Marsalis on Music

By Wynton Marsalis

Book Overview

With an unrivaled freshness, charm, and sense of fun, Wynton Marsalis steps forward not only as a world-renowned jazz and classical performer, but as a great teacher in the tradition of Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts.

Using wonderfully appealing examples and analogies--likening the rhythmic structures of music to playing basketball or football, teaching sonata form through a story about chasing a pet hamster through a shopping mall, drawing unprecedented and revealing connections between classical music and jazz--Wynton Marsalis makes so-called "difficult" music vivid, immediately graspable, and most of all fun. The result is the perfect book for families and schools eager to give children a strong cultural foundation without boring them--no risk of that here --or for anyone who has ever felt interested in "serious" music only to be intimidated by its intricacies.

The most popular and acclaimed jazz musician and composer of his generation, Wynton Marsalis is also one of the world's leading classical trumpet virtuosos. Throughout his career he has made room for extensive work with children and students. He is co-founder and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393038815
• ISBN13: 9780393038811
• Release Date: October 1995
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.2" x 9.5"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 and higher

Customer Reviews

You Owe Your Child (and Yourself) This Book

First the book - buy the book. And as much as you'll love it, anyone under the age of 13 (the book's main target) will love it FACTOR 10. A treat for the eye with art work and photographs that make adults check the title page for a photographer (unlisted - Frank Stewart? is that you?) A treat for the mind as well. Reading Marsalis' text out loud is a fantastic elixer for verbal sophistication with vibe. An even more intense dosage (which some of us need) is found in his "Sweet Swung Blues . . ."Now, the point of this book is music theory. Can Wynton teach your child that which you - a grown man with complete power over child-proof lids - cannot understand? You know how as a little kid, you'd watch TV (say, ScoobyDoo) and the picture would be a little out of focus? Then your dad would come in and adjust the rabbit ears and - blammo! instant clarity! This is Marsalis discribing music theory. Blammo! Instant clarity!It is not as good as the videos by the same name, but it fulfills a very worthwhile endeavor of capturing both the information and presentation of these worldclass videos. The special audio CD included with the book is worth the price of the book - easily.Next - the man. Wynton Marsalis is a 20th and 21st century genius. Don't let anyone tell you differently, especially music critics(see also: non-musicians). Three minutes of hearing him play (_especially_ live - don't ever miss him live) is all the defense this paragraph needs.