Below is a list of books you may be interested in reading. The literature covers a wide variety of topics, ranging from health and wellness, to performance psychology and musical interpretation. There is overlap between the books and sections so be sure to check out the whole page; there’s a lot of really great information here!
Instrumental Wellness
Fit as a Fiddle: The Musicians Guide to Playing Healthy: William Dawson.
Playing (Less) Hurt: An Injury Prevention Guide for Musicians: Janet Horvath.
Song and Wind: Arnold Jacobs.
The Biology of Musical Performance and Performance-Related Injury: Watson, Alan.
The Art of Wind Playing: Arthur Weisberg
Practice and performance psychology
Indirect Procedures: A Musician’s Guide to the Alexander Technique: Pedro de Alcantara.
Integrated Practice: Coordination, Rhythm & Sound: Pedro de Alcantara.
The Inner Game of Tennis: W. Timothy Gallwey.
Fight Your Fear and Win: Don Greene.
Performance Success: Performing Your Best Under Pressure: Don Greene
Zen in the Art of Archery: Eugen Herrigel.
Song and Wind: Arnold Jacobs.
Practicing for Artistic Success: The Musician’s Guide to Self-Empowerment: Burton Kaplan.
The Musician’s Way: a Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness: Gerald Klickstein.
The Art of Wind Playing: Arthur Weisberg
Musical Interpretation and Expression
Stance: Ideas About Emotion, Style, and Meaning for the Study of Expressive Culture: Harris M. Berger.
Sweet Anticipation: Music and the Psychology of Expectation: David Huron.
Metaphors We Live By: George Lakoff and Mark Johnson.
The Meaning of the Body: Aesthetics of Human Understanding: Mark Johnson
Practicing for Artistic Success: The Musician’s Guide to Self-Empowerment: Burton Kaplan.
Sound in Motion: A Performer’s Guide to Greater Musical Expression: David McGill.
Emotion and Meaning in Music: Leonard Meyer
Music, Language, and the Brain: Aniruddh D. Patel.
Note Grouping: A Method for Achieving Expression and Style in Musical Performance: James Morgan Thurmond.
Making it in the arts
Beyond Talent: Angela Myles Beeching.
The Savvy Musician: Building a Career, Earning a Living & Making a Difference: David Cutler.
Mindfulness
The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation: Joseph Goldstein.
Zen in the Art of Archery: Eugen Herrigel.
Meditation: The Buddhist Way of tranquility and Insight: Kamalashila.