Every Good Boy Does Fine

A Love Story, in Music Lessons

By: Jeremy Denk

Narrated by: Jeremy Denk

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A beautifully written, witty memoir that is also an immersive exploration of classical music—its power, its meanings, and what it can teach us about ourselves—from the MacArthur “Genius” Grant–winning pianist

LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL • “Jeremy Denk has written a love letter to the music, and especially to the music teachers, in his life.”—Conrad Tao, pianist and composer

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker

In Every Good Boy Does Fine, renowned pianist Jeremy Denk traces an implausible journey. His life is already a little tough as a precocious, temperamental six-year-old piano prodigy in New Jersey, and then a family meltdown forces a move to New Mexico. There, Denk must please a new taskmaster, an embittered but devoted professor, while navigating junior high school. At sixteen he escapes to college in Ohio, only to encounter a bewildering new cast of music teachers, both kind and cruel. After many humiliations and a few triumphs, he ultimately finds his way as a world-touring pianist, a MacArthur “Genius,” and a frequent performer at Carnegie Hall.

Many classical music memoirs focus on famous musicians and professional accomplishments, but this book focuses on the everyday: neighborhood teacher, high school orchestra, local conductor. There are few writers capable of so deeply illuminating the trials of artistic practice—hours of daily repetition, mystifying advice, pressure from parents and teachers. But under all this struggle is a love letter to the act of teaching.

In lively, endlessly imaginative prose, Denk dives deeply into the pieces and composers that have shaped him—Bach, Mozart, and Brahms, among others—and offers lessons on melody, harmony, and rhythm. How do melodies work? Why is harmony such a mystery to most people? Why are teachers so obsessed with the metronome?

In Every Good Boy Does Fine, Denk shares the most meaningful lessons of his life, and tries to repay a debt to his teachers. He also reminds us that we must never stop asking questions about music and its purposes: consolation, an armor against disillusionment, pure pleasure, a diversion, a refuge, and a vehicle for empathy.

©2022 Jeremy Denk (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Wildly ambitious, far exceeding the author’s modest description of it as ‘the story of piano lessons.’ . . . [Jeremy] Denk writes feelingly on the artist’s self-dramatization, the formation of a self . . . the conviction that you have something special to contribute to the appreciation of what you are performing, grasping whatever gives you the audacity to present yourself before the public. These are as much the subject of the book as its ostensible subject, piano lessons; these are life lessons.”—Simon Callow, The New York Review of Books

“Lucid and bittersweet . . . Like Bach, whose ‘Goldberg Variations’ he has recorded with great rigor and warmth, Denk knows how to spin rich counterpoint out of multiple lines. And like Mozart, who with a harmonic sleight of hand can find the sublime in mere scales, Denk knows how to make art out of ‘a love for the steps, the joys of growing and outgrowing and being outgrown.’”—The New York Times

“A boy tumbles into manhood while learning classical piano in this raucous coming-of-age memoir . . . Denk’s sparkling prose, frankness, and humor make for an indelible portrait of the musician as a bewildered kid.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Brilliant

This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. Denk is not only a brilliant pianist but also a brilliant writer. I read the book on paper and then listened to Denk’s reading. He enhances the experience with the excerpts he plays. Memorable.

The best reader, in all of audible

I’ve never heard a narrator, more expressive and impactful.. Jeremy Denk’s reading of his own book accompanied with his exceptional piano playing is transforming. I truly will listen to this again. I wished the book went on for another 600 pages.

Good but not great

I read this on the recommendation of a friend. I loved the book initially. It felt a little bogged down in the middle at times. Then, I picked up again towards the end. The ending feels a bit unresolved though. The writing is superb. Such beautiful descriptions of both life and music. But, at times it was a little boring in the details of it all. Still, I’m glad I read it.

A complete pleasure

The best book on music by a musician I have ever read. Honest and clear. Bridges the gap between performing virtuoso and ordinary music lover. Imparts major insights into the importance of the student teacher relationship with humor, sensitivity and insight. The Superb writing is a bonus.

Great book.

I’m a pianist and have taught piano for 50 years. This was the best book I’ve ever read about the difficult process of training as a musician. I loved reading about the inspiring teaching of Georgy Sebok as much as I loved the anecdotes about teaching less than sterling students. Denk is marvelous musician with a beautifully imaginative and sensitive way of talking about music. He’s also got a wonderful sense of humor! I loved this book.

Wonderful

This is an absolutely wonderful book and a terrific read by the author I recommend it for any musician and for those who love music with the understanding that a little bit of knowledge of music will help you appreciate the book that much more than if you had not that even cursory introduction to the classical side of music performance

Every Good Reader

I loved the beauty of Denk’s writing, the clarity of his processing and insight, and the joy of hearing the music coalescing with the text. Just wish there was more music!

So similar it’s scary

I’ve so far only heard Jeremy once, a few years back at UMD, and (apart from a little post-concert meet-and-greet) don’t know him personally, but I almost feel like we’re the same person after listening to this. From the early-on treacherous ability to sight-read everything really well to the (comparatively) late realization of, hey, you have a body too (and subsequent allowance of homosexual experiences), I was relating so hard to so much of this. Add to that his incredible gift for non-pretentiously philosophizing and wondering out loud about various aspects of music and life, and you have a must-listen for all musicians and even a good portion of the general public. The musical examples are beautifully chosen, and there is very little “getting into the weeds” about cerebral music stuff. Thanks, Jeremy, for this love-letter to an art form that entrances so many of us. (And, for what it’s worth, I feel like my own teacher—Leon Fleisher, whom I was happy to hear you mention a couple times—would have enjoyed it, too.)

Exemplary Audiobook!

Denk is a fine writer and I was ambivalent about choosing the audiobook version of this memoir. I went with this version because Denk himself is the reader and I knew he had an engaging voice. I didn't know beforehand that the audio version contains brief illustrative musical passages from some of the works he discusses. They're brilliantly done, not overdone, and really add richness to the stories he tells. His gift for metaphor and simile illuminate parts of the interior of his great talent.

Transcendent writing and ideas

I've never heard music described this way -- as poetry and story. Incredible to hear such an accomplished musician speak so humbly and so lovingly about an incredibly hard career.