GUITAR ZERO

Old dogs and new tricks supposedly mix terribly. In GUITAR ZERO, which Penguin Press publishes in January 2012, Gary Marcus, the Director of the NYU Center for Child Language, a man of no discernable musical proclivities, debunks this old myth by becoming his own guinea pig in GUITAR ZERO. His quest: to create musical talent from scratch.

After an all night session of the video game Guitar Hero, Marcus devotes himself to mastering the actual guitar. In his search, Marcus examines the tools the brain employs to learn to play an instrument and investigates the most effective way to sharpen those tools. While he devotes himself to learning guitar and bass, he tackles the larger questions about the relationship between human beings and music, as well as the capacity to develop new talents and grow. Is there such a thing as a musically talented brain? Are there really "critical learning periods" for acquiring new skills, and is it true that we can never learn anything afterwards? Is there an instinct for music? What does music share with language? With Beethoven and The Beatles at arm's reach, why are many of us still instinctively drawn to making our own music, and what is the connection between music and a life well-lived? Along the way, Marcus leads the reader on a guided tour of scientific and musical experts, including Pat Metheny, Tom Morello, Lenny Kaye, and Terre Roche, to test theories, question received wisdoms, and share their passion for music. Now an expert guitarist who has played in concert and on a studio album, Marcus beautifully evokes the complex dance between the brain, the body, and musicality. A study of musicianship, it is also an inspirational call to arms for teachers and students and a balm for anyone who has been too intimidated to take on a new challenge past the age of thirteen. Gary Marcus is a Professor of Psychology at New York University, and Director of the NYU Center for Child Language. He has published extensively on the nature and origins of human cognition and language. He is also the editor of the Norton Psychology Reader and has frequently written articles for Wired, Discover, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. Marcus received his PhD from MIT, at the age of 23, under the direction of Steven Pinker. His most recent book, Kluge, was a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice.