Inside: Here is a music book that will change your child’s life. Packed full of ideas, suggestions, research and more, a magnum opus on the importance of music in your child’s life.
Looking for a comprehensive book about why music is so amazing for building children’s brains? Look no further…my book, Good Music Brighter Children, is the book you are looking for. And here’s why…
Good Music Brighter Children: A Music Book About Children and Music
I’m a practical person and I’ve written a practical book. It has brain-building value, entertainment-value, knowledge-enhancing value, and family-building value. Just for the record: it is a NOT a self-help book or a music book that is going to teach you how to play a musical instrument (but it will teach you why it’s important to get your kids involved with learning a musical instrument).
In a Q&A format, here’s what you can expect when you read, Good Music Brighter Children...
Question:
In a nutshell, what is this book about?
Answer:
Good Music Brighter Children is a book that will teach anyone how to build a bigger, better brain using music. If you are a parent, it will give you the A-B-C’s on how to introduce music to your children and how music will impact your child’s life in countless ways.
It includes stories, studies, ideas, and numerous suggestions on how to introduce your child to music as well as the reasons why music should be a part of your family. It’s a book written from my heart because I’ve lived and experienced every chapter over the past 40 years in some way or another.
Question:
Who is your target audience?
Answer:
I wrote it mainly with parents and educators in mind. Why? Because I’m a parent and an educator and I wanted to help both groups of people—which in my opinion is actually one group of people because parents ARE educators! A mom and dad are a child’s FIRST educators. However, the book is also written for anyone wanting to build a bigger, better brain using music.
Question:
This is a big book—it’s a little overwhelming…
Answer:
Do not be intimidated by the size of the book—464 pages. The Resource Section, the Note section, and the Index take up almost 100 pages. Plus there are a lot of blank pages that the publisher “counts” as a page where there is no text.
Question:
Why do you talk about so many studies?
Answer:
Studies need to be included because I’m establishing a foundation that what I’m saying about music just isn’t off the top of my head, or based on a story my neighbor told me, or something I read on the Internet.
It is necessary to base my assertions on definitive research. Why would you believe something if it is merely based on a charming little story? Hence studies are included (along with many captivating anecdotal stories) and footnoted in the back of the book. Btw: If you don’t like studies, then don’t read the first two chapters.
The music research in Good Music Brighter Children establishes a convincing argument of why children and teens need music and music lessons in their lives.
Question:
What is the best way to read this book—front to back? Or can I skip around?
Answer:
You do NOT have to read the book in any order. And, you don’t have to read the entire book to understand its message. Nearly every chapter stands on its own. You can skip around depending on your interests. Here is a breakdown of some of the chapters and possible interests:
10 Ways to Read Good Music Brighter Children
#1: Music Research:
If you are interested in music studies or you are writing a research paper on the brain-benefits of music, read Chapters 1 and 2.
#2: Music and Children:
If you are looking for ideas on how to introduce music in your home and to your children then read “Part Two: Music in the Home.” It contains hundreds of ideas on how to accomplish this with ease.
#3: Children and Music Lessons
These chapters help parents who want their child to take music lessons. How to find the perfect instrument for your child, how to find a teacher and how to get kids to practice are all included with tons of suggestions and ideas. Check out chapters 4 and 5.
Your child’s brain can develop better and more rapidly when they take music lessons. Music develops the entire brain and makes kids smarter. Sign your children up for music lessons–today!
#4: A Music Educator or Parent Wanting Music in the Schools:
If you are an educator or an advocate for music in the schools, you will need ammunition to help you in this process. I’ve included dozens of science-based studies and reasons why we need music in the schools. Read Part Three: “A Need for Advocacy: Music Education in the Schools.”
#5: A Parent with a Learning Disabled Child:
Did you know that 25% of children or 1 out of every 4 children entering school today have some kind of learning disability? And music can help–big time! If you have a learning disabled child, an autistic child, a child with any physical disabilities, read chapter 8. I consider it one of the most important chapters in the book. Having had a severely learning disabled child, I know first-hand how music can change an LD child’s life for the better and help them experience success in school.
No matter what learning challenges your child has, music can help. This book outlines different ways to use music to help the learning disabled or autistic child
#6: Supporting the Arts Community with Your Children:
If you want to support the music and arts community by taking your child to different concerts, musicals, ballets, etc., read chapter 10. It will give you the step-by-step instructions, ideas, and suggestions on creating a fun musical experience for your children when you take them to a concert in your community.
With your children, support your musical community. There are ballets, orchestras, opera for kids, choirs and other events to take your children too. This is the famous Nutcracker–the perfect ballet to take your children to during the holidays
#7: Building Creativity in Children
One of my favorite chapters is chapter 9—it is all about creativity. I have a special interest in creativity so this chapter will help you to understand how music develops and enhances creativity and the different things you can do to help your child and your family to develop the art of creativity. Music makes it all possible!
#8: Starting an Orchestra in Your Community:
If you want to start an orchestra, read chapter 11. To my knowledge, there has never been a book written on the A-B-C’s of starting an orchestra. I started a community orchestra in 1999 and was desperate to find a book on the subject. I needed help and I couldn’t find any book to help and there was no Internet at the time to google help.
This chapter will tell you about my own personal experience and how you can start an orchestra in your school or community. All the step-by-step instructions are included.
This is a picture of the community orchestra I started in 1999. It was ethnically diverse, age-diverse (ages 7 to 70) and what made it very unique was entire families could join. It gave parents the opportunity to play alongside their children. It was definitely a “family affair” orchestra!
#9: Building A Parent/Child Relationship:
Music is important, but building a relationship with your child is MOST important. And music can be one of the catalysts for building a strong parent/child bond. Chapter 12 is an important chapter of the book—and many people who have read the book agree. In fact, you can even read this chapter first. If you take the time to build a relationship with your child, they will be more likely to want to do those things that you love, enjoy and appreciate–like taking music lessons and being involved in the music community.
Build a relationship with your child–one way to do this is to take music lessons along with your son or daughter.
#10: Resource Section:
This section is invaluable! It is 50-pages chock full of musical information–
- composers and their “best” music for kids
- music CDs
- various music books categorized by age
- lists of music to play while your kids are studying
- unique music programs
- music materials teachers or homeschool moms can use in the classroom or at home with your kids
- music organizations
- ideas to reinforce your child’s school experience with music
- and much, much more!
One last thing…
When I began re-writing this book, I was well aware that people’s attention spans were going down the tubes and most people today have the attention span of a gnat (thank you technology!). Many people’s motto is: “If you can’t read it in 5 minutes, toss it.”
I also read that despite 250,000 books published each year, people are reading less because they get their information from sound bytes on the Internet (sad).
However, I still believe in parents. I still believe that most parents really want what is best for their children and will go to any length to see that their children have what it takes to succeed. If your goal is to help your child succeed in life and beyond, then you need to read this book. It will be one of the best decisions you make.
The easiest way to purchase the book is to order it online at Amazon. Barnes & Noble and all other major and minor bookstores carry it—but it may need to be ordered. It costs about $19—it’s cheaper than taking your family to lunch and definitely cheaper than the parking at Disneyland and has far greater and lasting benefits.
If you have any questions, email me: info@goodparentingbrighterchildren.com
Do you have any experience with music or music lessons or how you have introduced music in your home and with your children and teens? Please comment below–we’d love to hear about your experiences.
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