Marvin Makes Music - Hardcover

Hamlisch, Marvin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0803737300 ISBN 13: 9780803737303

Publisher: Dial Books, 2012

Synopsis

A true story from one of America's most beloved composers

Marvin loves to play the piano and compose his own songs. But performing music over and over that's composed by some old guys name Ludwig and Wolfgang just gives him knots in his stomach. When his father tells Marvin he has an audition with the most prestigious music school, how can Marvin overcome his nerves and get swept away by the music?

This endearing book is based on the true life story of composer Marvin Hamlisch, who, at the age of six, was the youngest person ever accepted into the Juilliard School.

Includes CD with original song

About this title

About the Author:

Marvin Hamlisch is the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony, and Pulitzer-winning composer of the scores for Broadway's A Chorus Line and over 40 films, including The Way We Were. He lives in New York City.

Jim Madsen has been illustrating for more than 20 years. He makes his home in Provo, Utah, with his wife and three children.

From Booklist:

This snapshot from the early life of the recently deceased composer Marvin Hamlisch tells about his prodigious love of the piano. It also covers his boredom with “composers with funny names, like Wolfgang and Ludwig,” and his practice-avoidance techniques. When the day of Marvin’s music school audition arrives, a slight mishap makes him late and his nervousness makes him apprehensive, but passionate playing and childlike energy save the day. Unfortunately, the book lacks any context or back matter, which would have made it useful as a biography, and the impressive accomplishment of entering Juilliard at the age of six is only mentioned on the flap copy. The third-person text lacks the benefit of the maestro’s own voice, but as a stand-alone story, it may just inspire budding musicians who love to play yet hate to practice. Madsen’s romanticized, grainy illustrations of browns and blues adeptly show the shift between the boy’s reality and fantasies, and the finished copy will include a bonus CD of original Hamlisch music (unavailable for review). Grades K-2. --Andrew Medlar

About this edition

• Publisher: Dial Books
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0803737300
• ISBN 13: 9780803737303
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Madsen Jim