Blues Improv

Herman Hesse

Herman Hesse is a prototype author for young writers to study and emulate in developing their own style. He created three masterpieces - Damian, Siddhartha and Steppenwolf - that are well worth studying and outling to learn how to create characters, set the scene and present a plot that is both exciting and believable.

Siddhartha

"But this man, Siddhartha, was not a follower of any but his own soul..." Born the son of a Brahmin, Siddhartha was blessed in appearance, intelligence and charisma. In order to find meaning in life, he discarded his promising future for the life of a wandering ascetic.

Sounds like Siddhartha could have been a blues musician... At one point in the book, he says there are three things he can do - "I can pray, I can wait and I can fast" - that every musician is forced to learn to make a career in music and stay true to his art. The same goes for writers, painters, poets, etc.

Damian

Damian tells the story of a boy coming of age as a troubled German youth prior to WWI. It's imagery and plot have been the inspiration for countless songs, whether the composers read the book or not. If you fancy yourself a songwriter, this book will get your juices flowing.

Steppenwolf

With its blend of Eastern mysticism and Western culture, Hesse’s best-known and most autobiographical work is one of literature’s most poetic evocations of the soul’s journey to liberation. In plain English, it means this book was like getting stoned to its readers. A toned down version of "Tune In, Turn On and Drop Out."

By Johnny Mayer.

Eric Clapton