This was an interesting read, humorous and insightful in equal measure.
His basic premise that everyone is musical by nature is one that he spends the rest of the book proving to us in ways that we had never even thought.
It is a series of short, but profound essays, interspersed with funny, or revealing anecdotes taken from his life as a musician.
How many ordinary experiences are there to appreciate music and the music of the universe, of life, of humanity, that we completely overlook, living our lives on autopilot.
How many physical objects surround us in daily life that produce sounds that invigorate us, make us sad, speak to our souls, in ways that we never envisaged, and rarely notice.
The world abounds in opportunities for musical stimulation, and the author does an incredible job of bringing our attention to these, and the importance for us all, musicians and non-musicians alike, to just wake up to the world around us.
Serious stuff, but the author does not take himself overly seriously and encourages us to explore the music of the universe for ourselves.
(paid link) The Musical Life: Reflections on What it is and How to Live it by W.A. Mathieu is an interesting read.
It may not change your life, but it will certainly encourage you to look at the world around you differently and with thought and intention.
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