Music Lessons

Music Lessons is a collection of thoughts on the link between music and daily tasks. Each entry is unique and compellingly written but there are some loose themes sustained throughout, such as improvisational music, life lessons, and conflict. The writing is intriguing, accessible, and inspiring.

Bob Wiseman believes most things in life are universal, or, as his friend Joe once said, everything is everything. Bearing in mind this fortune cookie advice, Wiseman writes about finding the link between music and daily tasks, like teaching a five-year-old Twinkle, Twinkle and doing the dishes each night. Bob writes daily, the way someone else might practice scales; although his sense of the instrument and the musician has changed over the years, Bob adheres to doing exercises that have wider connections than whether the strings are in tune. Each entry is unique and compellingly written, but the themes throughout on improvisational music, life lessons, and conflict are ubiquitous.

About the Author

Bob Wiseman likes having fun. He was on CNN lying about wanting to change his name to Prince; he played accordion on "If I Had a Million Dollars" by the Barenaked Ladies; he produced Kid in the Hall Bruce McCulloch's "Shame-Based Man"; he was the composer for The Drawer Boy, winner of the 2018 Best Feature Film at the Canadian Film Awards; and Odetta took his hands in hers and kissed them after hearing him play prepared piano at the Bitter End on Earth Day 2000. He was also a founding member of Blue Rodeo but quit in the early '90s when he no longer found it fun.