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My Music, My Life
With stunning new photographs and a new final chapter detailing Ravi Shankar’s hope for the preservation of Indian classical music, this updated edition of My Music, My Life profiles an extraordinary man. In his own words, Shankar describes his transformation from a young traveling dancer to a Grammy Award-winning, internationally known musician. An autobiography, a history of Indian classical music, and a manual on how to play the sitar, this book is about music as a both a lifestyle and an art. It embodies Ravi Shankar’s unique approach to his craft.
180 pages, Hardcover
First published November 28, 1968
11 people are currently reading
277 people want to read
About the author
Ravi Shankar
165 books9 followersRavi Shankar (Bengali: রবি শংকর; born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury on 7 April 1920), often referred to by the title Pandit, is an Indian musician and composer who plays the plucked string instrument sitar. He has been described as the best known contemporary Indian musician.
In 1956, he began to tour Europe and America playing Indian classical music and increased its popularity there in the 1960s through teaching, performance, and his association with violinist Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison of The Beatles. Shankar engaged Western music by writing concerti for sitar and orchestra and toured the world in the 1970s and 1980s. From 1986 to 1992 he served as a nominated member of the upper chamber of the Parliament of India. Shankar was awarded India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in 1999, and received three Grammy Awards. He continues to perform in the 2000s, often with his daughter Anoushka.
In 1956, he began to tour Europe and America playing Indian classical music and increased its popularity there in the 1960s through teaching, performance, and his association with violinist Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison of The Beatles. Shankar engaged Western music by writing concerti for sitar and orchestra and toured the world in the 1970s and 1980s. From 1986 to 1992 he served as a nominated member of the upper chamber of the Parliament of India. Shankar was awarded India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in 1999, and received three Grammy Awards. He continues to perform in the 2000s, often with his daughter Anoushka.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 22, 2020
Love every aspect of this book! Always wanted to know more about Pandit Ravi Shankar ji and the musical journey. The book has 4 parts where Ravi ji takes us through history of Indian classical music, music theory, Instruments of Indian Music and how they evolved over time.
He explains with great detail history of hindustani and carnatic music, gurus who are revered in both tradition. It was truly beautiful to know about his guru the legendary 'Allauddin Khan' whom he dearly refers to as 'baba' meaning father, who indeed took care of him like a father.
It's heartwarming and inspiring to know the struggles of pandit ravishankar ji in early years, the curiosity with which he approached any art-form not just music, how he always wanted to study more, his respect for various traditions and musicians throughout the world. Ravi ji was a great teacher- a guru revered all over the world who united east and west with his music, he was a great student first who had a great discipline, practiced and respected art to highest degree and taught his students the same.
The final chapter for the book is everything about sitar and music for anyone who wants to get started with sitar. It has details regarding basics of sitar, how to take care of instrument and other technical aspects of music.
Love it with all my heart!
I started reading this book on centenary birthday celebration of ravi ji and enjoyed every aspect of this book so much just blissful as his music. The amount of sacrifice he made, the contribution he made to Indian classical music and world music is staggering which will be revered for ages to come. I offer my deepest gratitude and salutations to wonderful teacher.
He explains with great detail history of hindustani and carnatic music, gurus who are revered in both tradition. It was truly beautiful to know about his guru the legendary 'Allauddin Khan' whom he dearly refers to as 'baba' meaning father, who indeed took care of him like a father.
It's heartwarming and inspiring to know the struggles of pandit ravishankar ji in early years, the curiosity with which he approached any art-form not just music, how he always wanted to study more, his respect for various traditions and musicians throughout the world. Ravi ji was a great teacher- a guru revered all over the world who united east and west with his music, he was a great student first who had a great discipline, practiced and respected art to highest degree and taught his students the same.
The final chapter for the book is everything about sitar and music for anyone who wants to get started with sitar. It has details regarding basics of sitar, how to take care of instrument and other technical aspects of music.
Love it with all my heart!
I started reading this book on centenary birthday celebration of ravi ji and enjoyed every aspect of this book so much just blissful as his music. The amount of sacrifice he made, the contribution he made to Indian classical music and world music is staggering which will be revered for ages to come. I offer my deepest gratitude and salutations to wonderful teacher.
February 22, 2013
Half of the book covers Shankar's life while the other half is a general instruction for the sitar. It's an interesting read, but I was most interested, and bought the book for, the sitar instruction. I think that it's gonna take a while to absorb and probably another few trips through the pages.
Good stuff if you're looking for background on the music of the sitar
Good stuff if you're looking for background on the music of the sitar
April 30, 2018
Part primer on Hindustani music and part auto-biography, I am now more awestruck by Pandit Ravi Shankar's true devotion to Hindustani music. He led an incredible life, and sacrificed so much for the love of music.
November 16, 2017
Completo, ágil y emocionante recorrido por los vericuetos de la vida del mayor difusor de música indostaní del mundo. Si bien es cierto que la intención de Ravi Shankar no es ceñirse a ningún sector de lectores en particular, el resultado tiende a enfocarse decididamente hacia el público occidental no formado en la cultura musical clásica de la India. Pese a todo, su lectura es trepidante e instructiva, especialmente en lo que concierne a la contextualización del raga:
"Cuando empiezo a tocar un raga, lo primero que hago es cerrar el mundo a mi alrededor e intento entrar en mi yo profundo. Eso empieza incluso cuando me estoy concentrando en la minuciosa afinación del sitar y sus tarafs (cuerdas simpáticas). Cuando, gracias al control y a la concentración, he conseguido separarme del mundo externo, entro en el el umbral de raga con sentimientos de humildad, revencia y temor reverencial. Para mí, un raga es como un ser vivo, y para establecer esta unidad íntima entre música y músico, uno debe proceder lentamente. Cuando se alcanza esa unicidad, es el hecho más euforizante y extático, como las supremas alturas del acto del amor o de la adoración. Es entonces cuando soy consciente del poder y el cosmos que atrapa la creación"
"Cuando empiezo a tocar un raga, lo primero que hago es cerrar el mundo a mi alrededor e intento entrar en mi yo profundo. Eso empieza incluso cuando me estoy concentrando en la minuciosa afinación del sitar y sus tarafs (cuerdas simpáticas). Cuando, gracias al control y a la concentración, he conseguido separarme del mundo externo, entro en el el umbral de raga con sentimientos de humildad, revencia y temor reverencial. Para mí, un raga es como un ser vivo, y para establecer esta unidad íntima entre música y músico, uno debe proceder lentamente. Cuando se alcanza esa unicidad, es el hecho más euforizante y extático, como las supremas alturas del acto del amor o de la adoración. Es entonces cuando soy consciente del poder y el cosmos que atrapa la creación"
October 18, 2025
Devoured this book in 3 days - fascinating history of Indian music, Ravi Shankar’s incredible journey becoming the world’s greatest sitar maestro and taking the power and beauty of Indian music worldwide - and inspiring so much magical music in India - leaving an unparalleled legacy behind.
February 15, 2025
This book lacks seriousness, and the quality of writing leaves much to be desired. Discussions of Indian classical music are often clouded by myth, mysticism, religion, folklore, and outright fabrication—unfortunately, this book is no exception.
To be clear, Indian classical music is a legitimate and rich aesthetic tradition, complete with its own norms, grammar, repertoire, and constraints. However, truly understanding it seems to require learning and reflecting on it over time. Many musicians—perhaps out of self-interest or misguided beliefs—continue to perpetuate the mysticism surrounding it.
The three-star rating is for:
Some useful discussions of Indian musical concepts that newcomers may find interesting.
Excellent photographs and high-quality print production.
Basic sitar exercises that might be helpful for students.
That said, approach this book with skepticism, and be prepared to sift through a heavy dose of mystical embellishments.
To be clear, Indian classical music is a legitimate and rich aesthetic tradition, complete with its own norms, grammar, repertoire, and constraints. However, truly understanding it seems to require learning and reflecting on it over time. Many musicians—perhaps out of self-interest or misguided beliefs—continue to perpetuate the mysticism surrounding it.
The three-star rating is for:
Some useful discussions of Indian musical concepts that newcomers may find interesting.
Excellent photographs and high-quality print production.
Basic sitar exercises that might be helpful for students.
That said, approach this book with skepticism, and be prepared to sift through a heavy dose of mystical embellishments.
Read
December 12, 2012wish
September 25, 2015
Great sitar exercises at the end. One complaint: the typeface on this edition is VERY small! My middle-aged eyes struggled.
Read
June 4, 2017This was a very nice book about one of the greatest musician
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews