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The Well-Read Musician

A specially curated reading list for serious musicians of all levels.

Looking for musical inspiration? Want to read about great musicians, or learn how to become a better player? Check out this reading list curated by Nate, just for you!

Topics include musical philosophy, biography, science, the subject of mastery, how to practice, what to practice, and much more! 
Read these books with a highlighter in your hand, and keep them forever. You'll learn something new each time you read them!

The Practice of Practice - Jonathan Harnum
" In 'The Practice of Practice', you will find inspiration, tips, tricks, stories, and a little bit of science too. In this book, Jonathan Harnum goes to great lengths to bust the myth of talent, and he explains what is really behind the success of a master musician. My favorite quote from the books is a quote from tuba player Rex Martin: 'If people could've lived my life and all the hours I've spent practicing the tuba alone in some little room someplace, they probably wouldn't label me as being particularly talented'. I believe that most musical masters would agree with this sentiment. Although I've been playing music for many years, I still find valuable tips, techniques, and insights in this book, and I think you will too!" - Nate Lee


Practice Like This - Jonathan Harnum
"This book is easy-to-read version of Jonathan Harnum's book 'The Practice of Practice'. With lots of pictures and bigger font, this book is a hit with young musicians, and those who want the information without the backstory. I recommend that you read both of Jonathan's books to fully absorb what he has to teach you." - Nate Lee

The Music Lesson - Victor L. Wooten
"This book is both an interesting story, and a wealth of information about how to play music. This book tells the story of a student (Victor) and his teacher, who shows him the many elements of music and how to master them. This story would be enjoyable to someone who has never played an instrument, and it is invaluable to someone who wants to become a master musician. Although this book would be easy to read in one sitting, I recommend reading one chapter a day with the hot beverage of your choice." - Nate Lee

Effortless Mastery - Kenny Werner
​"A friend of mine described this book as 'a drink of water'. Effortless Mastery has a similar message to 'The Music Lesson', but is more direct and analytical. This book starts with Kenny's story of how he learned music, and the steps it took to free his mind of mental baggage. The rest of the book is filled with instructions on how to practice, write, perform, and approach music with the right mindset. Effortless Mastery is packed with useful information for students, teachers, composers, and professional musicians." - Nate Lee

The Talent Code - Daniel Coyle
"This book absolutely busts the myth of talent. Many people operate on an assumption of fixed intelligence, or the idea that 'some people have it and some people don't'. The reality is that your intelligence is not fixed, and that you can learn to do anything you want to do! Right from the start, this book explains the process going on in your brain when you learn something (chains of neurons in your head being coated by a substance called myelin), and gives specific instructions on how you can become awesome at anything you want to learn. When applying the principles in this book, I can achieve quality results in the practice room in half the time it used to take. If you like your music practice with a side of science, this book is for you!" - Nate Lee

Mastery - Robert Greene
"Mastery, by Robert Greene is a comprehensive study on the three stages of mastering any skill: the apprenticeship phase, the creative/active phase, and the mastery phase. This book follows the stories of Leonardo de Vinci, Henry Ford, Benjamin Franklin, Michael Faraday, John Coltrane, The Wright Brothers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and many others, and documents the common factors that made them successful. I found this book to be a very interesting, informative, and inspiring read." - Nate Lee

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success - Carol S. Dweck
"This book can change everything about the way you approach music and life. You'll learn how to have a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset, and start building habits that lead to success. This book made me a better teacher and student, and I recommend it for every musician who wants to improve more quickly." - Nate Lee

Mastery - George Leonard
"Not to be confused with 'Mastery', by Robert Greene, but just as important, this book teaches you how to hone your skills and master an art. Although this book is written for martial artists, it contains a lot of information that applies to learning music. My favorite quote from the book is (paraphrasing) "you have to be willing to fall on the mat". Just like a martial artist, a musician has to be willing to "fall on the mat" in order to be a successful jammer and performer. This was a fun and interesting read, and I think you will enjoy it!" - Nate Lee

Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story - Tim Stafford & Caroline Wright
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"The highlight of this book for me was Tony talking about the Manzanita album in his own words. Reading about the songs and the pickers on all of my favorite Tony Rice recordings was exciting, and I discovered some music I'd never heard before. This book is a good read for anybody who plays a bluegrass instrument, or enjoys Tony's music." - Nate Lee
Purchase this book at
​http://www.tonyricestory.com/

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