The Mind's Ear

Bruce Adolphe is Resident Lecturer and Director of Family Concerts for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York. A composer of international renown, Adolphe's works are performed by such outstanding artists as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, and over 60 symphony orchestras worldwide.

• About the third edition Preface A note to teachers (and students, too) A word about improvisation for Classical musiciansHow to use this book More tips for using this bookList of exercises About the companion website Introduction I Exercises to be done in silence II Exercises involving groups III Exercises using musical instruments IV The feeling of an idea V Exercises in composing VI Piano Puzzler PreparationCodaAbout the author Index

I direct a seminar on the Beethoven string quartets at the Department of Medical Humanities at Columbia University, and I find The Mind's Ear to be an invaluable wellspring of ideas to engage these medical students in a way that is fresh, challenging, and fun. These students come from a wide variety of musical backgrounds, and the group exercises prescribed by The Mind's Ear allow them to focus on skills—hearing multiple lines, listening while vocalizing, and following cues from the peers—that they enjoy honing. These activities break the ice, expand the mind, and broaden the perspective. They make the students better listeners, and perhaps better doctors!