The Mind's Ear Exercises for Improving the Musical Imagination for Performers, Composers, and Listeners

by Adolphe, Bruce

• ISBN13: 9780199937059
• ISBN10: 0199937052
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-10-02
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The Mind's Ear offers a unique approach to stimulating the musical imagination and inspiring creativity, as well as providing detailed exercises aimed at improving the ability to read and imagine music in silence, in the "mind's ear." Modeling his exercises on those used in theater games and acting classes, and drawing upon years of experience with improvisation and composition, Bruce Adolphe has written a compelling, valuable, and practical guide to musical creativity that can benefit music students at all levels and help music teachers be more effective and inspiring. The book also provides provocative ideas and useful tools for professional performers and composers, as well as offering games and exercises to serious listeners that can increase their musical understanding and level of engagement with music in a variety of ways.

Author Biography

An internationally renowned composer whose works have been performed by the Washington National Opera, the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and others, Bruce Adolphe is resident lecturer and director of family concerts for The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, creative director of The Learning Maestros, creator of "piano puzzlers" on public radio, and composer-in-residence at the Brain and Creativity Institute at USC.

Table of Contents

Preface
A Note to Teachers (and Students, too)
How to Use This Book
Introduction
Performers and the Imagination
Something to Say
On Interpretation
On Performing New Music
Hearing in Silence
I. Exercises in Silence (Hearing in Your Mind's Ear)
II. Exercises Involving Groups (No Instruments Needed)
III. Exercises Using Musical Instruments
IV. The Feeling of An Idea: Musical Dreaming and Thinking
Improvising and Composing
V. Exercises in Composing
Index
About the Author