The Perpetual Beginner: a musician's path to lifelong learning

by Dave Isaacs

The Perpetual Beginner is part memoir, part musical instruction manual. Relating stories of his experiences as a young musician and music student in 1980’s New York, author Dave Isaacs describes the key lessons that shaped his musical life and how they can help any aspiring musician at any age.

The title refers to the average music hobbyist with more enthusiasm than skill or time to practice. Many people play for years without developing more than rudimentary abilities, and some become so frustrated by the struggle that they stagnate or quit. The stories in the book and the musical lessons they impart give these  “perpetual beginners” the ideas, techniques, and encouragement that will help them begin to progress again.

The title also references the Zen concept of “beginner’s mind”, a way of approaching any endeavor with the openness and zeal of a beginner regardless of experience. Maintaining a beginner’s mindset removes many of the self-limiting beliefs and inhibitions that hold many people back, thus enabling the learning process - hence the book’s subtitle, “A musician’s path to lifelong learning.”

Author Dave Isaacs is a musician, performing songwriter, and teacher based in Nashville, where he is known as the "Guitar Guru of Music Row".

Genres: Music

156 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 13, 2019

About the author

Dave Isaacs has been called “a musician’s musician”, a master player with the command and knowledge of his instrument that can only come from a lifetime of experience. In his adopted hometown of Music City USA he has become known in the music community as the “Nashville Guitar Guru” for his work as a teacher and coach to professional performers, hit songwriters, and the next generation of Nashville’s rising stars.

Nashville might seem to be an unusual place to land for a classically-trained graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, where as a student he won the Rose Augustine Award for promising young classical guitarists twice. But Dave Isaacs is about as diverse as a musician can be. After a serious repetitive strain injury derailed a classical concert career, he started writing songs. Over 12 albums and nearly 25 years, he has explored a stylistic range from literate singer-songwriter folk to foot-stomping swamp blues, soaring harmony-driven country-rock, and jazz-inflected instrumental excursions. He has rocked a muddy crowd at Woodstock and played the blues with Les Paul, and has now recently added “author” to his resume.

Dave’s book “The Perpetual Beginner: a musician’s path to lifelong learning” is a look back at the author’s formative experiences as a student and young musician, and how those lessons paved the way for a remarkably diverse musical path. Most of all, the book explores how all players get “stuck”, and how a “beginner’s mind” – a return to a sense of eager possibility - leads to an understanding of music in terms of its simplest, irreducible elements. This understanding has no relationship to talent or experience, only the recognition that even complicated problems can be broken down to a collection of simple elements that can be resolved one at a time.

Reviews

[Reneesarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book a lot. I started taking recorded online music lessons from Dave and there was just something about him and his approach that I really appreciated. When I saw that he had written this book I really wanted to read it.

I am not really a musician. Just someone who periodically takes up a guitar or ukulele and begins to learn how to play. Over and over. For decades. Despite my own personal lack of history with musicianship, I really appreciated the things Dave had to say about music, and learning how to play music. There is a lot about music that isn't just about playing the notes. Dave discusses those things with authority and a real love of music. His suggestions for how to approach practicing playing music are great. Through his writing I got to see a little bit of what it is like to have the mind of a musician, and I deeply appreciated that opportunity.

[Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiration about learning to play music

As a beginner, trying to learn to play guitar, Dave’s book is inspiring. It provides a guide to how to practice and learn to play music. Not specific lessons, but general concepts that help me with the on-line lessons I am taking from Dave. Still very early, but Dave is very clear and detailed in his lessons. He emphasizes the basics described in his book, including patience and attention to the mechanics of playing. I look forward to his lessons and practice.

The chapters towards the back of the book focus more on being a professional musician. While I will never be in this position, the topics were interesting and likely will inspire me long into the future.

[Alan Oehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

These sort of books are pretty common, ranging from the very practical and grounded to the very whoo-whooo. I've read a few, and this one resonated very well with me, falling somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. I'm not really seeking some perfect precise practice routine, I'm more searching for ideas on how to keep myself inspired and how to grow into a better and more creative musician. This book is short but covers a lot of ideas, and I found some of my own ideas validated many interesting angles I've not really thought of before. Recommended.

[Edmund H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a Perpetual Beginner!

Loved this book! It jump started my desire to create a ritual of practice and goals to learn to play guitar better than I do. I’ve been a Perpetual Beginner for over fifty years! That’s horrible! This book gives me a plan to do things differently! I would have loved to have Mr Isaacs as a guitar teacher!

[Allen Levin · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY HELP for me During a difficult time

I have played at music for a long time. Not that well, on three instruments. Always the second or third part. Difficulty trying to love practice. Great teachers but little improvement.

I feel compelled to branch out and experiment. Great book!

[Erin Mae Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtfully written book about practicing a musical instrument. I appreciated his perspective and insights.

[JDK1962 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good advice, though nothing that surprised me all that much.