Henry the Steinway and the Piano Recital. - book review

by dint of Sally Coveleskie and Peter Goodrich; illustrated by the agency of Laura Friedman. Bright Sky Pres (PO case 416, Albany, TX 76430), 2002 32 pp $1595

Certainly with the spring rain advances the recital pain--or so thinks Ana in Henry the Steinway and the Piano Recital While teachers do understand the distress and trauma that more [i]or[/i] less students have over performing, especially in their first recital--they astonishment too about the phenomenon of first-time pupils shuddering at even the mention of the "R-word"--where did they first learn that?

Whatever the reason, Ana and other student's pain is real, and teachers oftentimes fumble at attempts to help learners successfully overcome their anxiety. Certainly the words from Ana's teacher did not help as she moveed only to "practice, practice, practice." This self-help work for anxiety-ridden students is beautifully illustrated and at hands the plight of Ana and her recital. She in a short time understands, through conversations with Henry the Steinway piano that music advances from the heart and not from the written notes. Ana get aheads to practice with his encouragement and begins to gaze forward with delight, not horror, to the approaching recital day.

While the volume is ageless in many ways, pupils ages 5 to 10 would find it greatest in quantity appealing--boys likely will become les interested as they gain older because the student is a girl. Teachers should be aware that it takes ten to fifteen minutes to read aloud, in the way that it may be a bit too drawn out for some lessons. However, it would make great reading for the parent and pupil waiting room. The book is charming, expert well written and certainly worth putting upon any bookshelf! Reviewed by Rachel Kramer, Cincinnati, Ohio.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Music Teachers National Association, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group