Learning to play a musical instrument can be fun, but also quite a burden at times. Young people not only have to find time to practice in the midst of their super-busy schedules. They also have to deal with such tricky problems as taming performance jitters, handling pesky peers, mastering challenging pieces, preparing for rigorous competitions, and dealing with demanding conductors.

This lively, highly accessible book will help young people with some of the difficulties involved in learning a new instrument. It is filled with practical tips from more experienced teens and from well-known professional musicians. Numerous studies have demonstrated that children relate much better to advice from an age group closer to their own. That is why 150 teens from renowned musical programs, such as the Juilliard School's Pre-College Program and Boston University's Tanglewood Institute--offer pointers on coping with the various problems they encountered at an earlier age. Both youngsters and adults will also benefit from the practical advice given by nineteen professional musicians, including Wynton Marsalis, Paula Robison, James Galway, Andre Watts, Joshua Bell, and Evelyn Glennie. They tell us how they tackled these same problems when they were kids, and how they handle them today.

An extensive resource guide at the end of the book, complete with web address listings, both directs readers to sources of additional help and helps them in their exploration of the world of music. If you are the parent of a child with musical ability, or if your son or daughter is trying to master a musical instrument, this book is the kind of gift that will save a lot of headaches for both you and your youngsters.

"A book filled with practical advice about how to find time to practice, how to calm down before playing in public, and how to handle that chatterbox who sits behind you at rehearsal."--The New York Times

"From choosing an instrument to practicing regularly to learning the rules of ensemble etiquette, this guide is packed with useful suggestions and enthusiasm for music."--Publishers Weekly

"Nathan provides advice for teen musicians on topics such as choosing an instrument, finding time to practice, handling performance jitters, and dealing with others in the band or orchestra.... A unique and potentially useful resource for young musicians looking for help."--Booklist

"Thorough work. Nathan combines advice from teenagers with that of well-known professionals.... Through the carefully organized chapters, young performers will discover that the frustrations and fears they experience are not unique.... There is an encouraging but honest tone throughout."--School Library Journal

"A unique resource for the young instrumentalist. It speaks in a language that will appeal to its target audience without ever talking down. Parents can also learn a great deal about how to help their children understand the intricacies and wonders of the practical musician's art."--Leonard Slatkin, Music Director, National Symphony Orchestra

"Author Amy Nathan has compiled an accessible guidebook to help young people with some of the problems involved in learning a new instrument and sticking with it when things seem tough."--Richmond Parents Monthly

"Teens ... will appreciate this practical and candid book. Reading the book is like sitting down for a heart-to-heart with a caring music teacher.... Recommended."--The Book Report

Learning to play an instrument can be fund and, at times, frustrating. This lively, accessible book helps young people cope with the difficulties involved in learning a new instrument and remaining dedicated to playing and practicing. Teens from renowned music programs - including the Juilliard School's Pre-College Program and Boston University's Tanglewood Institute - join pro musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Paula Robison, and James Galway in offering practical answers to questions from what instrument to play to where the musical road may lead.

In this revised and expanded edition, Amy Nathan has updated the book to address today's more technologically-minded young musician. Expanded sections cover the various ways students can use technology to assist in mastering an instrument and in making practice time more productive, from using the Internet to download pieces to be learned and playing along with downloaded tunes to practicing with computer-based practice programs, CDs, and videos/DVDs of musical performances. She also addresses concerns of young composers and conductors, two groups not mentioned in the original edition. The book's updated Resource Guide suggests where to get additional help, both online and off.

Amy Nathan is the award-winning author of several books for young people, including Meet the Musicians, Meet the Dancers, Count on Us, and Yankee Doodle Gals. A Harvard graduate with master's degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Columbia Teacher's College, she is an ever-struggling piano student and has two musical sons: one a composer and a trumpter, the other a saxophone-playing government major.

Foreword

1. Tune In

2. Picking and Switching

3. The Time Squeeze

4. Boring-Practice Blues

5. Woodshedding Basics

6. The Jitters

7. The Peer Scene

8. Teacher Talk

9. Gear Up

10. Play On

Glossary

Resource Guide

About the Troupe of Advisors

Index