The Young Musician's Survival Guide: Tips from Teens and Pros

by Amy Nathan

Overview

Learning to play an instrument can be fun and, at times, frustrating. This lively, accessible book helps young people cope with the difficulties involved in learning a new instrument and remaining dedicated to playing and practicing. Teens from renowned music programs - including the Juilliard School's Pre-College Program and Boston University's Tanglewood Institute - join pro musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Paula Robison, and James Galway in offering practical answers to questions from what instrument to play to where the musical road may lead. In this revised and expanded edition, Amy Nathan has updated the book to address today's more technologically-minded young musician. Expanded sections cover the various ways students can use technology to assist in mastering an instrument and in making practice time more productive, from using the Internet to download pieces to be learned and playing along with downloaded tunes to practicing with computer-based practice programs, CDs, and videos/DVDs of musical performances. She also addresses concerns of young composers and conductors, two groups not mentioned in the original edition. The book's updated Resource Guide suggests where to get additional help, both online and off.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199887897
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/24/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Amy Nathan is the award-winning author of several books for young people, including Meet the Musicians, Meet the Dancers, Count on Us, and Yankee Doodle Gals. A Harvard graduate with master's degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Columbia Teacher's College, she is an ever-struggling piano student and has two musical sons: one a composer and a trumpter, the other a saxophone-playing government major.

Table of Contents

Foreword1. Tune In2. Picking and Switching3. The Time Squeeze4. Boring-Practice Blues5. Woodshedding Basics6. The Jitters7. The Peer Scene8. Teacher Talk9. Gear Up10. Play OnGlossaryResource GuideAbout the Troupe of AdvisorsIndex

Editorial Reviews

Gr 5-8-Topics ranging from the technical to practice tips, from dealing with difficult teachers, conductors, or peers to balancing music with other aspects of life are discussed in this thorough work. Nathan combines advice from teenagers with that of well-known professionals as she focuses on concerns that are common to most musicians. Pointers are given on how to make practicing less boring, how to select or change a teacher, and how to hunt for a good instrument. Through the carefully organized chapters, young performers will discover that the frustrations and fears they experience are not unique. Numerous black-and-white photos of varying size and quality depict artists of disparate ages and degrees of renown. The guide is geared to those who dream of a professional future in the field as well as to those for whom music will remain a hobby. There is an encouraging but honest tone throughout.-Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

School Library Journal

Reviews of the first edition:
"How do young people cope with the demands of a life in music? For thoughts on this, Amy Nathan has turned to a variety of helpful sources. This revised and expanded edition adds new sections on the ways in which technology can assist in the process of mastering an instrument; it also addresses the special concerns of young composers and conductors."— Teaching Music

"What a great book to have in a studio or rehearsal room, just waiting for young musicians to pick up and explore. Fascinating bits of advice from both professionals and student musicians fill every page." —American Music Teacher

". . . filled with practical advice about how to find time to practice, how to calm down before playing in public, and how to handle that chatterbox who sits behind you at rehearsal." —The New York Times

". . . young performers will discover that the frustrations and fears they experience are not unique. . . . The guide is geared to those who dream of a professional future in the field as well as to those for whom music will remain a hobby." —School Library Journal

"From choosing an instrument to practicing regularly to learning the rules of ensemble etiquette, this guide is packed with useful suggestions and enthusiasm for music." —Publishers Weekly

"Nathan provides advice for teen musicians on topics such as choosing an instrument, finding time to practice, handling performance jitters, and dealing with others in the band or orchestra. . . . a unique and potentially useful resource." —Booklist

"Amy Nathan has provided a unique resource for the young instrumentalist." —Leonard Slatkin, National Symphony

"She even talked to pianist/basketball star David Robinson about conflicts between excellence in sports and music." —Dallas Morning News

"It is a book that every single school . . .should have." —St. Augustine Record

"Handy survival guide. Recently out in paperback is a book that should prove useful for any young, struggling instrumentalist. ...There's a lot of sensible advice on choosing or switching instruments, practicing, getting over concert nerves, keeping music in your life even if you decide not to be a professional musician, etc. Nathan presents the material in a manner that is neither simplistic nor condescending, drawing on interviews with teenage players and some stellar musicians. ...Talk about sound advice." —Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun

" ... like sitting down for a heart-to-heart with a caring music teacher." —The Book Report

From the Publisher