Reviews ofbooksy videos, software and music

for the professional music teacher

The book is divided into eight

Books groupings: Music Terminology Games;
Instrument Games; Singing Games;
99 New Musical Games, for Music Dancing and Movement Games;
Groups of All Ages, w/CD, by Bonnie Gomposers, Gomposidons, and Music
J. Krueger. Heritage Music Press, 2009. Genre Games; Melody and Rhythm
ivww.lorenz.com; (800) 444-1144, ext. Games; Listening Games; and Review
l;48pp. $16.95 Games. A GD with musical examples
Through the years, I have learned and data files that can be opened with
that we do not learn best by senseless Adobe Reader is included.
repetition, but by manipulation, analo- There is a nice balance of active and
gy, organizing and doing things in dif- passive activities. Some of the games
ferent ways; in other words, by making are drills disguised in a more pleasing,
it frin. playful manner. Many reinforce listen-
With this newest volume of musical ing skills, like those connecting musi-
games that Bonnie Krueger has pub- cal instruments with their sounds. 1
lished with Heritage Press, she demon- particularly like the games that encour-
strates once again her understanding of age creativity (composition and
the value of play to successfial learning. improvisation) and are interdiscipli- Another otnission involves the game "At
While her target audience is the class- nary (incorporating writing or debate, the Hop." The teacher is asked to teach
room music teacher, some of the activ- for example). classic dances from the early rock era,
ities can be used by an IMT in It would have been nice to include but there is no listed source of instruc-
individual or group lessons and by a more reproducible files on GD. For tions for how to do these dances.
fc^eneral classroom teacher in an inter- example, note cards for "Sea of I would have liked an indication of
disciplinary approach to the arts. Discord" could have been added. the targeted grade level and the musical
lesson before reading the game. I did
^ The items marked with this symbol can be ordered via the MTNA web- not understand the educational value
site through our affiliation with Amazon.com. Go to www.mtna.org and of some games, and there were some
choose Member Services from the Membership option in the main menu bar games with seemingly incompatible
for more information. value versus time required. An explana-
tion might have helped. However, there
AMRRICAN MUSIC TEACHER

October 8-11,2010
Oosing date for entry: August 16, 2010
Semifinals and Finals: October 8-10, 2010
Medals, cash awards, diplomas
Gala concluding concert: October 11, 2010
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E-mail: TureckBach^aol.com
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Hilton Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
For more information call 1-888-378-9854
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Yellow Cat Music Education
Make ycmused.com 'your musical
place to share, care
<^^d learn about
*. \ all things piano!
f DAVID
46
were enough ideas and activities
included to make this a valuable teach-
ing tool. —Reviewed by Sharon Kaplan,
NCTM, Minneapolis, Minnesota
"^ The Savvy Musician: Building a
Career, Earning a Living, & Making a
Difference, by David Cutler. Helius
Press, 2009. www.atlasbooks.com; (800)
247-6553; 368 pp. $19.99.
Many young musicians considering
a musical career have probably heard
these words: "How can you make a
decent living in music"? Thankfully,
The Savvy Musician has arrived to offer
positive guidance for those gifted
musicians who are passionate about
following their dreams.
The introduction states: "Being tal-
ented is wonderful, but technical skills
alone do not assure a successful life in
this business! SAVVY musicians have a
huge advantage, and it's no mystery
why." David Cutler proceeds to guide
the reader through many suggestions
for success.
Working musicians juggle many
jobs. The information Cutler presents
is current, timely and much needed
not only for musicians beginning their
careers, but also for musicians of all
levels striving for new ways of making
a living in today's changing world. His
presentation is positive, challenging
and loaded with relevant information.
Cutler presents helpful ideas and
models for solid business practices and
honing people skills. Identifying and
luitomc t ( t t d i i .
1 LIVINC. I NKKING k DlirtRINCE
CUTLiR
APRIL/MAY 2010
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