Reviews for Making music for the joy of it

The average rating for Making music for the joy of it based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2015-01-31 00:00:00 Mitchell McConnell I chose this book as a contrast to You Are Your Own Instrument. I was not disappointed. In the course of five sections, Judy describes almost everything a beginning or returning musician should know. She is very helpful and supportive to all who seek guidance. In a manner both open and refreshing, Judy tells readers straight away what parts of her book will apply to them, and which they can just skip. Few authors care about saving their readers' time and thereby keeping them engaged. And engage me, she did. Her sections on practicing and playing are forthright and accurate. Her descriptions of ensembles dead on. Though I've never bothered to analyze it myself, I recognized what she describes in the different organizations I've worked with. Most importantly, Judy brings in ways to deal with issues, modeling how to speak about various problems, always in a kind, articulate, open manner which blames no one, but seeks to find answers and to know. Judy devotes 5 pages to mothers in Chapter 7: Practicing: A Time and a Place. It's entitled ESPECIALLY FOR MOTHERS. She goes on a bit later to include Chapter 13: Making Music with Your Family. I found both a delight. More people should write positive things about taking care of yourself like these. We all might be the healthier and wiser for it!

Review # 2 was written on 2009-03-04 00:00:00 Michael Jamison This one really is a self-help book, in the best possible way. It's geared toward beginning and amateur adult musicians, who may or may not ever want anything like a "music career", and is full of ideas for overcoming past music-related trauma, stage fright, and the basic grown-up fear of doing something you don't already know how to do. Judy also explains how to judge home instruction videos, find (and judge) a teacher, find a musical community, practice effectively, etc.