(1) Garth Thomas (The Hollywood Digest): “McBirnie discusses potentially complex musical ideas with a laser focus on disentangling them in a way that is easy for the reader to follow. This is most helpful when McBirnie delves into difficult topics like theory where he also provides musicians and students with a useful philosophical underpinning they may not have had before reading this text. McBirnie deservers much praise for his ability to reduce important [topics] in a manner that never sounds pretentious or high-handed. The effect is ultimately one of sharing private instruction time with him, and this feeling of intimacy makes the book’s content all the more impactful.”
(2) Clay Burton (Independent Music and Arts): “The reach of this book goes far beyond McBirnie’s chosen instrument. Every novice musician can read it, and glean important guidance, and share the obvious passion McBirnie has for his art. The text often reads as if it is alight with joy. He cuts intimidating propositions down to a manageable size by including a variety chord charts, lists, and snippets of sheet music throughout the text, including lots of listening suggestions. These never overshadow his writing, and they balance the exposition adding immeasurable value to the book. It is genuinely impressive how much knowledge McBirnie packs into such a limited length...McBirnie has written a brief but enduring work that ranks as one of the best contributions to music literature published in recent memory, and his résumé backs him up every step of the way. This is a book suited to endure indefinitely and gain even more lustre over time.”
(3) Jason Hillenburg (Good Reads): “McBirnie’s book formulates a musically sound approach to improvisation in clear and concise terms that musicians at any level can use.”
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Reaction from the Critics
(1) Garth Thomas (The Hollywood Digest): “McBirnie discusses potentially complex musical ideas with a laser focus on disentangling them in a way that is easy for the reader to follow. This is most helpful when McBirnie delves into difficult topics like theory where he also provides musicians and students with a useful philosophical underpinning they may not have had before reading this text. McBirnie deservers much praise for his ability to reduce important [topics] in a manner that never sounds pretentious or high-handed. The effect is ultimately one of sharing private instruction time with him, and this feeling of intimacy makes the book’s content all the more impactful.”(2) Clay Burton (Independent Music and Arts): “The reach of this book goes far beyond McBirnie’s chosen instrument. Every novice musician can read it, and glean important guidance, and share the obvious passion McBirnie has for his art. The text often reads as if it is alight with joy. He cuts intimidating propositions down to a manageable size by including a variety chord charts, lists, and snippets of sheet music throughout the text, including lots of listening suggestions. These never overshadow his writing, and they balance the exposition adding immeasurable value to the book. It is genuinely impressive how much knowledge McBirnie packs into such a limited length...McBirnie has written a brief but enduring work that ranks as one of the best contributions to music literature published in recent memory, and his résumé backs him up every step of the way. This is a book suited to endure indefinitely and gain even more lustre over time.”(3) Jason Hillenburg (Good Reads): “McBirnie’s book formulates a musically sound approach to improvisation in clear and concise terms that musicians at any level can use.”
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2019
(1) Garth Thomas (The Hollywood Digest): “McBirnie discusses potentially complex musical ideas with a laser focus on disentangling them in a way that is easy for the reader to follow. This is most helpful when McBirnie delves into difficult topics like theory where he also provides musicians and students with a useful philosophical underpinning they may not have had before reading this text. McBirnie deservers much praise for his ability to reduce important [topics] in a manner that never sounds pretentious or high-handed. The effect is ultimately one of sharing private instruction time with him, and this feeling of intimacy makes the book’s content all the more impactful.”
(2) Clay Burton (Independent Music and Arts): “The reach of this book goes far beyond McBirnie’s chosen instrument. Every novice musician can read it, and glean important guidance, and share the obvious passion McBirnie has for his art. The text often reads as if it is alight with joy. He cuts intimidating propositions down to a manageable size by including a variety chord charts, lists, and snippets of sheet music throughout the text, including lots of listening suggestions. These never overshadow his writing, and they balance the exposition adding immeasurable value to the book. It is genuinely impressive how much knowledge McBirnie packs into such a limited length...McBirnie has written a brief but enduring work that ranks as one of the best contributions to music literature published in recent memory, and his résumé backs him up every step of the way. This is a book suited to endure indefinitely and gain even more lustre over time.”
(3) Jason Hillenburg (Good Reads): “McBirnie’s book formulates a musically sound approach to improvisation in clear and concise terms that musicians at any level can use.”
(2) Clay Burton (Independent Music and Arts): “The reach of this book goes far beyond McBirnie’s chosen instrument. Every novice musician can read it, and glean important guidance, and share the obvious passion McBirnie has for his art. The text often reads as if it is alight with joy. He cuts intimidating propositions down to a manageable size by including a variety chord charts, lists, and snippets of sheet music throughout the text, including lots of listening suggestions. These never overshadow his writing, and they balance the exposition adding immeasurable value to the book. It is genuinely impressive how much knowledge McBirnie packs into such a limited length...McBirnie has written a brief but enduring work that ranks as one of the best contributions to music literature published in recent memory, and his résumé backs him up every step of the way. This is a book suited to endure indefinitely and gain even more lustre over time.”
(3) Jason Hillenburg (Good Reads): “McBirnie’s book formulates a musically sound approach to improvisation in clear and concise terms that musicians at any level can use.”
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Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2023
This is a beautiful music book, which blends the expert skill of a master flutist, and melody. Complete with other ideas, such as not overbearing the lead vocalist, or employing the idea of call and response.
The notion of improvisation in music, is quite a new one. I brought this as a Blues/rhythm guitarist, but I found enough in this book to add to my musical palette and appetite. Well worth the money! J
The notion of improvisation in music, is quite a new one. I brought this as a Blues/rhythm guitarist, but I found enough in this book to add to my musical palette and appetite. Well worth the money! J
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Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2019
Top reviews from other countries
Emma Laird
Without doubt, a must-have for non-classical flutists
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2024T. Koch
A terrific introduction to jazz in general, both practice and theory.
Reviewed in Canada on November 20, 2019SparklyCube
The most important Jazz improvisation book in my life
Reviewed in Canada on February 16, 2020Backbeat
A refreshing approach to improvisation
Reviewed in Canada on January 10, 2020