By his own admission, Kenny Werner, the renowned the jazz pianist and author of
the musician's self-help book 'Effortless Mastery', is a reluctant learner. He
grew up in Brooklyn in an area he described as a 'cultural waste ground' and
began playing the piano from an early age. Werner was motivated mainly by a
desire to be accepted by his peer group and only practiced when forced to by his
parents or teacher.
Naturally gifted, he appeared on TV playing piano from the age of eleven and,
after completing his studies he enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music where
he quickly...