(Meredith Music Resource). Now's the time to practice smarter, not harder. It's time to Practice with Purpose ! Practice is everything if you want to improve as a musician. But, what and how do you practice effectively and with efficiency? This book contains 50 easy-to-use strategies scientifically proven and field-tested to improve musical skills. It includes practice plans for every level with examples from the world's greatest performers. It's an indispensable resource to immediately increase musical proficiency.
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.
In those times when we want to acquire a new skill or face a formidable challenge we hope to overcome, what we need most are patience, focus, and discipline, traits that seem elusive or difficult to maintain. In this enticing and practical book, Thomas Sterner demonstrates how to learn skills for any aspect of life, from golfing to business to parenting, by learning to love the process. Early life is all about trial-and-error practice. If we had given up in the face of failure, repetition, and difficulty, we would never have learned to walk or tie our shoes. So why, as adults, do we often give up on a goal when at first we don’t succeed? Modern life’s technological speed, habitual multitasking, and promises of instant gratification don’t help. But in his study of how we learn (prompted by his pursuit of disciplines such as music and golf), Sterner has found that we have also forgotten the principles of practice — the process of picking a goal and applying steady effort to reach it. The methods Sterner teaches show that practice done properly isn’t drudgery on the way to mastery but a fulfilling process in and of itself, one that builds discipline and clarity. By focusing on “process, not product,” you’ll learn to live in each moment, where you’ll find calmness and equanimity. This book will transform a sense of futility around learning something challenging into an attitude of pleasure and willingness.
Not just a practical handbook for effective practicing, this book goes beyond the merely practical, into the truly meaningful. At its heart, this book calls out to you to abandon the endless monotony of ineffective routines, and to seek out true meaning in your practice sessions-to practice with purpose-and so find great #PurposeInPractice.
Two legendary coaches give golfers a powerful new approach to the game... and to life. As coaches to some of golf’s top players, Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott have designed and refined a revolutionary way of teaching the game, with phenomenal results. They don’t believe in prescribing the same stance, grip, and swing to everyone, followed by hours of purposeless drilling. They don’t even believe in beginning with physical technique. Their success has proven to them that a great game begins with a great vision. Unlike any other golf book, Every Shot Must Have a Purpose offers cutting-edge techniques for integrating the physical, technical, mental, emotional, and social parts of a player’s game. The book’s revolutionary pre-shot routine will improve your focus, leading to a golf swing that is not only successful but can be repeated under extreme pressure. Emphasizing the individual golfer rather than a rigid set of mechanics, their VISION54 method takes the frustration out of the game. Why 54? Because they believe it’s possible to shoot a 54 (making a birdie on every hole of a par-72 course) if you have the right mind-set and well-honed intuitive power. An engaging read for the beginner or the seasoned golfer, Every Shot Must Have a Purpose is inspiration for life, not just the links.
"Hosts of all kinds, this is a must-read!" --Chris Anderson, owner and curator of TED From the host of the New York Times podcast Together Apart, an exciting new approach to how we gather that will transform the ways we spend our time together—at home, at work, in our communities, and beyond. In The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker argues that the gatherings in our lives are lackluster and unproductive--which they don't have to be. We rely too much on routine and the conventions of gatherings when we should focus on distinctiveness and the people involved. At a time when coming together is more important than ever, Parker sets forth a human-centered approach to gathering that will help everyone create meaningful, memorable experiences, large and small, for work and for play. Drawing on her expertise as a facilitator of high-powered gatherings around the world, Parker takes us inside events of all kinds to show what works, what doesn't, and why. She investigates a wide array of gatherings--conferences, meetings, a courtroom, a flash-mob party, an Arab-Israeli summer camp--and explains how simple, specific changes can invigorate any group experience. The result is a book that's both journey and guide, full of exciting ideas with real-world applications. The Art of Gathering will forever alter the way you look at your next meeting, industry conference, dinner party, and backyard barbecue--and how you host and attend them.
The celebrated guide to the awareness of the devine and transcedental in our daily lives. This modern spiritual classic is one of the three books. Goldsmith felt contained the essence of all his teachings.
An ambitious project of discovery, this insightful examination studies the varied reasons that journalists remain dedicated to reporting the news. With profiles and first-person interviews with 91 American media members from across the United States, this book showcases the dedication of reporters, editors, and publishers currently working in their communities. It deals with journalistic values in the digital age--digging deep, influencing change, serving communities, challenging authorities, and embracing empathy. Candid and engaging, this collection of professional epiphanies takes a hard look at the ethical challenges of the job while offering hope for the ways that journalism can make a difference in society and further American democracy.
The most helpful and practical philosophy ever devised. The advice the Stoics provided centuries ago is still the best anyone has offered and it's as useful today as it was then-or more. Stoicism means knowing the difference between what we can control and what we can't, and not worrying about the latter. The Stoics were masters of perspective, always taking the long view while remembering that life is short. And they were deep and insightful students of human nature, understanding how we manage to make ourselves miserable as well as how we seek and can find fulfillment. The great insights of the Stoics are spread over a wide range of ancient sources. Ward Farnsworth brings them all together and systematically presents what the various Stoic philosophers said on every important topic, accompanied by an eloquent commentary that is clear and concise. The result is a set of philosophy lessons for everyone-the most valuable wisdom of ages past made available for our times.
Transform the PMBOK® Guide from a framework to a sharpened tool in your project manager's toolbox In project management circles, it's often joked that "there's the right way, the wrong way, and the PMBOK® way" to manage projects. In truth, it's really about the methodology you choose. The PMBOK® Guide is a consensus-based standard that thousands of project management professionals find immensely valuable in the process of developing an effective methodology. But exactly how does a project manager take the information provided in the PMBOK® Guide and apply it most effectively and appropriately to an actual project environment? This book can be the answer. It is basically a "guide to the guide"—a road map to applying the tools of the PMBOK® Guide to your organization's or project's unique nature and requirements. Bringing the PMBOK® Guide to Life: A Companion for the Practicing Project Manager builds a bridge between the PMBOK® Guide and the common needs of today's practicing project managers. It explains and elaborates on specific techniques, terms, and the application of tools that will enable project managers to effectively adapt the principles and processes described in the PMBOK® Guide to the practical world of project management. Readers will find suggested approaches for the use of project management tools and techniques along with templates developed directly from information provided in the PMBOK® Guide. Suggestions and study tips are also included to assist in preparing for the PMP exam, and a Project Plan Accelerator (PPA) can be used with the PMBOK® Guide by project managers and project teams to develop plans that are specifically tailored to meet the needs of your team, your clients, and your sponsoring organization. Written by two of the leading experts in the field, Bringing the PMBOK® to Life will help every project manager translate the PMBOK® Guide's tools and techniques into actionable, commonsense approaches to managing a project. (PMI, PMBOK, PMP, and Project Management Professional are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.)
