician, The Jazz Piano book by Mark Levine, Tim Richards books on "Exploring Jazz Piano" and "How to Play the Piano despite Years of Lessons: What Music is and How to Make it at Home" Rev. Ed. [Paperback]Ward Cannel are the best books I have found for unlocking the keyboard and providing the material to inspire and help me to become a better musician. Highly recommended.

Metaphors for the Musician is a delightful read, with many anecdotes, tips and exercises to improve all aspects of your playing. After reading it cover-to-cover I keep going back to revisit sections and each time discover details I hadn't picked up on the first read. Highly recommended if you're serious about developing your musicianship over the long term.

Different to other types of jazz method books - but each chapter has given me lots to think about and practice. Recommended!

I am so happy I bought this book, it's got a great teaching style and is loaded with helpful ideas for working on your musicianship!

Der Autor will mit diesen 328 Seiten in praktischer Spiralbindung seinen Erfahrungsschatz als Musiker weiterreichen. Das Buch sei eine Art Warenhaus, aus dem man sich bedienen soll. Trotzdem warnt er, dass Klavierspiel und Harmonielehre Voraussetzungen für die Arbeit mit dem Buch sind. Recht hat er. Denn zwar streut er recht unorthodox Lebensweisheiten und Anfängerhilfen in die Kapitel ein, aber eigentlich will das Buch von Anfang bis Ende durchgearbeitet werden. Und das basiert auf Noten.Was so nicht in ein Konzept zu passen scheint, sind praktische Tips, Ratschläge zur Bandarbeit, Timing, Übungsroutinen, Fingersätze für Nichtpianisten mit Hilfe von Tastatur-Grafiken usw.. Er äußert sich zur Anschlagtechnik, gibt Improvisationsempfehlungen.Es gibt Fingerübungen, Melodieführung über Akkorden, Gehörtraining, eine Menge Harmonielehre, Pentatonik-Fingersätze, Voicings und Leadsheets. Irgendwie hat das Buch zwar kein Thema aber trotzdem eine Abfolge von Kapiteln, die sich aufeinander beziehen.Was soll man davon halten ? Es ist eine Menge Nützliches und Lehrreiches drin. Und ohne Klavierspiel nach Noten ist es kaum zu bewältigen. Die Zielgruppe dürften Amateurmusiker sein. Ich sag mal, es ist das was Randy Halberstadt der Welt über Musik erzählen will.