History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Embracing a Comprehensive History of the County ... Book

I abandoned this book before seeing a new documentary about Seymour Bernstein, which reinvigorated my interest. Although this is a pedantic memoir that needs an editor who could cut it in half, the book amplifies scenes seen in the film.

At age fifty-one, Bernstein gave up his career as a solo pianist. He agonized over the decision for two years. Bernstein became a respected piano teacher and coach who wrote many books for music students.

In the film, Bernstein takes us to the basement of Steinway and Sons, where he chooses a piano for a recital upstairs. He went from piano to piano playing the same phrase to compare the sound and tone from one to another.

After burning out on his own solo career, Bernstein now celebrates professional-amateur musicians, who combine the best aspects of each category. \"This musician practices music for the love of it,\" he writes. \"They play at the highest level, performing when and where they want.\" Michael Kimmelman fits perfectly into this group, said Bernstein.

Kimmelman, starting as a six-year-old, took piano lessons from Bernstein. In the film, we see the two of them chatting in a cafe. Among his other books, Kimmelman wrote The Accidental Masterpiece: On the Art of Life and Vice Versa, which I awarded four stars.

Two and a half stars for this book, four and a half stars for the film.

\"Seymour: An Introduction,\" a documentary about Bernstein, screened three times during the Milwaukee Film Festival. I went to the first showing, a near sellout. A subsequent showing sold out.

Ethan Hawke, the producer-director of this film, met Seymour at a dinner party. The idea for a documentary evolved from there.