“Practicing is a story,” Glenn Kurtz explains in his book Practicing: A Musician’s Return to Music. He declares that practicing is a story musicians tell themselves of the artists they will become, of the lives that practicing will lead them to.
In his part-autobiographical, part-informational novel, Kurtz meditates on his past life as a music student and a professional musician through the narrative of a single morning practice session. This novel is the story that he told himself time and time again, and how he unintentionally created a story that led to a bitter breakup with music. While he concludes his story in a less than jovial manner, along the way he communicates the deepest fears, longings, and realities of many musicians today.
This book contains numerous nuggets of wisdom, one-liners that would touch any artist at any point in their development. Yet the whole novel also demonstrates Kurtz’ struggle to find what music really means to him, how he can adequately express it, and how he can feel it in his everyday life. While he writes from the perspective of a classical guitarist, and occasionally addresses this niche audience alone, much of his exploration can be appreciated by any artist of any medium. Although his experience may not be the rule of musicians, it is certainly not the exception.
There is too much to be felt and too much to be understood to single out any particular moment in this work. Kurtz does an excellent job of reflecting within a continuous timeline, rather than in a sporadic manner. Ultimately, the only conclusion that can be drawn from this book is that all music majors and all recent graduates would benefit from deeply considering this story’s application to their own lives. It is all too easy to identify with the beginning of the novel, his star-crossed encounter with the guitar and the words of encouragement from friends, family, and fans who only understand that he has both skill and love. Yet, very little can foreshadow what may happen to a young musician if their mindset is too dreamy or not self-aware. This book, however, provides a bit of that foreshadowing.
It should not be suggested that every relationship with music will end in despair. Certainly, Kurtz’ story is heavier than others. Yet, to a wide-eyed student filled with a deep longing to live their lives within the expression they feel in music, it is imperative that some attempt be made to present them the divide between the world in their hearts and the world in front of them. Unity between the two can be discovered. It will just take a certain kind of practice.
Practicing: A Musician’s Return to Music can be purchased here.
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