Looking for a good gift for a music lover in your life? Musicians can be hard to shop for, so why not a book? Here’s a roundup of books that are either on my own wishlist or books I’ve read recently and recommend:
Pianoforte
by Christoph Niemann
“Based on the essay for the New York Times Magazine about the love for classical music and the uphill battle trying to learn to read sheet music as a grownup.”
Music is History
by Questlove
“A New York Times bestseller, Music Is History combines multi-Grammy Award winner Questlove’s deep musical expertise with his curiosity about history, examining America over the past fifty years… A history of the last half-century and an intimate conversation with one of music’s most influential and original voices, Music Is History is a singular look at contemporary America.”
All You Need to Know About the Music Industry
by Donald S. Passman
“Dubbed “the industry bible” by the Los Angeles Times, All You Need to Know About the Music Business by veteran music lawyer Donald Passman is the go-to guide for everyone in the music business through ten editions, over thirty years, and over a half a million copies sold. Now with updates explaining why musicians have more power today than ever in history; discussion of the mega-million-dollar sales of artists’ songs and record catalogs; how artist access to streaming media, and particularly TikTok, has completely reshaped the music business; the latest on music created by AI; and a full update of the latest numbers and trends.”
Help Your Kids with Music
by Carol Vorderman
Though it’s sold as a guide for parents, this book is useful for anyone who struggles with sheet music and music theory. “This straightforward guide uses clear, accessible pictures and diagrams to approach even the most complex musical theory with confidence. The use of bright colors breaks up the black and white confusion of musical notes and helps you to easily understand key topics. You’ll also find a glossary of key musical terms and symbols for quick reference, and a supporting audio to help you understand the music you are seeing.”
Good Booty
by Ann Powers
“In this sweeping history of popular music in the United States, NPR’s acclaimed music critic examines how popular music shapes fundamental American ideas and beliefs, allowing us to communicate difficult emotions and truths about our most fraught social issues, most notably sex and race.”
Nina: A Story of Nina Simone
by Traci Todd and Christian Robinson
“This luminous, defining picture book biography illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Christian Robinson, tells the remarkable and inspiring story of acclaimed singer Nina Simone and her bold, defiant, and exultant legacy.”
More Gift Book Ideas
An autobiography or memoir by a favorite artist
A book about the history of a specific musical era or genre
A how-to book, a helpful chart, or holiday songbook
Looking for more ideas? Check out my past gift guides including cute and cozy gifts, gifts for children, and gifts for preschoolers. Happy reading, and happy holidays!
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