The PBS reporter's yearlong journal: he aims to learn enough piano to play "Traumerei" (Robert Schumann) acceptably well, and to play it for his wife. Sidetrips and detours -- piano technology, music history, notes on Schumann -- ornament his theme.
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On turning 50, successful "All Things Considered" commentator Noah Adams decides to learn to play the piano, with the goal of performing Robert Schumann's "Traumerei" for his wife by year's end. He buys an $11,000 Steinway, skips lessons with a human being for a computer program option, visits a piano building business and music training camp, researches famous historic pianists. Other time commitments intrude -- road running, interviews with celebrities (not only musicians but John Grisham talking about writing _A Time To Kill_) -- and Adams describes his love-hate relationship with the piano and practicing. This is a slight book, but charming.
The review of this Book prepared by David Loftus
