Whenever You're Ready: How to Compose the Life of Your Dreams

Whenever You're Ready: How to Compose the Life of Your Dreams

by Jeeyoon Kim
Whenever You're Ready: How to Compose the Life of Your Dreams

Whenever You're Ready: How to Compose the Life of Your Dreams

by Jeeyoon Kim

Hardcover

$20.95 
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Overview

Jeeyoon Kim is a professional concert pianist who has performed in venues like Carnegie Hall, the Chamber Music Society in San Francisco, and the Stradivari Society in Chicago. As an accomplished performing artist and award-winning music educator, she credits her success to key disciplines, practices, and mindsets that she lives out every day. In Whenever You’re Ready, she gives readers a personal glimpse into her life, shares wisdom and insights she’s gained from her experiences, and shows people how to achieve their own personal and professional success.

Structured like one of the concerts she performs, this self-help book starts with a prelude and contains five movements, each focused on a different theme, such as forming habits and boosting creativity. Each movement is followed by a quick intermission that takes readers through a mini master class to help them gain an appreciation of classical music.

Before every performance, Jeeyoon prepares herself mentally, emotionally, and physically in the green room. She knows she’ll soon step onto the stage, where people have come to see what she has to offer the world. In the final moment when she’s backstage and about to meet her audience, she notes that someone, with their hand on the stage door, always waits for her cue. “Whenever you’re ready . . .” they tell her. She nods, they open the door, and it’s time for her to perform.

This book is about helping readers prepare themselves mentally, emotionally, and physically for their own performances. Whether they are hoping to land a job, practicing for a speech, training for a marathon, or trying to accomplish a goal, Jeeyoon’s book will offer them advice, encouragement, and practical exercises they can use to help them perform at their best and achieve their dreams. With warmth, honesty, and compassion, Jeeyoon speaks to readers who are in their own green rooms and invites them to live the life they hope for. 


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781626348561
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
Publication date: 08/24/2021
Pages: 264
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Award-winning classical pianist Jeeyoon Kim delights audiences with a sparkling combination of sensitive artistry, broad emotional range, impeccable technique, and innovative concert experiences. A native of South Korea, Jeeyoon has inspired a dedicated and passionate fan base from around the world. As a performer, she defies convention by expanding on the traditional classical concert experience. Her 2016 debut album, 10 More Minutes, features a conversation with the audience from onstage. For her next act, Jeeyoon collaborated with New York–based visual artist Moonsub Shin to create a multimedia masterpiece, Over. Above. Beyond.

Jeeyoon began studying the piano when she was just four years old, and her love of music and the piano propelled her through her undergraduate studies in piano performance in Korea. After moving to the U.S., she graduated with distinction with a Master’s Degree and a Doctorate Degree in Piano Performance, all on full scholarship from Indiana University’s renowned Jacob School of Music.

In pursuit of an even deeper understanding of music and wishing to refine her ability to share it with others, she earned another Master’s Degree in music education, Piano Pedagogy, with a full scholarship from Butler University, where she also simultaneously served as a faculty member. As a testament to Jeeyoon’s abilities as an educator, she was recognized with the Top Music Teacher Award from Steinway and Sons for three years in a row, from 2016 to 2018.

Today, between performances at venues like Carnegie Hall, the Chamber Music Society in San Francisco, and the Stradivari Society in Chicago, Jeeyoon remains focused on finding new ways to connect with audiences and bring a fresh perspective to the magic of classical piano music. In 2020, she launched a fast-growing podcast dedicated to helping people of all musical tastes and backgrounds discover the beauty of classical music. Journey through Classical Piano delivers fifteen-minute episodes that feature concert-like musical experiences and in-depth explorations of classical compositions, hosted by Jeeyoon.

Jeeyoon is an art activist, educator, podcaster, YouTuber, and award-winning performer who strives to connect with new audiences and help them discover the magic of classical music. During her COVID-19 quarantine, she is creating [si-úm], a project that blends classical piano with poetry and spoken word performances. She also walks daily, teaches, and performs via live streaming from her home. For more information, please visit www.jeeyoonkim.com.

Table of Contents

Prelude 1

Movement #1 Practice until Practicing Is a Part of Your Normal Life 7

1 Habits Win Out over Willpower 9

2 Process as a Goal, Not an Outcome 15

3 Efficiency Wins over Amount of Time 23

4 Find Work and Rest Balance for Yourself 31

5 The Turtle Wins the Race over the Rabbit 39

6 Water Boils at the 100-Degree C Mark 45

Intermission #1 Waltz Op. 64, No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin 51

Movement #2 Guard Your Mind and Keep Negativity at Bay 53

1 Don't Let Others Dump Trash in Your Mind 55

2 Dealing with the Monster in Your Head 61

3 Winner's Mindset 69

4 Rewrite Your Story 79

5 You Can Control Some Things, Just Not Everything 85

6 Stay Away from the Mind Virus 91

Intermission #2 Intermezzo Op. 118, No. 2 by Johannes Brahms 99

Movement #3 Create, Dream, and Play 103

1 Create Your Own Path 105

2 Redefine Your Success 115

3 What You Do Matters 121

4 Indulge Your Dreams 127

5 Share Yourself 133

6 Play Like the Little Child Inside of You 141

Intermission #3 Pagodas by Claude Debussy 149

Movement #4 Connect with Yourself, Others, and the Universe 151

1 Meet Yourself First 153

2 Choose to Feel and Connect with Others 161

3 Use the Power of Positive Words 167

4 Don't Do It Alone 173

5 Talking to Strangers 179

6 Express Yourself through What You Do 185

Intermission #4 Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 by Franz Schubert 191

Movement #5 Take Care of Your Body and Your Environment 193

1 The Power of Walking 195

2 Awaken with Meditation 201

3 Get in Touch with Your Body through Yoga 209

4 You Are What You Eat 217

5 Design Your Environment for Yourself 225

6 The Beauty of Our Limits 233

Encore 239

Acknowledgments 241

About the Author 245

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“What a delightful lesson this book is! A caring and empathetic teacher, Jeeyoon teaches us how to nurture curiosity, seek our inner child, and embrace a more balanced approach to pursuing our dreams.”
—Karen Thickstun, NCTM, Piano Pedagogy faculty member at Butler University

“Like the succinct distillation of human emotion she creates in her powerful piano performances, Jeeyoon shares with us in these pages her personal ‘tool kit for life.’ With these simple yet profound techniques, practices, and intentions, we are gently guided and encouraged to be open to new potential and possibilities within ourselves and taught how to bring them into reality to live the life we long for. A beautifully articulated, rare glimpse into the inner mind of a consummate musician and human being . . .”
—Susan Kitterman, Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of the New World Youth Orchestra

“Part inspiration, part practical guide, Jeeyoon Kim serves up nuggets of wisdom—whether you’re truly stuck or just seeking a nudge. Open up to any page the next time you need a pep talk.”
—Karen Zorn, President of Longy School of Music

“In the rarified world of classical music, talent is never enough. With Whenever You’re Ready, classical pianist Jeeyoon Kim reveals the secrets of success in five life-changing movements. Charming, insightful, inspiring, and practical, this is a must-read for anyone with dreams.”
—Tim Wilson, Executive Director of Western Arts Alliance

“I wish I had had this book at the beginning of my musical career, and I am fortunate to have it now. Jeeyoon has given us an inspirational set of tools at our fingertips. I would recommend this book to any aspiring performer and established professional.”
—John Stubbs, Conductor and Music Director of California Ballet Company

“What a gem! This book is a gracious invitation to fully engage with what it means to compose our life in an intentional and thoughtful way. As accessible and eloquent as Jeeyoon’s presence on stage, the pages are full of practical wisdom that inspire the reader to deeper reflection on their own performance. Each chapter closes with a gentle summons to try something new and in doing so, emerge fully onto the stage of our life when we are ready.”
—Julianne Miranda, ACC, Certified Life Coach and Bereavement Specialist

Whenever You’re Ready is the perfect resource guide for anyone who wants to improve upon their long-term professional or personal goals. It weaves together practical, easy-to-follow principles for success, recommendations to improve personal habits, and suggestions to find that ever-so-difficult balance within. For musicians and non-musicians alike, Jeeyoon’s well-thought-out musical structure and beautifully crafted narrative give you the lift you need to improve your mindset and perhaps appreciate some beautiful music in the process.”
—Tommy Phillips, President and Artistic Director of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County

“Jeeyoon combines her contagious passion for music and joy for life into a thought-provoking guidebook for a more productive and satisfying existence. Pianos are welcome, but definitely not required.”
—Pedja Muzijevic, pianist, artistic administrator at Baryshnikov Arts Center, and artistic advisor to Tippet Rise Art Center

“Jeeyoon’s brilliant artistry is only matched by her unique ability to reach the audience, manage her own career, and constantly reinvent herself as a true artist in the 21st century.”
—Jim Fung, Founder of Captivate Artists, presenter, and promoter

“What this book reveals is a very courageous lady who chose not to follow but to create her own path. And in so doing Jeeyoon became an inspiration for thousands who have a dream. She made that first impossible step and set an example for others to follow. The book is the triumph of a dream realized.”
—Allen T. Brown, author of Dancing Through Life

“Jeeyoon Kim is an extraordinarily talented pianist whose musicianship combines brilliant technical skills, deeply personal expressivity, and a communicative approach to concertizing that has captured the hearts and minds of audiences wherever she performs. In Whenever You’reReady, Ms. Kim offers a practical guide to creating a successful career. Distilled from principles that she formulated while developing her own career, she presents a step-by-step methodology for achieving a lifestyle directed to succeed in any walk of life. The combination of life-enriching daily routines, both physical and mental, and supplemental exercises are designed to create an orderly life that should enrich anyone’s personal as well as artistic goals. Written with a deep, abiding love of music, this book avoids intellectualizing while providing a user-friendly way of developing routines that, if diligently applied, can enhance career goals as well as structure the fulfillment of other life goals.”
—Lewis M. Smoley, president of Classical Podcasts

“Inspiring yet practical! Jeeyoon provides a tool kit that demystifies the creativity within us and welcomes us to keep trying to find our own path in life.”
—Eunbi Kim, pianist and co-founder of bespoken

“What enlightening and delightful storytelling by an award-winning performing artist! Jeeyoon finally reveals secrets to her life success as a pianist and educator. Reading her book was a truly life-changing, magical experience, just like attending one of her breathtaking piano concerts for the first time.”
—Kyunghee Clara Hayashigawa, educator and pianist

“A captivating journey into the heart and soul of a concert pianist. She also has the heart of a teacher and presents to the reader, based on personal experience, highly effective tools to succeed in real-life  circumstances, both personally and professionally, and does so with candor, kindness, and thoughtfulness. I highly recommend this wonderfully written book to my family, friends, colleagues, and students.”
—John Corban, Independent piano teacher based in Oregon

“What a pleasure to read. It feels like sitting at a coffee shop with Jeeyoon and discussing life and music for hours. Jeeyoon effortlessly convinces and motivates us to use good habits and hard work to achieve amazing results. She shows us not only what is possible, but how to have endless fun on the way.”
—Igor Pandurski, violinist from San Diego Symphony

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