Metaphors for the Musician

Perspectives from a Jazz Pianist

by Randy Halberstadt


This practical and enlightening book will help any jazz player or vocalist look at music with “new eyes.” A hands-on theory and improvising book with a human touch.

Metaphors for the Musician gives insights into almost every aspect of jazz musicianship, including scale/chord theory, practice strategies, composing techniques, performance psychology and how to create the states of mind that produce the best improvisations.

Serious jazz pianists will find valuable information about chord voicings and comping, while novices will benefit from fresh approaches to scales and inversions.

Designed for any level of player, on any instrument, Metaphors for the Musician provides numerous exercises throughout to help the reader turn these concepts into musical reality.

Spiral-bound, 330 pages!



Endorsements

Randy knows how to break things down so a student can actually understand it. This book is chock full of great gems that both students and professional players could really benefit from.”
— Jerry Bergonzi

Randy talks about the experience, the real-time event, the nuts-and-bolts reality of making music from the heart. I recommend this book to anyone who is serious about music.”
— Jessica Williams

Never pedantic, this book moves in a logical, step-by-step, “hands-on” and easy to understand manner. It helped solidify and codify many things I 'knew' but had never been able to articulate. I highly recommend Metaphors for the Musician.”
— Bill Mays

Metaphors for the Musician is an excellent tool for students and teachers alike.”
— George Cables

Out of the many unsolicited manuscripts we have received in the last few years, this is the only book that I knew we had to publish.”
— Chuck Sher

Randy Halberstadt is a prominent pianist in the Pacific Northwest jazz scene, known for his versatility in various jazz genres. He has collaborated with notable artists like Herb Ellis, Terry Gibbs, and Joe LaBarbera. In 1990, he graced the stage at the Monterey Jazz Festival with drummer Mel Brown. Additionally, Randy has played with the Seattle Symphony and is the regular pianist for the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra.