Describes the author's childhood in an ancient family home with an epileptic older brother whose illness influenced the rhythm of the family's life, in an account that explores such topics as consciousness and the sensory existence of indoor and outdoor life.

When Namita is ten, her mother takes her to Dhondutai, a respected Mumbai music teacher from the great Jaipur Gharana. Dhondutai has dedicated herself to music and her antecedents are rich. She is the only remaining student of the legendary Alladiya Khan, the founder of the gharana and of its most famous singer, the tempestuous songbird, Kesarbai Kerkar. Namita begins to learn singing from Dhondutai, at first reluctantly and then, as the years pass, with growing passion. Dhondutai sees in her a second Kesar, but does Namita have the dedication to give herself up completely to music—or will there always be too many late nights and cigarettes? Beautifully written, full of anecdotes, gossip and legend, The Music Room is perhaps the most intimate book to be written about Indian classical music yet.

In 1950's Westburn, Scotland, Tim Ronsard only has a few months remaining until he leaves St. Mary's School. Bored and listless, he's anxious to get away. His life changes when a new music teacher is appointed: Isobel Clieshman, a Protestant working in a Catholic school. Soon, Tim's feelings go well beyond a school boy crush, but at 23 years old the teacher is out of his reach. Five years later, they meet randomly and soon, Tim thinks he has never been happier. But amid family issues, war and prejudice, can they find the road to happiness together?

DIVDIVDennis McFarland’s acclaimed debut novel, hailed by the New York Times Book Review as “a rare pleasure . . . Remarkable from its beginning to its surprising, satisfying end”/divDIV Musician Marty Lambert’s life is already falling apart when he receives the phone call that changes everything. His brother, Perry, has killed himself in New York, and Marty—with his marriage on the rocks and his record company sliding into insolvency—decides to leave San Francisco to investigate exactly what went wrong. His trip sends him headlong into the life his only brother left behind—his pleasures and disappointments, his friends, his lovely girlfriend, Jane—and finally, to the home they shared growing up in Virginia. Along the way, through memories and dreams, Marty relives their complicated upbringing as the children of talented, volatile musicians and alcoholics. Through the tragedy, Marty finally faces the demons of his past, ones he pretended he had buried long ago, to emerge on the other side of grief, toward solace and a more hopeful future./divDIV/div/div

Finally, a “how to” book for music teachers.

New to Teaching music and Struggling to get your room set up? Frustrated after a year of trial and error? Starting to burn out and need some new ideas to infuse excitement into your programs?

Look no further! Help is on the way!

Did you know that 3 out of 5 teachers quit during their first five years of teaching? Why? They feel disconnected and under-supported. Lessons from the Music Room provides both support AND connection for the new (and veteran) music teacher.

Discover the secrets to teaching music that your professors left out! It’s like you are sitting down with your mentor teacher sharing time saving tips and useful ideas.

An incredibly valuable resource for all music teachers!

In this book you will:

• Discover practical tips on everything from the first day to the end-of-year performance
• Find insightful ideas for planning your lessons
• Read to Inspiring stories to assist in overcoming behavior issues
• Gain sage advice on working with administration and colleagues
• Find loads of downloadable forms for nearly every situation
• Learn to reduce stress and have more fun
• Unlock the secrets to becoming a super-star teacher!

Even if you’ve been teaching for a while, there are strategies for the experienced teacher that will transform your music program at your school! The students will love you! Your administrator will beam! Your parents will give you rave reviews!

With 28 years of classroom tested experience, these gems of advice and proven strategies, will prepare you to hit the ground running on the first day of school!

Stuart Favill and I share the same birthday and year of birth, Im not sure if we share the same minute, but we do both share a love of poetry and music and our influences are very similar. Its probably why I find it so easy to relate to his words, because we come from the same world at the same time. His words are clear and concise, never wandering on aimlessly, like so many peoples lives. We have both also worked in areas with the most vulnerable of society and poems of his, such as Cutting, really reach the heart with their frank and direct observations. Stuart has a way of communicating without pretence some very powerful feelings and observations on life and can make extremely valid points. Yet he still maintains a sense of humour that manifests itself at many a lingual turn. We are aware of the social and family issues dealt with in poems like The Devil In The Corner, and Stuart makes clear the dangers of that little box that I am now writing on! In the Rite Of Passage, he shares with unashamed honesty the feelings he had when his mother passed away, and that is, I think, the root of Stuarts poetical strength, his honesty, even when it may be uncomfortable. In this collection, there is a poem which everyone should be able to relate to, if not many, a moving and entertaining view of life from Stuart Favills eyeline. Tony Stringfellow. Tony Stringfellow is an accomplished artist, sculptor, performer, poet and author. His works include the acclaimed book, The Wizards Gown a study of the lyrics of Marc Bolan, (T.Rex) and Silent Solitudes, a collection of thought provoking poetry.

Who or what is that shadowy figure playing the piano in the school music room after dark? Several students and Deputy Barney set out to solve this musical mystery with surprising results. Phantom of the Music Room features six songs with clever texts set to musical classics by Chopin, Dvorák, Sousa and others. For grades 3 and up. App. 30 minutes.