What do you think?
Rate this book
Learn to Speak Music: A Guide to Creating, Performing, and Promoting Your Songs
For something so familiar, music can be a giant mystery, to the point where musicians seem more like magicians than everyday people. In fact, anyone can make and share music. Computers come with recording programs, and anyone can post their own music to websites like MySpace and YouTube. All that's needed is a little know-how. Learn to Speak Music helps young readers learn this universal language by revealing every nook and cranny of how it's made. Rather than just a guide to instruments and theory, it explores every aspect of the pop music world, from songwriting and artwork to promotion and setting up a practice space. Author John Crossingham, a veteran of the indie rock scene, brings in the expert opinions of other musicians to give insider's advice on choosing and buying an instrument, finding the right bandmates, setting up gigs, overcoming stage fright, emulating high-priced studio techniques at home, and much more. Also featured is a guide to shooting a music video from MTVA-nominated director Christopher Mills.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
30 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 27, 2022
This was a perfect introductory book for getting into the music business. It gives some great examples of some equipment you may need and was very visually pleasing to look at. Would recommend it to those who want to get into the music business or learn the basics of setting up a band.
May 17, 2011
Crossingham, Jeff. Illustrations and design by Jeff Kulak. Learn to Speak Music. 96 pages. OwlKids Books. 2009. Pbk. ISBN: 978-1-87349-65-6. Includes: index.
Five stars: *****
Learn to Speak Music cranks up the amps from beginning to end as Crossingham and Kulak introduce the jazz-hip-yah-man-that’s-the-stuff feel to a whole new generation of artists. With its so-retro-its-hip design and references to artists like Feist, the intended audience of elementary school/middle school kids will believe their curiosity about music is very cool. The book is timely with mentions of The Killers, The Flaming Lips and Beyonce. In recommendations and examples, some of the best-of-the-best in rap, country, folk, rock are shared so the book's relevancy will endure.
The book is designed to inspire. Pictures, images and break-out sections pepper the extra-large pages while the clean and organized format, with chapters like Making Music, Forming a Band and Writing the Stuff, gives that inspiration some structure. Crossingham’s intimate voice lures readers of potentially all ages and musical talent into a world of play and creativity. Helpful How-to’s like finding band members and a practice space are planted in energetic graphs, charts and lists. Crossingham also shares his background giving him great street-cred inside this trendy, capricious industry. Clear examples and comparisons provide undeniably clear explanations of music-making and empower young (and old alike!) to embark on a playful journey with this often intimidating medium.
The book inspires both the kid singing into a comb as well as the studious pianist to buy a bongo and drum his parents crazy. By offering the language and tools for those just starting out and the creative zest to those already ensconced, the book expertly juxtaposes introductory material alongside challenging scope. The book has enormous potential to inspire and inform tweens, teens even adults and therefore is a must-have for school and public libraries. After reading this book, I nearly picked up my dusty digeridoo and blew the night away. Nearly.
Five stars: *****
Learn to Speak Music cranks up the amps from beginning to end as Crossingham and Kulak introduce the jazz-hip-yah-man-that’s-the-stuff feel to a whole new generation of artists. With its so-retro-its-hip design and references to artists like Feist, the intended audience of elementary school/middle school kids will believe their curiosity about music is very cool. The book is timely with mentions of The Killers, The Flaming Lips and Beyonce. In recommendations and examples, some of the best-of-the-best in rap, country, folk, rock are shared so the book's relevancy will endure.
The book is designed to inspire. Pictures, images and break-out sections pepper the extra-large pages while the clean and organized format, with chapters like Making Music, Forming a Band and Writing the Stuff, gives that inspiration some structure. Crossingham’s intimate voice lures readers of potentially all ages and musical talent into a world of play and creativity. Helpful How-to’s like finding band members and a practice space are planted in energetic graphs, charts and lists. Crossingham also shares his background giving him great street-cred inside this trendy, capricious industry. Clear examples and comparisons provide undeniably clear explanations of music-making and empower young (and old alike!) to embark on a playful journey with this often intimidating medium.
The book inspires both the kid singing into a comb as well as the studious pianist to buy a bongo and drum his parents crazy. By offering the language and tools for those just starting out and the creative zest to those already ensconced, the book expertly juxtaposes introductory material alongside challenging scope. The book has enormous potential to inspire and inform tweens, teens even adults and therefore is a must-have for school and public libraries. After reading this book, I nearly picked up my dusty digeridoo and blew the night away. Nearly.
August 26, 2010
Lucy Longstocking review http://www.wcl.govt.nz/blogs/kids/ind...
The three best things in life: Books (0bviously), Biscuits and Music. Reading books is the best way to pass the time, eating biscuits is the best way to pass the time and survive without fading away, and music is like the cherry on top. Music turns an ordinary experience into an extraordinary experience. Imagine how dull a film would be without the soundtrack. Does your life have a good soundtrack? The simple way to add music to your life would be to turn the radio on or the CD player or maybe watch some c4. But, what is the most interesting way to add music to your life? MAKE MUSIC YOURSELF.
John Crossingham has created a book to help you. Learn to Speak Music shows you how to become a musician, and honestly, it’s not hard. This book walks you through each step from learning an instrument to putting on performances and promoting your band. There are chapters featuring: Making Music (choosing instruments, learning to play), Forming a Band (finding members, choosing a name), Writing Lyrics and Music (song patterns, inspiration), Playing Live (covering costs, what gear you need, keeping your cool), Recording Your Music (Hi Fi vs. Lo Fi, basic recording gear) and Spreading the Word (How to make Do-It-Yourself band T-shirts, eye-catching posters).
You may be thinking ‘isn’t this a bit much for a kid?’ no way! Don’t underestimate yourself. You don’t have to be an expert to make music and have fun performing it. Lots of famous bands started out with very young members. Have you heard of: Kings of Leon, The Jonas Brothers, Radiohead, Paramore, Hanson, The Go Go’s, Napalm Death, The Runaways, Def Leppard, The Jackson 5, Kate Bush, Lil Wayne, Shonen Knife? Or New Zealand bands Shihad, Bressa Creting Cake, Ladieswear Landscapi, Bandicoot, TFF, Die! Die! Die!? All these bands have or had members that were still at school and there are many, many more.
The three best things in life: Books (0bviously), Biscuits and Music. Reading books is the best way to pass the time, eating biscuits is the best way to pass the time and survive without fading away, and music is like the cherry on top. Music turns an ordinary experience into an extraordinary experience. Imagine how dull a film would be without the soundtrack. Does your life have a good soundtrack? The simple way to add music to your life would be to turn the radio on or the CD player or maybe watch some c4. But, what is the most interesting way to add music to your life? MAKE MUSIC YOURSELF.
John Crossingham has created a book to help you. Learn to Speak Music shows you how to become a musician, and honestly, it’s not hard. This book walks you through each step from learning an instrument to putting on performances and promoting your band. There are chapters featuring: Making Music (choosing instruments, learning to play), Forming a Band (finding members, choosing a name), Writing Lyrics and Music (song patterns, inspiration), Playing Live (covering costs, what gear you need, keeping your cool), Recording Your Music (Hi Fi vs. Lo Fi, basic recording gear) and Spreading the Word (How to make Do-It-Yourself band T-shirts, eye-catching posters).
You may be thinking ‘isn’t this a bit much for a kid?’ no way! Don’t underestimate yourself. You don’t have to be an expert to make music and have fun performing it. Lots of famous bands started out with very young members. Have you heard of: Kings of Leon, The Jonas Brothers, Radiohead, Paramore, Hanson, The Go Go’s, Napalm Death, The Runaways, Def Leppard, The Jackson 5, Kate Bush, Lil Wayne, Shonen Knife? Or New Zealand bands Shihad, Bressa Creting Cake, Ladieswear Landscapi, Bandicoot, TFF, Die! Die! Die!? All these bands have or had members that were still at school and there are many, many more.
August 19, 2010
I don't think this book consistently hit the target audience. The author mentions that readers might be 12 or 13. Then a few pages later, he is talking about "inexpensive" guitars for "a few hundred dollars." I don't know any 12- or 13-year-olds for whom that would be inexpensive. Also, a lot of the information would be quite useful to those who are 14-17, but the chatty tone and cartoon format would probably feel patronizing to these older teens.
September 13, 2013
I found this in the stacks a couple weeks ago and decided to read it. Super cute illustrations, clear information, and a great voice for kids - very positive and encouraging for young musicians. Wish I had read this 15 years ago!
February 19, 2015
This is a good, comprehensive guide with a casual, conversational writing tone and a dynamic visual presentation. Not a lot of kids will know this kind of book exists, but with some hand-selling it could be very successful.
April 5, 2010
Let's start a band!
Read
February 22, 2010music band creation - non fic
June 9, 2020
ชอบมาก ๆ ได้ไอเดียเกี่ยวกับวงดนตรีและดนตรีใหม่ ๆ หลายอย่าง มีนิยามศัพท์เทคนิคที่เข้าใจง่าย ดีใจมากที่ได้อ่านเล่มนี้ก่อนหนังสือดนตรีเล่มอื่น ๆ
September 2, 2011
Any musicians out there? This one's for you!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews