With election day breathing down our necks and the country in all sorts of upheaval I just couldn’t not share this. Hopefully you are registered to vote, so do your part and make your voice heard. Study up on the issues and where the candidates stand on them and vote accordingly. Let’s bring about some mighty changes this November. Spread the word!
In case you were feeling a bit of letdown after so many great musical book recommendations a few weeks ago, I’ve got another one for you today. This one for the adult set. (And somehow I failed to get a picture, so thanks to Amazon for the visual.)
It is no mystery that David Byrne (creative force behind Talking Heads) is knowledgeable about the ins and outs of music. Sprinkled with terms such as “sonic landscapes” and “tonal architecture”, his book chronicles the changes in technology and culture that have aided in the evolution of music its composition, performance, and enjoyment (recordings, live concerts etc.) and Byrne’s place in it.
Half of the book holds a general history while the other half contains Byrne’s own personal experiences from his garage band days, as a part of Talking Heads and his various collaborations. These weren’t quite as interesting because I’ll admit I’m not super familiar with his albums and music so many or the songs and people were unknown to me. Confession: I skimmed these sections a bit. But I did love some of his insights and could even relate to many of his experiences.
After hearing the song ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ for the first time he said, “The world was suddenly a bigger, more mysterious, and more exciting place—all because I’d stumbled onto some recording.” (94) Oh, how many times I’ve felt that way after hearing a piece of music, sometimes even re-hearing a piece in a way I’d not heard it before. Music can open up a realm of new possibilities and ideas.
He goes on to say:
Music tells us things—social things, psychological things, physical things about how we feel and perceive our bodies—in a way that other art forms can’t. It’s sometimes in the words, but just as often the content comes from a combination of sounds, rhythms, and vocal textures that communicate, as has been said by others, in ways that bypass the reasoning centers of the brain and go straight to our emotions. (94)
Later on he waxes poetic about mixtapes, calling them “pocket-sized audio wonder cabinets.” I think this is a fabulous term! Obviously I’m a bit partial to the idea of mixtapes and think he summed it up quite nicely here:
The mixtapes we made for ourselves were musical mirrors. The sadness, anger or frustration you might be feeling at a given time could be encapsulated in the song selection. You made mixtapes that corresponded to emotional states, and they’d be available to pop into the deck when each feeling needed reinforcing or soothing. The mixtape was your friend, your psychiatrist, and your solace. (110)
The history portions were fascinating, filled with questions to ponder about the nature of music and our relationship to it (some along the lines of “if a tree falls in the wood…”) and showing that the pulse of our world is often a rousing drumbeat. Highly recommended for anyone at all interested in music.
Written by: David Byrne
Number of Pages: 352
Publisher: Three Rivers Press, 2017
Age Range: Adult
Rating: 4/5
And just for kicks…
Folk songs are some the most singable songs out there and I used a ton of them in the classroom when I was teaching. From the more patriotic “This Land is Your Land” to the silly “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain” and everything in between, the majority of these songs started out much like the spirituals being adopted and adapted by various communities and changing slightly over time. But many of them have been used to convey messages, particularly of a political nature and one of the names most synonymous with this movement is Pete Seeger.
Born in NYC in 1919, Pete was shy but had a love of music and the truth instilled in him from an early age. He protested and attended rallies for the rights of workers during the Depression. He learned to play the banjo and absorbed the folk music he heard at festivals. He dropped out of school to form a band and met Woody Guthrie who let him tag along to some of his concerts and meetings he played at across the country. And did what he could to make a difference. WWII, marriage, civil rights, and various government issues all shaped Pete and Pete shaped those things right back. His discography isn’t extensive, he only released 5 official albums in his lifetime. But his influence is incalculable. And this book does a superb job of showing both pieces of that puzzle.
Stand Up and Sing!: Pete Seeger, Folk Music, and the Path to Justice
Written by: Susanna Reich
Illustrated by: Adam Gustavson
Number of Pages: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury, 2017
Age Range: 8-12
Rating: 4/5
One of my favorite ways to get my students involved was with music. As I mentioned above I sang a lot of folk songs with them particularly. Sometimes we’d just sing a capella, sometimes with a CD accompaniment, and often with the help of a picture book. There are so many great ones out there to choose from I’ll have to dedicate a whole post to them to do it justice but I wanted to leave you with a few to get you started. And add the caveat that kids (little ones at least 🙂 don’t care if you can’t carry a tune. Be enthusiastic, sing out, and they will join in. I promise!
This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie and Kathy Jakobsen
Yankee Doodle by Mary Ann Hoberman and Nadine Bernard Westcott
The Wheels on the Bus by Jane Cabrera
Down by the Station by Will Hillenbrand
You Are My Sunshine by Dare Coulter
Down By the Bay by Raffi
Five Little Monkeys by Eileen Christelow
Oh, and so many more! Watch for a whole list to come a little later and thanks for joining me this week. I love sharing my favorite books and music with you and when those things overlap it just makes it all that much better. Happy Reading!
There probably aren’t many who aren’t familiar with the story of Joshua Bell’s social experiment in the DC metro station. I lived just outside of Washington, D.C. for many years and while I was in the area when this occurred I wasn’t a witness to the performance. I often wonder what my reaction would have been. But just in case you have no idea what I’m talking about, this book is perfect for you!
How often do we stop to really pay attention to what’s happening around us? The answer: not very often. One of the most accomplished violinists in the world decided to see what would happen if he dressed as a vagrant and played music in the busy metro station on a priceless instrument. Of the over 1,000 people who walked by only 7 stopped for more than one minute to listen. He had a little over $30 in his case when he finished. While several people seemed to want to stop they didn’t, yet every child tried to stop. This lovely little book tells the fictionalized account of a boy who was in the metro station that day but, like so many of the other children, was dragged by his mom on their way. All day long the music plays in Dylan’s head and changes how he and his mom see the world. There’s a note about Joshua Bell and how he and the experiment came to be. And a note from Joshua himself about why he does what he does.
And for those who want to know more, this same creative duo brings to life a short biography of Joshua Bell’s beginnings. In the Dance of the Violin, we see young Joshua determined to play with a real orchestra. He practices a very difficult piece in order to win a contest, but when the day of the contest arrives he makes a mistake. Instead of giving up he asks to start again and plays perfectly and blows everyone away.
There’s another author’s note with this one telling us a bit about what really happened and giving us a little more information about Joshua Bell and his amazing talent.
Written by: Kathy Stinson
Illustrated by: Dusan Petricic
Number of Pages: 32
Publisher: Annick Press, 2013
Age Range: 4-10
Rating: 4/5
Written by: Kathy Stinson
Illustrated by: Dusan Petricic
Number of Pages: 32
Publisher: Annick Press, 2017
Age Range: 4-10
Rating: 4/5
Here’s a brief clip to give you an idea of what the experiment was like though it only gives you the barest idea of his talent. Look him up and give him a listen if you’re not familiar with him. He’s one of those performers that is unmatched and indescribable.
I was raised on jazz. I am by no means a connoisseur or well-educated critic but I’ve been surrounded by the sounds from an early age and have had more than a passing exposure to some of the greats (and I’m sure I have great holes in that exposure as well.) But even in the most educated and critical of circles there aren’t many who will deny that Ella Fitzgerald was one of, if not the, best female jazz vocalists. Ever. She’s far and away my favorite and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this first book and learning more about the first lady of song.
When Ella Fitzgerald’s star was just beginning to rise she found herself (and her band) being barred from clubs and performance halls because of the color of her skin. She was about to give up when a benefactor stepped in, bargaining with the nightclub owner to book a week of performances for Ella. She promised to sit in the front row of each performance. The benefactor? Marilyn Monroe. While the two women had never met before, they became great friends and the performance run was a great success.
I absolutely love this story of friendship and standing up for what is right. Marilyn used her influence to make a difference not only for Ella and her band but for the civil rights movement at large. It just goes to show what good can come when we work together! A powerful message that is much needed in a world that seems intent on having us tear each other to pieces.
Bonus. There’s also a brief bio of each woman and a fabulous photograph of the two of them at the back.
Written and Illustrated by: Helen Hancocks
Number of Pages: 32
Publisher: Francis Lincoln Children’s Books, 2017
Age Range: 5-12
Rating: 4.5/5
My love for Frank Sinatra knows no bounds. Because of my upbringing (see above) I had very different tastes in music than all of my friends. While they had posters of N’Sync and The Backstreet Boys on their walls I had posters of Elvis, The Beatles, and a framed photograph of Frank Sinatra above my bed. I watched all his movies, I bought cheesy memorabilia, ventured to Hoboken, the works. But first and foremost I am in love with the voice.
I had decided I needed to write a kid friendly book about him, but someone beat me to it. This is the book I should have written but someone beat me to it! It’s a lovely little recap of the life of the Chairman of the Board. Covering his childhood in Hoboken, his obsession with Bing Crosby, his need to perform, his journey to New York and the recording studio and on into the movies and his influence all around the world, there’s not much they’ve missed. There’s also an author’s note, bibliography, and list of favorite songs for young listeners. And check out the sweet illustrations, and those end pages. *sigh* It’s the perfect introduction to Frank’s world.
Written by: John Seven
Illustrated by: Jana Christy
Number of Pages: 32
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2015
Age Range: 4-10
Rating: 4.5/5
I’m a sucker for brass. But I’m also quite picky about what I like to listen to (and don’t ask me to explain what…I just know it when I hear it!) Trombone Shorty is a more recent addition to my music collection. I don’t love all his stuff across the board. I much prefer his classic jazz/blues sounds to the songs that have more of the r&b bend but boy, oh boy, can he play!
He’s been nominated for a Grammy, has worked with Bo Didlely, Lenny Kravitz, Eric Clapton just to name a few, can also play the trumpet, tuba, drums, and organ, and is a published author! In this delightful autobiography he tells readers how he got his nickname and how music has influenced his life. Bryan Collier’s fabulous illustrations garnered a Caldecott honor and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award.
His second book, The 5 O’Clock Band, also illustrated by Bryan Collier was released in June of this year.
Written by: Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews
Illustrated by: Bryan Collier
Number of Pages: 32
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2015
Age Range: 5-12
Rating: 4/5
I’ll leave you with some of Trombone Shorty’s tunes to help you lose a bit of the Wednesday slumps. Enjoy!
Blues and Jazz are kissing cousins in the music world. With roots in Africa and branches stretching from New Orleans to Chicago and everywhere in between there’s a special flavor and feeling in each musician’s take depending on where they’re from, who their influences are, the year they were born and more. Since it began primarily with slaves there were a lot of local influences that stayed local for the first little while until recordings became easier and outsiders began to take notice.
Today we’re spotlighting a few of the early (but by no means earliest) pioneers of the blues and jazz music scene.
Born near the Mississippi Delta in 1915, McKinley Morganfield, was immersed in the blues from an early age. His Grandma Della had other ideas for how she wanted to him to live his life, “but Muddy was never good at doing what he was told.” Eventually he left the racially segregated south and his life as a share-cropper and migrated to Chicago where he soaked up the jazz, bebop, and blues. He fought his way to a recording contract and became influential to everyone from the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and more.
The text has chunks of rhythmic repetition interspersed with the story. The illustrations are rough, earthy, and brimming with life just like the music and musician they are portraying. There’s an author’s note, a bibliography, and further listening list for readers who want to know more.
Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters
Written by: Michael Mahin
Illustrated by: Evan Turk
Number of Pages: 32
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017
Age Range: 6-10
Rating: 4/5
Muddy Waters is one of those people you know, even if you don’t know you know them. Modern musicians continue to be inspired him or by those who were inspired by him. Here’s one of his own and one by Son House who came a bit earlier and was one of his inspirations. (Shout out to my friend Katie who introduced me to Son House several years ago. He’s become a repeat player on many a playlist in my world!)
Women didn’t always get a public voice in music outside of church settings. And they didn’t often get a chance to be leaders or headliners on their own. Lil Hardin Armstrong did it all.
Born in Memphis in 1898 she played her mother’s organ and took lessons from a young age, including playing for her local church. Her mother insisted on the classics but Lil was more influenced by W. C. Handy and other jazzy neighbors. She earned a spot as a piano player in the New Orleans Creole Jazz Band and migrated north to Chicago where she met Louis Armstrong. Together they wrote songs, played music, and formed their own band. Later she toured in Europe, designed clothing, opened a restaurant, and eventually died doing what she loved best, playing music.
Excellent back matter includes a little more about Lil, a list of songs to listen to, photographs, a timeline, author’s note, bibliography, and more. I’d heard of Lil Armstrong, knowing her as the wife of jazz great Louis Armstrong, but hadn’t realized she was a jazz great in her own right. I loved learning more about this amazing powerhouse of a woman.
Born to Swing: Lil Hardin Armstrong’s Life in Jazz
Written by: Mara Rockliff
Illustrated by: Michele Wood
Number of Pages: 32
Publisher: Calkins Creek, 2018
Age Range: 6-10
Rating: 4/5
We’ll keep on trucking through the years to another jazz legend tomorrow. Hope to see you then!
Welcome to music week, here on the ol’ blog. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of all kinds of music (my tastes run the gamut from classical to anything I can sing along with.) I’ve even spotlighted a few great picture books already and I can pretty much guarantee that I’ll share even more as time goes by. Most of what I have for you are biographies of music makers but we’ll throw in a few books based on songs or sing-along texts and books featuring instruments at the end. So, there should be something for everyone. And as always, if you’ve got favorites I fail to mention please share them in the comments so I can add them to my lists!
Let’s start off today with some rock and roll music. No discussion would be complete (or could even really get started) without mentioning the King.
In 1935 Tupelo, Mississippi was still struggling to bounce back from the Depression but despite the growing racial tensions the streets hummed with music. Elvis soaked up it all up and sang every chance he could get. He was very shy and his family moved a lot but music was his constant. As times changed he knew he had to take a chance and record the songs he’d been singing, the mix of black and white, blues, jazz and his own style. When “That’s All Right” played on the radio it became an instant sensation and a legend was born.
An author’s note tells us a bit more of Elvis’s story after finding success and there’s also a timeline of the major points of his life from birth to death. This is a great example of following your dreams despite the odds. And I don’t think I have to suggest that any readings should be paired with a few listenings as well. There is a plethora of audio and video available for all of the people I’ll be featuring this week. Listen to their songs, watch their performances (musical and otherwise), and soak in the abundant amazingness of talent!
Elvis: The Story of the Rock and Roll King
Written and Illustrated by: Bonnie Christensen
Number of Pages: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt, 2015
Age Range: 7-10
Rating: 4/5
Aside from Elvis, there probably isn’t a name more synonymous with rock and roll than the Beatles. Their influence reaches well beyond the boundaries of music to movies, pop culture, fashion, and even equal rights.
Fab Four Friends: The Boys Who Became the Beatles
Written by: Susanna Reich
Illustrated by: Adam Gustavson
Number of Pages: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt, 2015
Age Range: 7-10
Rating: 4/5
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite Elvis songs (mostly ’cause I can’t narrow down the Beatles songs to save my soul.) Did you know Elvis sold more gospel records than rock ones? This is one that always makes me tap my toes and feel like a believer.
Tune in tomorrow when we’ll go a little further back in our musical history for some blues and jazz spotlights. Happy Reading/Listening! 🙂
The world lost an amazing lady recently. I’ve been revisiting some of her music and venturing beyond some of the more well-known (to me) songs and wanted to spotlight a couple of my favorites today.
I’m so grateful for people who are blessed with talents (I’m a little lacking in that department) and for all of those that share them with the rest of us. My greatest talent may be appreciating other people’s talents…so keep sharing and making the world a better place for us, even long after you’ve left us!
God bless, Miss Franklin. Thank you for the music. <3
I tend to go through waves in my music listening. Sometimes I just put the ipod (yes, I still use my ipod!) on random and see what happens but often I’ll get in genre moods and inundate my ears with everything I have stuck in a particular grouping (my definitions and qualifications are fuzzy at best and no musicologist would be able to find much of a scientific basis for what counts as what in my world…but hey, it’s my world!) Lately I’ve been on a ‘jazzy’ kick. This means anything from Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong to Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble and even some Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson. Today’s artist of choice though is a pure classic and this song just seems to sum up how I feel right now.
What are you listening to? And what have you got on tap for the weekend? I hope the music and the plans are both fabulous! Happy Friday 🙂
Loving this fun, super summer sounding song from Vance Joy. What’s on your summer playlist?