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There are so many advantages to reading especially for those who work in creative fields. Reading can help you solve problems, broaden your views, and take your imagination to places that you never thought possible. Apparently it can also help to improve your memory, concentration, vocabulary and reduce stress. I personally love books, I love challenging my thinking, discovering new concepts, learning from others experiences and understanding different peoples perspectives. Consequently I read all kind of books and I’m always on the look out for book recommendations. So I thought I would share some of the gems I have discovered so you can enjoy them too.

Music Related Books

Composition 

The Study of Orchestration – Samuel Adler
The Study of Counterpoint from Johann Joseph Fux’s Gradus and Parnassum
Techniques of the Contemporary Composer – David Cope
Creative Music Composition The Young Composer’s Voice – Margaret Lucy Wilkins

Flute

The Art of Playing Flute – Roger Mather

Music Performance 

The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music From the Heart – Madeline Bruser
Musical Excellence Strategies and Techniques to enhance performance – Aaron Williamon

General Music

Dead Composers Living Audiences – Gerald L. Phillips
Infinite Music – Adam Harper
Audio Culture: Readings in Modern Music – Christoph Cox and Daniel Warner
Twentieth-Century Music – Robert P. Morgan
A History of Western Music – Burkholder Grout Palisca
The Enjoyment of Music – Forney and Marchlis

Music Theory

Harmonic Practice in Tonal Music – Gauldin

Ear Training 

Hearing and Writing Music Professional Training for Today’s Musicians – Gorow

Career/Business

Funemployed: Life as an Artist i Australia – Justin Heazlewood
Jumpstart Your Music Career – Simon Cann
Social Media Promotion for Musicians – Bobby Owsinski
Starting You Career as a Musician – Neil Tortorella
The Musician’s Journey: crafting your career vision and plan – Jill Timmons
The Self-Promoting Musician: Strategies for independent music success – Peter Spellm
The PracticeSpot Guide to Promoting Your Teaching Studio – Philip Johnston

General Books

Personal Development

What I Know For Sure – Oprah Winfrey
The Courage to be Creative – Doreen Virtue

Relationships

Boundaries – Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
How to Spot a Dangerous Man Before You Get Involved – Sandra L. Brown (Everyone needs to know this)

Christian Books

The Supernatural Ways of Royalty – Kris Vallotton and Bill Johnson
(Un)Qualifies – Steven Furtick
Jesus > Religion – Jefferson Bethke
Divorce and Remarriage in the Church – David Intone-Brewer (Absolute must read!)
Being Mindful, Being Christian – Bretherton, Collicutt and Brickman
Women: God’s Secret Weapon – Ed Silvoso

If you’ve read an awesome book I’d love to hear about it. Please leave your recommendations in a comment below.