My Music, My Life

My Music, My Life is Ravi Shankar's autobiography chronicling his journey as a musician and his role in bringing Indian classical music to global audiences. The book covers his early years as a dancer in his brother's troupe through his emergence as a world-renowned sitar virtuoso. Shankar details the intricacies of Indian classical music, explaining ragas, talas, and the guru-shishya tradition of musical training. He includes technical illustrations and notations to help Western readers understand these concepts. The narrative follows his collaborations with Western musicians, including violinist Yehudi Menuhin and Beatles guitarist George Harrison. Shankar recounts his experiences performing at major events like the Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock. Through his personal story, Shankar presents a broader examination of how musical traditions can bridge cultural divides while preserving their essential authenticity. The book stands as both a memoir and a guide to understanding Indian classical music's philosophical and spiritual dimensions.

Readers describe the book as a detailed introduction to Indian classical music alongside Shankar's personal journey. Many note it functions well as both autobiography and musical instruction. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of ragas and talas with musical notations - Photographs demonstrating proper sitar technique - Cultural context and history of Indian music - Balance between technical details and accessible writing Common criticisms: - Some found the notation system confusing - Advanced students wanted more depth on complex concepts - Print quality of diagrams and photos in newer editions - Brief coverage of Shankar's later career and collaborations Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (173 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (31 reviews) Reader quote: "The book manages to be both a practical guide and a fascinating look into Indian classical tradition through Shankar's eyes. Technical enough for musicians but engaging for general readers." - Goodreads reviewer

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🎵 Though Ravi Shankar is widely known as George Harrison's sitar teacher, this book reveals he initially hesitated to teach Western musicians, fearing the sacred traditions of Indian classical music would be oversimplified. 🎼 The book includes detailed illustrations of sitar techniques and positioning, personally supervised by Shankar himself, making it one of the first comprehensive guides to sitar playing published in English. 🌟 Shankar wrote this autobiography/musical treatise at age 49, yet went on to perform, teach, and compose for another 43 years until his death in 2012 at age 92. 🎶 Before becoming a musician, young Ravi toured Europe as a dancer in his brother Uday's performing arts troupe, an experience he describes vividly in the book's early chapters. 🏆 The book documents Shankar's unique mission to build cultural bridges - he succeeded in making Indian classical music accessible to Western audiences while steadfastly maintaining its authenticity and spiritual essence.