#272: Summer Reading for Harpists (and other musicians)

I love to read. Maybe you’re like me, with several books in progress at once. I seem to have a book in every room that I can pick up when the fancy strikes. Plus, I always have at least one book on my Kindle and an audiobook going for when I’m in the car. I like to think I spend more time reading each day than doing anything else, but that’s probably not accurate, just aspirational. 

Summer reading is always my favorite. It feels indulgent to sit outside on the deck or at the beach or under a shady tree and just read. Maybe it is actually indulgent, but it’s never wasted time. And today, I’m going to share some of my summer reading with you, books that have particular interest to harpists and other musicians, or at least books I have found interesting.

When I read about music and musicians, I find I’m not just learning facts. I’m releasing myself from the “doing,” from being absorbed in practice and playing and all the practicalities that go with my day to day harp life. Instead, I’m able to gain a fresh perspective, to see the musician’s life or ideas about music from the outside. I discover possibilities which have gotten buried by my daily practice routine. I learn about the struggles that shaped the lives of other musicians, as well as the breakthroughs that finally led them to their music. I finish a book like that feeling inspired, thoughtful and grateful. 

So find a comfortable chair. We're going to talk about books about music and musicians I enjoyed reading. It’s a little bit of a hodgepodge - some biographies, some memoirs, even a novel and an audiobook. I expect that some of these will appeal to you more than others. I found them all worth reading, but I urge you to choose the one or two that seem most intriguing to you and dive in. I’ve put links in the show notes to the easiest place  to find each of the books, too, so you don’t have to waste a moment on the internet when you could be reading out on the deck with a glass of iced tea beside you.

Links to things I think you might be interested in that were mentioned in the podcast episode: 

• Harpo Speaks! by Harpo Marx on Amazon 
• Henriette Renié: Living Harp by Françoise des Varennes on Amazon
• Pentacle: The Story of Carlos Salzedo and the Harp by Marietta Bitter on Amazon
• The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather on Amazon
• Every Good Boy Does Fine by Jeremy Denk on Amazon
• Beginner's Mind by Yo-Yo Ma on Audible  (US)
• Harpmastery.com

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