Monsters and Angels: Surviving a Career in Music

by Seymour Bernstein

This book by internationally known writer, composer, teacher and lecturer Seymour Bernstein expounds upon topics touched on in his bestseller With Your Own Two Hands (HL50482589). Bernstein teaches readers the truth about performing careers, offering insights and advice on both personal and musical issues. In Part 2, he discusses the importance of music education, covering both "monster" and "angel" teachers, managers and critics. Bernstein believes that everyone has a right to develop whatever talent they have, for self-fulfillment and self-development, if not necessarily for a career.

Genres: Music

507 pages, Paperback

First published November 27, 2002

Reviews

[Nick Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Seymour Bernstein since coming across his classes on tonebase, the piano resource platform. I’ve read his other book — With Your Own Two Hands — and a book entitled Play Life More Beautifully, touted as a “conversation” between Seymour and Andrew Harvey.
This is his memoirs, following him through his musical education, stint in the army, and early performing career. He also addresses his reason for leaving the stage to become a full time teacher and composer. It’s beautifully written in the voice that is familiar to those who have read his other books or listened to his masterclasses.
I had an odd feeling of Deja vu while reading this book. Except it ended up not being preternatural at all. It SEEMED familiar because it WAS familiar. Large parts of this book were lifted en bloc and used as “answers” in Andrew Harvey’s “conversations.” I guess they “were” Seymour’s words, but I still found it on the margins of tasteful. There is absolutely no reference to previously written material in Play Life More Beautifully.

[pianogal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not what I was expecting but it was oddly captivating. And very detailed. It was long but it kept me engaged all the way through. And now I’m interested in his other books and the Ethan Hawke movie. Good thing.

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

I abandoned this book before seeing a new documentary about Seymour Bernstein, which reinvigorated my interest. Although this is a pedantic memoir that needs an editor who could cut it in half, the book amplifies scenes seen in the film.

At age fifty-one, Bernstein gave up his career as a solo pianist. He agonized over the decision for two years. Bernstein became a respected piano teacher and coach who wrote many books for music students.

In the film, Bernstein takes us to the basement of Steinway and Sons, where he chooses a piano for a recital upstairs. He went from piano to piano playing the same phrase to compare the sound and tone from one to another.

After burning out on his own solo career, Bernstein now celebrates professional-amateur musicians, who combine the best aspects of each category. "This musician practices music for the love of it," he writes. "They play at the highest level, performing when and where they want." Michael Kimmelman fits perfectly into this group, said Bernstein.

Kimmelman, starting as a six-year-old, took piano lessons from Bernstein. In the film, we see the two of them chatting in a cafe. Among his other books, Kimmelman wrote The Accidental Masterpiece: On the Art of Life and Vice Versa, which I awarded four stars.

Two and a half stars for this book, four and a half stars for the film.

"Seymour: An Introduction," a documentary about Bernstein, screened three times during the Milwaukee Film Festival. I went to the first showing, a near sellout. A subsequent showing sold out. http://mkefilm.org/seymour-an-introdu...

Ethan Hawke, the producer-director of this film, met Seymour at a dinner party. The idea for a documentary evolved from there. http://www.seymouranintroduction.com