An extract from Gary Marcus’ Guitar Zero: The Science of Learning to be Musical
On the eve of his fortieth birthday, Gary Marcus decided to fulfil a lifelong dream and learn to play the guitar. He had tried many times before failing, miserably. This time, he decided to use the tools of his trade as a cognitive scientist to see if he might succeed…
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In a quest that takes him from Suzuki lessons to the feet of the guitar gods, Marcus discovers how to practise efficiently; how to find the right teacher, no matter what you re learning; what middle-aged brains do better than teen-aged ones (witnessed through the performance of his first band, Rush Hour); how to manage stage fright; how music changes the brain; and much more. He also brings insight into the question, is the pursuit of a passion reward enough?
A groundbreaking exploration of the allure of music, his journey is also an empowering tale of your mind s ability to grow throughout life.
Listen to a Spotify playlist, with a selection of tracks covered in the book:
About the author:
Gary Marcus is Professor of Psychology and Director of the New York University Center for Language And Music (CLAM), where he studies evolution, language, and cognitive development. He has written three books about the origins and development of the mind and brain, including The Algebraic Mind, The Birth of the Mind, and Kluge, and is also the editor of The Norton Psychology Reader. His scientic articles have been published in leading journals, such as Science and Nature, and his essays have appeared in Wired, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and many others. He lives in New York City.
