Smart and savvy high school junior Melissa Jensen is unprepared when life takes a turn for the seemingly tragic: her father accepts a teaching assignment in a small town in the Midwest, far from her home and friends (and bagels) in New York City. She's too old to throw a tantrum, and her father's offer of letting her live in New York with her grandparents is simply not an option. No way will she follow their strict Orthodox Jewish rules when her own parents didn't even make her go to Hebrew school. Melissa's reluctant arrival in Henryville brings some surprises. To her amazement the college town offers more than she ever anticipated, including a fantastic school orchestra and the chance to star in the school play, not to mention her immediate popularity with the "coolest kids in school." And then there's Daniel Goodman, the remarkable boy who shares Melissa's passion for acting and playing the violin. Everything seems too good to be true, until Melissa comes across something she has never experienced before--antisemitism. No one in the school suspects she is Jewish, but when Daniel is taunted by a bigoted schoolmate, Melissa must make a decision. Her choice to speak out should be clear-cut, but life is never that simple. The Violin Players examines the price we pay when bigotry is met with silence.
GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK! • Ray McMillian is a Black classical musician on the rise—undeterred by the pressure and prejudice of the classical music world—when a shocking theft sends him on a desperate quest to recover his great-great-grandfather’s heirloom violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world. “I loved The Violin Conspiracy for exactly the same reasons I loved The Queen’s Gambit: a surprising, beautifully rendered underdog hero I cared about deeply and a fascinating, cutthroat world I knew nothing about—in this case, classical music.” —Chris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and Hour of the Witch Growing up Black in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian’s life is already mapped out. But Ray has a gift and a dream—he’s determined to become a world-class professional violinist, and nothing will stand in his way. Not his mother, who wants him to stop making such a racket; not the fact that he can’t afford a violin suitable to his talents; not even the racism inherent in the world of classical music. When he discovers that his beat-up, family fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, all his dreams suddenly seem within reach, and together, Ray and his violin take the world by storm. But on the eve of the renowned and cutthroat Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music—the violin is stolen, a ransom note for five million dollars left in its place. Without it, Ray feels like he's lost a piece of himself. As the competition approaches, Ray must not only reclaim his precious violin, but prove to himself—and the world—that no matter the outcome, there has always been a truly great musician within him.
Drawing on twenty years of teaching experience, author Mark Rush systematically builds the fundamentals of violin playing from the ground up. The book focuses on proper setup from how to stand, to holding the violin, to the best way to move the bow. These are fundamental components necessary for success and the earlier these good habits are established the better.
An in depth study of the most superlative violin performers and teachers in history. The result of more than eleven years of deep investigation on the subject, this New History is by far the best available in the 21st century. It studies specifically the vibrato and its evolution. A study of the main violin schools of the world, with special emphasis in their evolution, and the direct conexión teacher-pupil. In the course of this history we will see how the great performers became, often, the great masters of new great violinists, who, in their turn, became the teachers of new superlative performers, and so on, in an uninterrupted chain of teacher-pupil intercommunication, the interrelation of whom is carefully studied, to higlight the evolution of the main violin playing schools. For each violinist we give a list of all the valuable instruments they owned and played, i.e. Stradivarius, Guarneri del Gesu, etc.. Such a complete and interesting information is not available in any other history. Contains a list of cassettes we have gathered for the better understanding of our players. Designed to be easily read by everyone, it has not complicated esoteric terms, but is written in plain words that everybody will understand. There is no need to be a professional musican to enjoy it. All you need to be is a music lover. But the main novelty is the sensational discovery of the real founder of the modern-vibrato violin school, with all kind of evidence, even written authentic letters that attest to it. This violinst is unknown in the present time. Contains very useful graphs of all the main schools, for an easy understanding of their evolution. Contains an encyclopaedia of all terms and names of the book that are not sufficently explained in it. Here the reader will be acquainted with the meaning of many musical terms that, although well know to musicians, are not so much known to others, who not being musicians, are, nevertheless, music lovers. But the encyclopaedia contains much more than that: men of letters, politicians, personalities, singers, pianists, composers, painters, etc. are duly explained in it. Done with loving care it sometimes surpasses its parent the book. Contains five sensational, unpublished, autographed letters by Kreisler, that will make readers tremble, plus the contentent of many other unpublished ones, by the most important musicians of the second half of the XIX century. Contains a series of very captivating collateral disquisitions on Modern abstract art; composer versus interpreter; the use of ornamentation; the easiness to reed music; Ingres and his violi; lisztomania and others. In a word, this "New history" is new because: It studies in depth the vibrato and its evolution. Links teachers to pupils, who become teacher in their turn, in a comprehensive general outlook of schools' evolution. It provides us with the list of all the valuable instruments of all our fiddlers. Contains a list of recommended cassettes, as musical examples. Easy to understand by every one, it avoids esoteric, pedantic terminology, and is written in plain laguage. It discovers, for the first time in history, the true founder of the vibrato, with all sort of evidence. With useful graphs of the main schools. Contains an encyclopaedia, which no other book of the genre has. The autographed unpublished letters of Kreisler will give the creeps to the reader. Contains a series of disquisitions on ornamentations; easiness to read music; composer versus interpreter; abstracat art; Ingres and his violin; Lisztomania and others, plus abundant, moving, anecdotes that distract and relax the attention of the reader.
(Fake Book). This fourth edition features even more Disney favorites, including hits from their most recent movie and television releases. 240 songs in all, including: The Bare Necessities * Be Our Guest * Beauty and the Beast * Can You Feel the Love Tonight * Circle of Life * The Climb * Colors of the Wind * Do You Want to Build a Snowman? * A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes * For the First Time in Forever * Go the Distance * Happy Working Song * He's a Pirate * How Do You Know? * I See the Light * Immortals * King of New York * Lava * Let It Go * The Parent Trap * Part of Your World * A Pirate's Life * Reflection * Seize the Day * Some Day My Prince Will Come * True Love's Kiss * Under the Sea * When I See an Elephant Fly * When She Loved Me * When Will My Life Begin? * When You Wish Upon a Star * A Whole New World * Winnie the Pooh * Written in the Stars * You Are the Music in Me * You'll Be in My Heart * Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah * and many more.
Susie Dantzig presents a new and clever approach to learning to play the violin that is unlike any other instructional manual. Using wit, wisdom, and charm, Susie Dantzig introduces us to Val the Violin, an engaging leader for young, budding musicians who are beginning to explore their hidden talents. The author's unique teaching method introduces students to reading music as well as playing techniques. An introductory guide incorporates images and photographs to help new players identify parts of the violin, learn how to hold the violin and bow, and understand musical symbols. Val the Violin guides students in studying the violin, starting with the lowest note, the open G, and progressing in a logical, step by step fashion through the highest string, the E string. Basic music theory concepts that are difficult to grasp, such as notes and tempo, are presented in a simple and whimsical style that is relatable and easily understood by young children. Fun facts and tips are included throughout each lesson, which ends with exercises that incorporate fun, popular songs. The book is structured so that the student learns one lesson each week and practices the exercises in that lesson 30 minutes each day. Val guides the student through each lesson with assistance from a parent or teacher. If the student is unable to practice during the week or is unable to move on to the next lesson, previous lessons can be reviewed and repeated. The author wrote this book with over 10 years of experience teaching private lessons to children as young as 2 years old. In those years of teaching, the author witnessed a lack of material geared for young children, especially material that teaches the student to read music as well as play. Consequently, the author developed methods to successfully teach these young students to do just that, as well as teach them concepts that she wished her teachers taught her. This book is meant to instruct pre-school and early elementary school aged children the basics of the violin and music theory. In addition to teaching students how to play the violin and basic music theory, Val the Violin is also a valuable resource that students can revisit for reference as they become more advanced musicians. The author includes a helpful reference guide that teaches the students how to figure out the key signature of a piece of music, a page of simple scales, and a glossary of all of the musical terms, symbols, and concepts introduced in each of the lessons. Always remember, music is a lifelong activity and this book provides a strong foundation for children as they embark on their musical journeys.
*A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK* 'Utterly enthralling - a beautifully-written voyage of discovery that takes us deep into the heart of music-making' Deborah Moggach From the moment she hears Lev's violin for the first time, Helena Attlee is captivated. She is told that it is an Italian instrument, named after its former Russian owner. Eager to discover all she can about its ancestry and the stories contained within its delicate wooden body, she sets out for Cremona, birthplace of the Italian violin. This is the beginning of a beguiling journey whose end she could never have anticipated. Making its way from dusty workshops, through Alpine forests, cool Venetian churches, glittering Florentine courts, and far-flung Russian flea markets, Lev's Violin takes us from the heart of Italian culture to its very furthest reaches. Its story of luthiers and scientists, princes and orphans, musicians, composers, travellers and raconteurs swells to a poignant meditation on the power of objects, stories and music to shape individual lives and to craft entire cultures.
Are you a violin teacher, player, or parent of a new player? Would you like to know something about how violins work, and figure out what's wrong with them when they don't? Then this book is for you. I will walk you through the vocabulary you need to be able to talk knowledgeably with a luthier, teach you about maintenance, and provide you with tips to keep your instrument functioning well. Violins are great, but best when they work. If your violin needs help, start diagnosing what to do here.
