My family loves to read. So, I’ve put together a list of a few of our favorite books about piano, music, teaching, and the artistic process. Among them are volumes we love to revisit again and again. Actually there are so many that I needed to divide my original draft into two separate posts―one for grownups and the second for kids.

Included in this post are works of fiction and non-fiction for adults. The books are in no particular order simply because, in our family, we find it hard to choose favorites. For sure whatever I am reading is automatically my favorite- just as with my music. Enjoy! (PS, it’s OK to gift some of these to your studio or yourself)

Gail’s Pics

I am so pleased to see that there are beautiful new editions of Madeline L’Engle’s The Small Rain and A Severed Wasp. My copies are well worn from years of re-reading the story of fictional pianist Katherine Forrester. The first book follows Katherine as a young student to her coming of age in Paris on the brink of World War 2. In the second, Katherine is now retired and reflecting on her life, while facing a new personal and professional challenge. Contrasting the L’Engle books are two volumes by the Piano Girl, Robin Meloy Goldsby, in which she chronicles her accidental career as a cocktail lounge pianist. The stories range from hilarious, to absurd, to heart-rending, to joyful. Flutist Eugenia Zuckerman’s book, Like Falling Through a Cloud: A Lyrical Memoir, tells the story of her journeys—personal and musical—after a devastating Alzheimers diagnosis. Truly beyond bravery…

  • The Small Rain, L’Engle, 2018
  • A Severed Wasp, L’Engle, 2017
  • Piano Girl: A Memoir, Goldsby, 2006, * Kindle ed.
  • Waltz of the Asparagus People, Goldsby, 2011, * Kindle ed.
  • Like Falling Through a Cloud, Zuckerman, 2019

Hubby’s Pics

My husband loves the 1632 Series by Eric Flint. Did you know some of the stories center around musicians and composers? Some are short stories within volumes edited by Flint. Others are plot lines within full length novels. The Devil’s Opera is a definite nod to Robertson Davies. If you or someone you know loves Science Fiction, especially time travel, these are for you. (The links are in chronological order according to the overall plot rather than by series number or date of publication.)

  • Volume 2 Grantville Gazette, Ring of Fire: Euterpe, Episode 1, Enrico M. Toro
  • Volume 3 Grantville Gazette, Ring of Fire Euterpe, Episode 2, Enrico M. Toro & The Sound of Music, David Carrico
  • Volume 4 Grantville Gazette, Ring of Fire Heavy Metal Music or Revolution in Three Flats, David Carrico
  • Volume 6 Grantville Gazette, Ring of Fire Suite For Four Hands, David Carrico
  • Volume 2 Ring of Fire Anthologies Command Performance, David Carrico
  • Volume 3 Ring of Fire Anthologies The Sound Of Sweet Strings: A Serenade In One Movement, David Carrico
  • 1636: The Flight of the Nightingale, Ring of Fire 28 Flight Of The Nightingale, David Carrico
  • 1636 The Devil’s Opera, Ring of Fire 14 The Devil’s Opera, Eric Flint & David Carrico

Non Fiction

In the adult non-fiction category, there are a few exciting new releases plus some old favs to share. Check out Ted Gioia’s new book for a unique look at 4000 years of musical history (and musicians lives). You sure never learned this in music history class. And, even though I haven’t yet read it, I couldn’t leave out pianist Stephen Hough’s new book Rough Ideas, essays on his life as a traveling concert pianist, people he has known, and religion. The reviews have been fabulous and I sure can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.

I’ve included my all time favorite book on artistic process, Ann Lamott’s Bird by Bird. This wise, earthy but totally realistic volume will have you nodding in agreement one moment and laughing your head off the next. What she has to say about being a writer applies to all artistic forms and I am so thankful for the words in this book. I’m also grateful for Deborah Rambo Sinn’s book, Playing Beyond the Notes. The discussions in this book validate my view of music and teaching one minute and push me out of my comfort zone the next.

  • Music: A Subversive History, Gioia, 2019
  • Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, Lamott, 1995
  • Rough Ideas, Hough, 2019
  • Playing Beyond the Notes, Sinn, 2013

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