Submitted by SUSAN MONTGOMERY
Susan Montgomery, Bowling Green author and artist, has published a new book aimed at new musicians. The illustrated book I Am a Gifted Musician: Affirmations for New Players of Music contains positive self-talk statements that one can recite and practice.
Susan also created journal prompts so that musicians can explore their musicality. The colorful illustrations show various musicians with their instruments that help bring everything to life.
Susan began learning about music at age 38 during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning with the guitar, she eventually added ukulele and piano to her repertoire. She quickly learned how important it was to think positively and speak to yourself kindly. Susan writes, “Learning how to play music is very exciting and rewarding.
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But sometimes, we can get frustrated, hopeless, and criticize our playing ability.” But she explains that each player is a gifted musician because of the talents, skill, and personality they bring to the music. “It’s not just a title for the elite. It’s for each of us with a heart full of dedication to music,” Susan writes. The affirmations and journal prompts can be very useful to teens or adults who are just starting out with an instrument, along with experienced musicians as well.
Susan graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education. She deals with several chronic medical conditions but is enjoying writing and painting as a form of art therapy. She is a contributor for The Mighty, a digital health website dedicated to chronic illness and mental health. Susan has several articles published about chronic illness and its intersection with music, writing, and art. She has two other books available as well, Ukulele Expressions: Illustrated Ukulele Fingerstyle Etudes for the Picking Hand and Ink Sketches for Wellness: Poems on My Life with Invisible Disabilities. A free PDF sample of I Am a Gifted Musician: Affirmations for New Player of Music is available on her website at www.CreatedBySusan.com. All books are available on Amazon.
