Effortless Mastery Testimonials
Please feel free to leave your own testimonial
for Kenny Werner and his Effortless Mastery teachings
using the “Comments” box below.
Thank you.
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“Dear Kenny Werner,
I heard you in the master class yesterday at SF Conservatory. I enjoyed the amazingly generous two hours with you and the young students in the audience. Last year I found a fine jazz teacher who has patiently taken me through the first stages of relearning piano music. With the freedom of not straining to see written notes, I’m having a ball, so yesterday was another blow to fearful approach to piano. Thanks so much.”
Irene Williams
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“Kenny and Andrew,
Thanks for this series and thanks for answering my question on the show. The mantra I’ve been repeating to myself is Kenny’s point that the improvement is very incremental. So now I’m concentrating on mastering one thing at a time before moving on to something else. Coming from a classical background, it is sometimes hard to understand how to practice in order to become a better jazz improviser. These TeleWebinars are greatly appreciated. Thanks!”
Peter Berquist
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“In this neck of the woods (the Netherlands) you guys were on air in the middle of the night, so many thanks Kenny and Andrew for making the mp3 of the TeleWebinar available. It was an inspiration to hear you again!”
John Devitt
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“Hi, Thank You for the telewebinars - I had asked a question on the previous one, which Kenny had taken time out to answer - these series of telewebinars are truly fantastic and of great help to so many musicians over the world - it’s like having the chance to go to a masterclass or workshop with Mr.Werner, and the oppurtunity to ask him questions and get the answers, right from your own home - it’s beautiful, and I thank the team that put this together.
Harmeet Manseta
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“I really enjoy the telewebinars. A lot of motivation! Keep up the great work!”
Mick Emery
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“Hello Kenny and Andrew,
Congratulations for the effortles mastery live project. It’s such a great idea, not to mention support.
Thanks!”
Stelios Michas
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“Dear Andrew,
I’m a 37 year old professional Jazz-Pianist and Educator vom Nuremberg Germany.
I love Kenny`s work and especially the Telewebinars ! Thanks so much for your work!
Many thanks again !
Best Regards and swinging Greetings from Germany,”
Sören Balendat
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“I think you do believe how important is the “philosophy” you bring us
with your book and effortless thoughts, it’s the piece I was looking for trough all my life,
and I feel SO GRATEFUL, for your patient gift to musicians and humanity, your contribution is essential.
All my wishes to you, family and friends for 2009, dear Master Werner.”
Charlie Laz
http://atreefortwo.free.fr
“The progressive- jazz Quartet”
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Dear Kenny ,
Just thank you very much for your book Effortless Mastery and you marvelous music . I’m resident in psychiatry in France and I love jazz , particularly bebop . I know your book because Vincent Martin ( piano jazz teacher in Lyon ) . Your disc of meditation is really great with the sweet piano melody in the background and bring a lot of beauty and peacefull .
Thank you
Marie-Maude Geoffray
for the first time in my life…for about 4 months.
Then i lost it; so I’m reading it again haha.
Great book; seriously enlightening.”
Thank you so much for the brilliant book that is Effortless Mastery.
At that time I read only the first few chapters.
I could understand and appreciate it’s concepts on a different level,
almost like I had to wait for my mind to catch up with what
my body really wanted and needed. Thank you again for your book and your time.
It has taken out my need to compensate for “lost time” and run after ideals
that have only caused me much frustration.
Thank you kenny
http://www.youtube.com/user/sibits
Dear Mr. Werner, First, I want to thank you for your book "Effortless Mastery". To this day, I find myself referring to it, and not just with musical concerns. It's the best thing that ever happened to my playing, a comment I'm sure you hear often. Thanks, John Gould ------------ Subject: I'll do my best to remain concise. This is a letter of gratitude, Kenny. "Effortless Mastery" changed my life completely. When I was 17, I got into music. When I was 19, I composed what I still consider to be a masterpiece (a masterpiece within the context of what I knew at that time). When I was 20, I found people to record the music with me. When I was 21, we cut an album and went on tour. Slightly before that tour, a friend of mine (the bass player, a graduate from Berklee) gave me a copy of "Effortless Mastery" (a copy he'd stolen from a bookstore on the same street as the school) to read. To quote him: "I think you'd like this book. I mean...he talks about a lot of weird stuff in there...but---". None of it was weird to me; philosophically or spiritually, at least. But applying it to music; to what I wanted to do specifically as a musician; just didn't click. So we did the tour, came home, started writing. But the entire time (from the time I'd read the book until now)...the message of your book was constantly looping/undulating in my mind. Reminding me of the infinity I'd still yet to tap. At the age of=2 023, I quit playing music abruptly and took a break from life for a few months. I couldn't stop thinking about the possibility that I could be mastering music and my primary instrument with less stress and more confidence. It took me until my 24th birthday to muster up the courage to even BEGIN to start over. To clean up the mess I'd been making of my then-future musicianship. Now, one year later from then, I am 25 years old. I can learn anything. Easily. I am a virtuoso. I am a master. Everything I do is perfect. Everything is so smooth, not percussive. I'm faster, cleaner and more substantive than I ever was, back when I thought I was a god. I'm not ready to to re-bury myself in composition, but I've got millions of ideas already on the back burner. Right now, I resolve solely to studying the styles of the masters. It's 6 a.m. here. Time to get back to interpreting Paganini's Caprice No. 1 for the electric guitar. Hope you're doing well. Darian ------------ thanks, kenny, for the inspiring thoughts! they are very appropriate as i continue to discover new ways to play amidst my right hand injuries. also, it was great to hear you at the jazz standard back in february - you and the trio sounded beautiful! take care and best wishes, peace and blessings to you. sincerely, margaret slovak ------------ Dear Kenny: I took a drum lesson a few weeks ago with a new instructor and he recommended your book. Just got it today from the library and can't stop reading it. What really bowled me over thus far was the statement on page 99: "Mastery is playing whatever you're capable of playing, every time, without thinking." That really knocked me over the head (in a good way). I realize now that I've heard Jamey Haddad relay the same message, but in a different way. But your wording really drives home the point. Anyway, thanks for such a great book. It's just what I needed... Sincerely, John C Westropp p.s. I've seen you play several times in Cleveland at Nighttown (and hope you'll return)... ------------
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t miss any seminar. It’s inspiring and helps to stay on the way.
Thanks.
Marcos
Kenny,
Your concert at the University of Texas at Tyler came along at the time in my life when I was near the point of complete burnout working to finish my piano degree. Your book described me perfectly - completely tied up in knots due to my fear-based approach to music and practicing. After reading and applying the principles in Effortless Mastery for one week, I experienced changes that were nothing short of miraculous. Once I was able to let go and set my ego aside, I accomplished a critical portion of my repertoire requirements in a fraction of the time it would have ordinarily taken me following my old patterns. For the first time in years I have hope that I will not only complete this degree, but will once again _enjoy_ my passion for music. I am profoundly thankful for the impact that you and your book have had on my life.
Dear Mr. Werner,
My name is Harry Tonchev and I’m a jazz guitar student at the Univ of Central Okla. Jazz Lab.I just want to thank you for “Effortless Mastery”. I’m half way through the book and I already learned more about music than the 3 years at UCO. I’m having a hard time getting in the “space” but hopefully by the time I finish the book this will happen.
I went to your solo piano concert at the UCO Jazz Lab and it was amazing.
Thank you for the music!
Best Regards,
Harry Tonchev
Hey Kenny,
I have so loved your book for years now. I have turned a number of fellow band mates as well as some of my tennis students on to your magical book also. (I am a saxophone playing tennis pro) I was wondering if you have any plans to offer your book in “book on tape” form? Your voice is very soothing and I would love to listen to you read Effortless Master y on my way to and from gigs…Would help move me to that inner state from which inspired playing arises.
Thanks,
Dave Todoroff
Kenny,
I am writing in an attempt to somehow express through this email an incredible feeling of gratitude. I’m halfway through Effortless Mastery (perhaps I should have put this email off until I actually finished the book- but I’m feeling moved to write now) and the things I’ve learned thus far I feel are invaluable. I am not thanking you for teaching me something about myself; I am thanking you for giving me certain tools to help me more fully understand myself, especially in regards to my relationships with music, practice, and even my social life; I’ve been learning a lot. I don’t want to rant about my life, but just to give you an idea of whose life you’ve helped to make a little more joyful: I’m a 23 yr old drum set player. I just finished my BA in jazz at FSU last august and traveled to India for 3 months. Now I’m back in Athens, Ga living my life in HD (hi def..like you take digital photos. There’s beauty in everything!!!!) Anyways, Kenny, thank you.
With much appreciation and sincerity,
Philip Mayer
I would fall into the category of the musician who lived one life, and is now walking the path that music is paving. I am forty years old, and I my base nature has always been to walk the path less traveled. As a child, I would purposely do things differently because I was not satisfied with what everybody else was doing. I lost sight of that desire and for several years I walked a path that had everything to do with appearances (I sought the American Dream), but had nothing to do my individual purpose; I let fear rather than Faith rule. In 2004, I started down the path that was not traveled, and I have been Blessed. Your book (Effortless Mastery) has served as a road sign, that has reaffirmed that I am heading in the right direction. Thank You.
Hi Kenny/Andrew,
I normally download the telewebinars & burn to CD to listen while I’m working (I have to drive a lot). I’m a musician returning to playing after many years off. Effortless Mastery was just what I needed! Thanks!
I have been enjoying these missives from Kenny for awhile now, and am amazed there actually is a person in the world who is so gifted as a musician who is also willing to share his secrets with others striving to achieve their goals.
These broadcasts and communications have been very valuable to me in terms of getting to a better place with my music. Last night it was very magical when I played at a place and didn’t expect a violinist to show up for sure, but she did. I was concerned about getting the music just right, as she is highly disciplined and trained in classical music. This tends to intimidate me as I wonder if I am up to playing into this level of training.
However, I have been applying the ideas of Kenny Werner in my practicing, and taking steps each day to get better.
The music that happened last nite was magical, and some of the things I was writing really appealed to the violinist, who was also very amazed at how strong I have been getting. She is coming back to another place I play tonite and now I am nervous all over again worrying that the magic was only a fluke and how can it happen that way the next nite?
I will start practicing now and get some things ready.
Amanda