Guitar Zero: The New Musician and the Science of Learning

 Guitar Zero: The New Musician and the Science of Learning by Gary Marcus, 261 pages

A great violinist finished playing a moving piece. Afterwards, an audience member came up to him and said "I would give my life to play like that." And the violinist replied, "that's exactly what I did." As a child, the violinist woke up at 5 a.m. every day to begin working on his craft, lasting until the evening hours and he did that for most of his young life. 

While most of us listen to an accomplished, versatile musician and think to ourselves, wouldn't it be nice to be able to play like that, the reality is that we can still develop some musical capabilities during our lifetime, regardless of age or abilities. Guitar Zero is not just a book for guitar players, but a book for any readers who have an interest in what it takes to become a musician. Marcus, a professor of psychology and the director of the NYU Center for Language and Music, decides on this 40th birthday to begin following his boyhood dream of learning to play the guitar. On the way, he investigates the way musicians learn and what happens to the brains of musicians as they're learning their craft. As we follow along with him trying out lessons, signing-up for a kids band camp, and interviewing heavy hitters like Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and jazz phenom Pat Metheny, we learn more about the science behind becoming a musician--how learning music triggers similar parts of the brain that utilize language, the various theories that debate whether music was a byproduct of our evolution, and finally, how talent is not innate. Yes, dear reader! You too can learn an instrument today, even if you've told yourself your entire life that you have no musical talent. Marcus' book demonstrates that true musical talent is a direct by-product of countless hours of practice and dedication. And while you don't need to dedicate your life to it necessarily and wake up every morning at 5 a.m., Marcus reminds us that there are no shortcuts. You've just got to get started. By the end of his journey, Marcus has learned his instrument, can play chords easily and transition between them. He even writes a personal song for a family member who is dying of cancer. While this book does focus on guitar and how it differs from other instruments, Marcus touches base with other instrumentalists as well. This is an easy read for anyone looking to know a bit more about the science behind music education and how it can impact your life in a positive way. Older teens and adults.