In The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, Mitch Albom chooses Music to narrate the life of Frankie Presto. We begin by finding ourselves at Frankie's funeral, his death surrounded by mystery and intrigue. As the book transitions between funeral-goers and their stories of knowing Frankie to Music's telling of Frankie's life, the reader gets an …
Category: Books of the Month
Book of the Month: June 2021
On any given day, it’s easier to deal with what’s at hand rather than have a larger-than-self attitude. Today’s problems often either consume us or shut us down. But in a world where the everyday, mundane, and overwhelming seem like all there is, reading can offer us a fresh glance at the bigger picture. So …
Book of the Month: May 2021
I don't feel that I can properly convey my excitement about sharing these books with you each month. It may be because I am an avid reader at heart. It might also be because I love music. And when you put two of my loves together, I get downright giddy 😉 My excitement could also …
Book of the Month: April 2021
This month's book was published late 2020, and has already become a favorite of mine! It's complete title is Music and How it Works: The Complete Guide for Kids - published by DK publishing. This month though, I'm including it as both the student and teacher book recommendation. Why? Because I enjoyed looking through this …
Book of the Month: March 2021
As I write, it is one of those perfectly rainy days. I don't want to be outside - it's wet and cold. And the mood just screams that I should grab what I'm reading, find a cozy chair, and curl up for the afternoon. Growing up everyone thought I was so strange for liking raining …
Book of the Month: February 2021
In my humble opinion, this month's book recommendations are GOLD. Walt Disney says it best in this regard though. "There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates loot on treasure island." If you value learning and reading, and share this with your students, they are more likely to value it and find …
Encouraging a Musical Home Environment
How often do you have a parent accompany a new student and announce that they’ve never played an instrument? If your studio is anything like mine, this happens all the time. How often do you request a parent get involved in their child’s practice – only to be met with shrugs and looks of helplessness. …
Book of the Month: January 2021
2021 came in rather unenthusiastically, but I hope you took the time to sit and think through some goals (maybe more based on the season we are in and less specific, but still goals). As I contemplated where I hope to grow this year, one goal I set for myself is to read 50 books. …
