The Perfect Wrong Note : Learning to Trust Your Musical Self

Rating:
Summary: "Juicy Mistakes"
Review: I found Westney's book amazingly confirming. His concept of "juicy mistakes" is a brilliant suggestion to accept that you'll make mistakes -- go ahead and make them!...but learn all there is to learn from them! (advice for life, not just music) This is a book for your senses and your brain -- a must read for any music lover.

Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Right Book
Review: This fascinating book is unlike any other in the field, and is refreshingly honest and inspiring on so many levels. It questions some traditional music-teaching practices in a common-sense way that is exciting, and points out the obvious with a new perspective. At its heart, it is a philosophical and intriguing work, yet at the same time pragmatic and useful for a wide range of readers. Plus its style is witty and great fun to read!

Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: Westney presents many insightful ideas but fails to really dive into them in the way that a musician can improve. The outline is there, but not the underlying philosophy. It is tinged with touchy-feely adjectives and feel-good stories, and you can tell he has a great grasp on human nature and performance psychology, but just doesn't articulate.
His idea of the "juicy" wrong note is a great one, but only superficially describes the concept, instead of giving a detailed description of how it could apply to practice and performance. His ideas on the student-teacher relationship are excellent, challenging the weekly lesson/performance expectations paradigm. For anyone who has confident musicality and relationship with his or her instrument, this book may be slightly motivating at best, bordering a little on unrealistic. For those who need to take the dive into their own individual musical self, it may be a great book, depending on what type of motivation appeals to you.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: Westney's book is incredible. His concise, wise thoughts on music and practicing can help anyone who enjoys making music utilize their time in a practice room better. His book helps to tap into the reasons why we make music, and translate that into exciting, fulfilling musical performances.