Behind The Lens: Craig Havighurst -Musicality For Modern Humans: How To Listen Like An Artist
- Charles Luberisse
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Music journalist and broadcaster Craig Havighurst is proud to announce his new book, Musicality For Modern Humans: How To Listen Like An Artist, published this week through independent publisher The Sager Group. Inspired by more than 25 years of reporting on music and musicians in Nashville, Havighurst’s guide to the pursuit of musicality will inspire and inform readers of all levels, redefining music appreciation for the 21st century.
Musicality is a self-enrichment book about the inner game of sound-based art for curious people who wish they could get deeper into music, including those who feel confused, overwhelmed, or intimidated. It’s for anyone looking to shake up their habits, get free of algorithms, and listen for more in music across all genres and time periods. Béla Fleck said:
You don’t have to be a Michelin-starred chef to know when you are eating a spectacular meal. And you don’t need a doctorate in music theory to enjoy Bach, Eric Dolphy, or Stravinsky. In this beautifully written book, Craig Havighurst reminds us that with an active ear, we all have the potential to participate in the flight of great music.
For the past nine years, Craig has been Editorial Director at NPR affiliate WMOT 89.5 FM, where he hosts The String, a thought-provoking weekly interview show covering American roots music. He has reported on Americana music for NPR, The Tennessean, No Depression, Bluegrass Unlimited, Acoustic Guitar, The Wall Street Journal, and other leading outlets. Throughout his career, however, he’s pursued a lifelong interest in jazz and composed music, with the resources of a reporter and access to extraordinary musical settings and situations. With Musicality, decades of conversations with musicians and producers have been distilled into a personal memoir, a thoughtfully written rumination, and a practical guide to a lifelong engagement with music.
Musicality is about how composers and musicians manipulate tone, time, and timbre to reach us emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. It’s also about how we respond and how alert we are to creativity and nuance. Havighurst resets our expectations, simplifies music theory, champions today’s finest artists, and guides readers in a rethink of their musical diet.
An audio book, read by the author, is forthcoming. Craig is available for speaking engagements and interviews. PDF review copies are available on request
Keep up with Craig Havighurst:
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