Hi everyone, the month of May is not far from ending. Winter has settled in here in Auckland as I wrap up in several layers to get to work. This week’s post is a book review of an engaging musical memoir written by an amazing author and musician. I found this book when I was stuck for ideas for this week’s post and the blurb spoke to me in such a way that I HAD to sit and read it. The verdict, well, why don’t you press the button and find out…
Title: Whole Notes – Life Lessons Through Music
Author: Eddie Ayres
Publication details: ABC Books; Sydney, NSW, 2021
ISBN: 9780733341038 (Paperback) / 9781460712795 (ebook)
What this book is about: This is not your ordinary musical memoir. This book is an ode to music, and a celebration of humanity’s greatest creation. It is not a call to arms, but a call to instruments. We are asked how we can pause long enough to repair ourselves and make space and time in our lives to know ourselves. One answer is through music – learning, music, listening to music, being open to music. Because music consoles and restores us. Through music, whether we are listening or playing, we know ourselves more clearly with every note. And with every note, music offers us a hand to the beyond. Through music, we can say what we didn’t even know we felt. In music, Ed Ayres finds answers to the big questions life throws at us. Using personal anecdotes – including those relating to his transition from Emma to Ed – and observations from teaching and learning music, Ed finds hope in our desire to become whole, with some simple music lessons along the way.
My review: On page 20 there is a section that struck a chord with me. It goes like this: “…While I was thinking about this book and how I really want it to be an inspiration for people of all ages to start or restart an instrument,…”. As soon as I read this a light bulb went off in my head and my heartbeat quickened and I felt as if he was seeing into my soul. I had wanted to start up my piano playing and just after those first twenty pages I knew I could. Chapter after chapter, with every page, I fell in love with music again. With each piece of music he mentioned I felt myself uplifted as looked it up and proceeded to listen to video after video of instrumentals on YouTube. Ed’s own journey of transition was crafted exquisitely and I loved how he weaved it into the musical lessons. His open and honest voice was one I enjoyed throughout the whole book as he explained not just the history behind musical instruments but also those composers that have left a legacy for us. The stories about his students, his own lessons with the horn, and his experience as a teacher were amazing to read. This was truly an amazing and inspirational memoir, perfect for all music lovers!!
My rating: 5 ⭐
Best quote for me:
“Through listening we find what we need, not what we want… Through listening we find the bravery to make the change… This was the process I went through with accepting my own transgender identity.”
Eddie Ayres
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 