Randy C. Gardner

Reading and Resources

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Suggested readings and resources below are among my personal favorites. They have benefited my students and me over a number of years. This list will be greatly expanded to cover a variety of topics in the near future.

Visualize to Realize – Modular Music Masterclass Meditation and Visualization: The Relaxation Response – Updated and Expanded (25^th Anniversary Edition) by Herbert Benson M.D. The Relaxation Response is a classic book in the area of meditation by a Harvard Medical School professor who has dedicated his career to studying the mind/body connection. It offers practical guidance to experience the relaxation response and reap the rewards that come from the regular practice of meditation. Also of interest is material by Dr. Benson available on-line at bensonhenryinstitute.org. Jon Kabat-Zinn is a University of Massachusetts Medical School professor who has developed Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction techniques. In his words, “Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.” His work is all about being in the moment. Resources, including guided stress-reducing audio recordings, are available at mindful.org. The Mind’s Ear – Exercises for Improving the Musical Imagination for Performers, Composers, and Listeners, Second Edition by Bruce Adolphe The Mind’s Ear, by Juilliard faculty composer and theorist Bruce Adolphe, offers progressive exercises designed to develop excellent audiation, the ability to hear sounds in a person’s imagination. This skill is foundational for musicians and strengthens the power of visualizations. Getting Well Again by O. Carl Simonton, M.D., Stephanie Matthews-Simonton, and James L. Creighton Getting Well Again is a best-selling book that discusses the benefits of using meditation and visualization in the treatment of cancer. Of particular interest for the practice of meditation and visualization in general are chapters titled, “Learning to Relax and Visualize Recovery” and “The Value of Positive Mental Images.” Mind Gym – An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence by Gary Mack and David Casstevens Sports Psychology offers a wealth of practical information to performers in every arena. There is tremendous cross-over in training and performance disciplines for athletes and musicians. Throughout this valuable little book that is full of wise, and often humorous, quotes from elite athletes are sprinkled numerous examples of how athletes improve their performance through visualization. Recording Worksheet - Modular Music Masterclasses by Randy C. Gardner Good Vibrations: Masterclasses for Brass Players The Foundation chapter. Click on the the following link Time-Saver #4 to download a word document which is a time saving worksheet to assist you in preparing an objective, non-judgmental assessment of your current skill level.
For more information contact Randy Gardner randy@randygardnerhorn.com