Reynolds, Peter H. Playing from the Heart.

Reynolds, Peter H.  Playing from the Heart.     Candlewick Press  2016  unp.  $15.00  ISBN 978-0-7636-7892-0  all ages  Picture book  VG-BN    

Music connects the musician and the audience.  When Raj begins plunking away on the piano, the music flows from his heart to the keyboard.  His father is impressed and arranges for Raj to take music lessons. As Raj’s technical skills increase, his love of playing piano decreases.  When he graduates, Raj moves away and abandons music.  Then, many years later, when his father becomes very ill, Raj rediscovers the song that flows from his heart, when his father asks him to play music for him once more.

Reynolds’ evocative illustrations are the perfect complement to the bittersweet story.  Moving without being maudlin, this is a gentle story about the power of music to heal and to inspire.     

Summary: Raj learns the technical aspects of playing the piano, but when his father becomes ill and asks Raj to play for him, will Raj learn to play from the heart?

Music-Picture books                                   --Hilary Welliver

Harmon, Daniel E. Managing Your Band.

Harmon, Daniel E.  Managing Your Band.                  Rosen Publishing Group                 64p        $31.95  978-1-4488-5659-6    2013  ms/hs  E-BN                   series: Garage Bands     Nonfiction           

For all budding musicians, this book provides solid information for those groups that are ready to play gigs outside of the garage and family events.  The concerns that often go overlooked as young people start their music careers are fully explored, with excellent advice provided on duties, responsibilities, ownership, managers, roadies, security, insurance, money issues, and the need for advice in legal contracts and copyright issues pertaining to original and prerecorded music.  It is a must-read for all young people who envision a career performing music.  This book presents the up-and-coming band with good questions that should be discussed with all band members prior to issues arising that could tear a band apart or catch them unaware.  A glossary, list of resources for further reading, and an index complete this book, which is full of interesting color photos.  Unfortunately, quotes and statistics are not sourced in the text nor in an addendum.  

Bands, Popular music                                                                                                                            --Lois McNicol

 

Payment, Simone. Taking Your Band Online.

Payment, Simone.  Taking Your Band Online.  Rosen Publishing Group     64p  $25.00 978-1-4488-5660-2    2013  ms/hs    VG-BNS                  series: Garage Bands     Nonfiction           

This book provides an overview of marketing music via the internet.  Years ago, anyone could start a “garage band”.  Most local bands developed local followings but were rarely heard outside of their region.  Today’s new bands take advantage of internet technology to develop a following and be heard.  Bands may never play a live gig and yet have an international following. 

Savvy promoters with a little online marketing know-how can promote their group so that their band’s music is heard around the globe.  Simone Payment offers readers practical information on how to promote and distribute their music using websites, social networks, and file-sharing software, so that they can become music stars with the click of a button.

Colorful photographs in a dynamic layout are accompanied by engaging text and helpful peripherals (glossary, suggested reading lists, and an index).  The list of organizations that help young talent get started is also useful.       

Music-Internet marketing, Music-Vocational guidance                                                                   --Hilary Welliver

 

Bellstorf, Arne. Baby’s In Black.

Bellstorf, Arne.        Baby’s In Black.       Macmillan/ First Second   196p  24.99 978-1-59643-771-5 ms/hs       E-BN  Graphic nonfiction     

Stuart Sutcliffe was a very close friend of John Lennon.  Together they created a band, and in addition to being a fine art student, Stuart knew a little bit about music too.  He played bass to John’s lead guitar.  The band practiced a lot and they were getting good, but it wasn’t until Paul McCartney and George Harrison joined the group that things started move. They played in local venues where they became popular.  Then they were able to go to Germany and got hired by a local club there.  They did very well and the club's owner was making money from the group, but they lived under terrible conditions.  When they demanded a better living space the owner got back at them by alerting the authorities that George Harrison was underage, barely 16.  All the members of the group were still in their teens.  Around this time Stuart met and fell in love with Astrid Kirchherr.  When the group was deported back to England, Stuart stayed behind and wished them luck.  He began to study art seriously and he become a very good artist.  Unfortunately, he became ill, and in less than a year he was gone.

The love story of Stuart and Astrid is bittersweet.  When Stuart died he was barely out of his teens.  The story is very well illustrated and gives the reader a glimpse of how much Stuart was loved by John Lennon, who considered him a brother.                                    --Magna Diaz

Azzarelli, Ally. Justin Bieber.

Azzarelli, Ally   Justin Bieber     

 Enslow      2011  48p   23.93 978-0-7660-3873-8  

elm/ms      VG-BNes            

“Describes how Justin Bieber became a star and provides an overview of his life.”  Upper elementary and middle school students who love Justin Bieber will appreciate this new biography on his life and how he became famous.  Students will discover how Justin got his start in the music business, as well as his upbringing in Canada.  Justin used YouTube to show the world his talents in hopes of being discovered.  Since Justin had many talents including vocals, drums, and guitar, he was able to showcase all of his best skills.  When Justin’s videos began to accumulate millions of views, future managers knew that a star was in the making.  Justin’s talent got him not only a manager, but he was able to secure a record deal.  In order to be near Usher and his manager, Justin and his mother moved to Atlanta, Georgia.  With girls worldwide being a big fan, Justin is now a pop star who has millions of fans.  The author presents an entire chapter on how he gives back to charity, including helping to feed the hungry, helped raise money for the earthquake victims of Haiti, assisted with American Idol to help raise money for different causes, and helped to raise money for the cleanup efforts from the gulf oil spill.  Even though Justin stays busy, he wants to remain grounded and stay true to his roots.

Includes great color photographs, a timeline of events, recommended books, DVDs, and Internet addresses, a discography, a glossary of terms, and an index.    Hot Celebrity Biographies (Enslow)  Each title in this series features biographies of people "in the moment" and are great for beginning and reluctant readers. Fifteen biographies are published so far including one for Johnny Depp, Hilary Duff, Daniel Radcliffe, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, and others.  Charleen Forba-Mayer
  
 

Adoff, Arnold. Roots and Blues.

Adoff, Arnold     Roots and Blues    

Clarion see Houghton Mifflin  2011  86p   17.99 978-0-547-23554-7  

elm/ms      E-BN        

 “ Lyrical text explores how Blues have been part of everyday life throughout history, from its origins in the sounds of the earth, through slaves' voices singing of freedom, to today's greatest performers--and listeners.”     

Upper elementary and middle school students who enjoy poetry will love (once they get used to the different format)  this new title by Arnold Adoff featuring sixty poems on a variety of topics around the history and culture of blues music.  Adoff’s presentation of poems is not in the usual poetic form, rather in his own style of shaped speech.  The shaped speech is rather unusual and the text placement has gaps, which help indicate pause.  These poems trace the history of blues music, from traveling on slave ships through plantations to chain gangs, and sharecroppers.  The poems are telling a story in a sequence, or in a chronological order with many “Listen” poems which help describe the sounds of the place and time. The “Singing” pages help engulf readers into the poems and story. 

Illustrated with beautiful color paintings by R. Gregory Christie, readers will gain an insight into the what times may have looked like in their eyes.  Students are introduced to several blues performers including Bessie Smith, Lonnie Johnson, Son House, Charlie Patton, and others. Blues (Music) Poetry.      Charleen Forba-Mayer

Enslow, Anne & Ridley Enslow When Johnny Comes Marching Home.

Enslow, Anne & Ridley Enslow When Johnny Comes Marching Home.
Enslow 2011 28p 23.93
978-0-7660-3635-2
Music of America's History(Enslow) Excellent

This is a collection of songs written and created during the Civil War, by both sides of the conflict, and recorded by modern artists, including members of the Enslow family.
This labor of love is excellent ... a collection of songs reflecting the heartbreak, passion, dedication and bravery of people on both sides of the Civil War. The quality of the songs and the artistry with which they are performed are excellent. There is a tiny booklet that accompanies the CD, and there is also further information on the music of the Civil War on the Enslow website. A must-buy for classes studying the Civil War in any depth. This is recomm.ended for collections serving Civil War buffs and classes studying the Civil War. Kennedy, Carol

Wesselhoeft, Conrad. Adios, Nirvana.

Wesselhoeft, Conrad Adios, Nirvana
Houghton Mifflin/Clarion/Graphia/Kingfisher 2010 235p 16.00 978-0-547-36895-5 jr/sr Death - Friendship E-BN


Jonathan has talent. He is a poet and he can play his guitar but he is missing his other half, his twin brother who died tragically. Now Jonathan has to find where he fits in and try to move on even if it means leaving behind his past. Fortunately, people are looking out for Jonathan all he has to do is take the challenge. A gifted poet, Jonathan won the top prize and is now considered a registered poet but at school is just another student. He is not a bad student but after his brother's death, Jonathan finds it hard to find meaning in life. His twin brother was a leader and on his way to becoming a great musician when tragedy struck. Now doing a solo Jonathan is having a hard time moving on. After winning the prize for poetry and becoming a recognized poet Jonathan is faced with new challenges and a possibility of rediscovering himself without his twin brother. The question is will he meet the challenges head on or will he stay in a past that is no longer his to claim?
A story of coming of age and facing life even when it kicks you in the face. Very well told with a lot of guy moments with guitars, writing lyrics and poetry with a little romance thrown it. The side story of helping an old man write history as it happened to him helps the character find a the healing piece missing in the character's life.
I found the writing very poetic. I especially enjoyed the part when the author describes the teacher from India, Ms. Gupti. There is a confrontation between her and Jonathan; the author write: "Gupti glares. The Monsoons of India darken her eyes". And then when the student agrees to her terms, the author describes it as ╥ The storm blows away. The sun burst over Calcutta╙. I loved it!! Realistic Fiction Diaz, Magna

Bowe, Brian J. The Clash

Bowe, Brian J. The Clash
Enslow 2010 112p 31.93
978-0-7660-3232-3 ms/hs E-BN
Rebels of Rock (Enslow)
Punk rockers “The Clash” changed music history. Their lives, the people who influenced them, the history of the band and the political statements they made with their music are dynamically presented. Numerous quotes give immediacy. Grades 7+ Just as rock music changed the course of music history in the 1950s and 1960s, punk rockers changed the course of music history in the 1970s and 1980s. The Clash, an English band, was a prime mover in the punk rock scene. Their lives, people who influenced them, the formation of the band and their political statements through their music are all chronicled in dynamic terms. Numerous quotes give an immediacy to the telling and make the book seem more like an interview than a staid recounting of the group’s history. Political events in England that influenced their music and allowed their music to change over their fifteen year history included the influence of reggae and African rhythms into their music. The drug influence is glossed over but still a potent force in the dissolution of their band. Colorful photos show the band in their youth and follow through to their induction into the Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame. A timeline, discography, glossary, numerous source notes for the quotes, index and further reading complete the book. Sure to be a great source for reports as well as pleasure reading for rebellious youth who admire the antiestablishment attitudes expressed by The Clash. Grades 7-12. Recommended wherever punk music is appreciated. The dynamic telling of the founding of the group, their political statements through music and their sheer joy of communicating through music will appeal to all young rebels wanting to be in a band. McNicol(3),Lois
Punk Rock Musicians

Higgins, Dalton. Hip Hop World.

Higgins, Dalton. Hip Hop World.
Groundwood see Douglas McIntyre 2009 144p 18.95 978-0-88899-910-8 hs
Groundwork Guide

This overview of the hip hop rap culture takes an international stance as it examines the history, effects, and social issues that the music addresses. Higgins, a writer and critic of popular media, has written an overview of the hip hop rap scene of today as it relates to the past and the future of the culture of this music. He is Canadian but takes an international stance as he examines the history, the effects, and the social issues that the music addresses. Higgins discusses where the music came from, where it is today, how it works, and where it is going. Subjects that are tackled include: racism, sexism, classism, the use of the “n” word, and drugs. The writing is not just reporting about the world of hip hop, but is a critical introduction to the music that offers opinions about this growing and controversial music. There is an immediacy to the writing that puts forward an original perspective on the music. At the end of the book, there is a Hip Hop Timeline encompassing the time between the birth of rap up to 2009. Extensive notes and an index complete this book. This title will be an excellent addition to high school libraries as it offers a unique point of view about a topic that interests many teen readers. Recommended for Books of Note. Tina Weinraub

A Musical Journey in the footsteps of Lewis & Clark by Anne and Ridley Enslow

Enslow, Anne and Ridley. A Musical Journey in the footsteps of Lewis & Clark.
Enslow, 2008, 128p, $31.93, 978-0-7660-3288-0.

In the introduction to this unique musical journey, Professor Gary Mouton states that while Lewis & Clark and their entourage have been studied and applauded for their accomplishments, “the story of the party’s music has remained largely an unexplored landscape.” By using music of the era, including Mandan music, as well as earlier music that the Corps would have been familiar with, students can appreciate the role of music as part of the expedition. The Corps members themselves, in their journals, noted that music was a form of entertainment. Many students are familiar with primary source documents but perhaps do not realize that music itself is a primary source. In addition to the cd containing thirty selections, the authors have provided a teacher’s guide that provides activities and connections to music, American history and English curriculums. The cd is also accompanied by a detailed booklet with color photographs, maps, chapter notes and side bars, that relates the musical selection to a specific event or timeline of the expedition, and provides excellent background information for the teacher to present and use the selections in class. Lyrics to some of the songs are included. The musicians have recreated the period music with intensity and meticulous attention to detail. Listening to the music that was part of the lives of the intrepid expedition may help students musically experience the joys and tragedies of the expedition.
Discusses the role of music in the 1804-06 expedition led by Lewis & Clark, and provides examples of music, including lyrics, common at the time. RZ