Hearing and Writing Music: Professional Training for Today's Musician (2nd Edition)

As a published composer and professional music engraver/copyist, my livelihood depends on my musical ability. Mr. Gorow's book has helped me to focus my energy and skills to create a more effective technique as I work on various projects. My ear's sensitivity has been heightened immensely as a result of this book.

I feel like I owe Ron more than what I paid for the book. Thank you Ron for sharing your thoughts and proven techniques. I can't wait for your next project!


This book is great!   September 12, 2002
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I liked this book a lot. Being able to transcribe music that I hear is one of those things that I've always wanted to be able to do, and now with "Hearing and Writing Music", I have the book I need to learn the skill. I found the book well organized and everything is explained in a simple, easy to understand manner. I'm more of a beginner and I was amazed how some of the stuff I was just doing by stumbling around by myself muscially, wasn't because I was actually stumbling, but that I had already kind of learned some of the techniques in the book. Hearing and Writing Music helped me to focus and develop my skills and make real progress! I liked that the book had exercises that I could understand and actually do and I feel my skills building as I am still working my way through the book. I highly recommend this book.


Only in Hollywood!   August 2, 2002
 24 out of 50 found this review helpful

This book was written by a ...! I kid you not, this [guy] has a diagram on page 28 showing sound waves as part of the electromagnetic spectrum! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!! (Its a mechanical wave!) An excerpt from the facing page: "Sound is at the low end of the frequency spectrum; it is where music space and music time intersect." Wow man, that's heavy-hey, pass me that joint! If you like bad science, meaningless off-the-wall statements, and you see two images when you look through binoculars just like in the movies, then this book is for you!
At first I thought he was just a flower child and I could just skip through the babbling. Then his misunderstanding of the nature of sound gave me the giggles. I thought I could just ignore the mindless blather and get to the part where I could learn how to transcribe music, but I saw no end in sight. The odds that I would learn "bad music theory" were skyrocketing. I finally threw in the towel at page 30. I'm sending it back so it won't be a total loss! The least the publisher could do is leave out all the empty space on the pages-it would save half the paper used!
I have a master's degree in physics, so the author can't harm me with his ridiculous banter on the nature of sound. However, as a beginner at music, the risk of learning stupid untruths regarding music was just too high! I wonder how many people with less of an education will be led down the garden path to musical stupidity by this guy. I'm writing this review to save you!!!
Too bad the lowest rating...is one star-I had to overrate this hunk of junk!
I did learn one thing though: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER buy a book written by someone from Hollywood unless you get your science education from People magazine!


Sensational!!   July 25, 2002
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is one incredible book! Each chapter is simple, direct, practical, and written in plain english. The chapters logically follow one another in content and form, and the exercises/training can be done almost anywhere, making them extremely practical for the musician on the go.

If you are interested in a fun and very enjoyable musical journey, Ron Gorow's book is the answer!


Just Wonderfull !!!   April 26, 2002
 4 out of 6 found this review helpful

Hi ! For me, the definition of a good musician is someone who can play wathever he think or feel without scrambling around uselessly. Well, thats exactly what this book is about ( I think i will have to set me a new goal in a few months).

I already went from one cover to the other(just to set up the learning process) and was stunned. The information is clear and precise making the learning process easy and flowing. Now what left to do is to apply it.

I am a self-tought musician ( playing for 10 years now) and i find no peculiars difficulty to apply material. As soon as i talked about this book to a friend, he ordered one. I think that this is the best book i ever bought in my life. Well suited for every style of music ( i play Jazz mostly) and instruments ( including voice)

One only minor drawback ( there got to be one), some examples require specific instruments for exercises(strings, woodwinds
,ect...). I am lucky to play guitar ( i use a slide tube for microtonal examples), clarinet and a bit of piano. I STRONGLY recommend having a computer ( more than helpfull for producing steady tone (download a tone generator) to practice intervals singing against it.

Overall, a must have for everyone serious about music.
Thanks Mr. Gorow

Max Freniere