Howard Smith

Praise for Note For Note: Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered:

‘A truly inspirational odyssey. The author’s musical journey will motivate and encourage everyone – his determination and disciplined long term endeavours in music make for a compelling, unique read.’ Murray McLachlan, Concert Pianist & Educator, Head of Keyboard, Chetham’s School of Music

‘A unique insight into how journeying into music can enhance and transform our lives in ways we had perhaps never imagined. The distinctive blend of biography with music theory takes the reader on unexpected twists and turns as Howard’s story unfolds, and his musical adventure intertwines with daily life. Note For Note is hugely captivating, touching and inspiring – a must-read for anyone who has dabbled with taking up music.’ Victoria Williams, MyMusicTheory, LmusTCL, BA (Hons)

‘Highly recommended. Will resonate with all those who understand the compulsion to play or improvise music, the psychological need this fills, and the exhilaration felt when practice is rewarded by an audience’s response to an amateur’s performance. A brutally honest personal testimony of a human experience that enriches life via the intimate physical act of working with a musical instrument.’ Marie McKavanagh, Amateur Pianist, LTCL & Performing Arts Clinician BAPAM

‘Could this be the next Play It Again? Written by an amateur pianist for amateur pianists, Howard Smith lays out the landscape, signposts and challenge of coming to music as a mature adult. His “late returner” story will provide a sense of relief that no one need be on their own and that it is never too late.’ Ophelia Gordon, Pianist & Music Teacher, B.Mus (Hons), ATCL, LTCL

‘Uplifting. I suspect this engaging tale will be appreciated by pianists and songwriters alike. His joy, frustration and love for music and musicians come across strongly. The author brings a refreshingly scientific inquisition to the challenge of switching tracks in later life and learning a complex art. His theory experiments had me jumping to the piano on numerous occasions!’ Rob Foster, Piano Teacher, DipLCM, London Piano Meetup Group

‘A powerful message. Not only is the record of the author’s adventures on the musical escalator entertaining and affecting but I absorbed a good deal of sage wisdom along the way.’ Martin Ouvry, Writer & Musician

‘In this candid and informative account, Howard Smith captures the excitement and frustrations, pleasures and practicalities of taking up the piano as an adult. Howard’s fable is sure to resonate with other adult amateur musicians – and teachers too. His book provides important support to those considering embarking on a similar journey as well as to those who are already fully committed to it.’ Frances Wilson, pianist, writer and blogger on classical music and pianism as ‘The Cross-Eyed Pianist’

About the author:

Howard Smith (1957-) was born in England and grew up in Kent. An internationally recognised technologist and consultant, he wrote his first computer program at the age of fourteen and built his first microprocessing system before entering university to study physics. These teenage experiments in software engineering, long before computers were widely available in society, he cites as the primary reason for a successful career. In 2002, Smith was appointed chief technology officer at a large international computer services & consulting firm, a role he held for eleven years. Later appointed as global director of innovation, his work heralded a shift in systems implementation towards ‘process’ at the centre of agile development and organisational change. His landmark book (2003) explaining these developments, Business Process Management: The Third Wave, generated over three hundred articles in the IT industry media, was an Amazon #1 best seller in five categories, reached the top 200 of all books (including fiction) and was featured in the Harvard Business Review.

In 2017, Howard Smith decided to leave the computer industry he loved to pursue a new life in music. His latest book, Note For Note: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, tells the inspirational story of how he navigated his transition from the bits and bytes of the computer industry to the world of melody, harmony and musical performance.

Howard lives in Surrey, England, with his wife.