Music Books

What a beautiful collection of music from the movie, "The Merchant of Venice". It is the first CD I listen to each time I get into my car. Every track is unbelievably moving, from the Jewish songs to the mid-evil voices and strings. Some are haunting and others, uplifting...always leaves me wanting more of the same.This music is great for meditation or will calm you in rush hour traffic. The lyrics are exceptional and are written by John milton, William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Luys de Narvaez and Clara Sanabras.

While watching the movie on HBO, I was entranced by the musical score and ordered both the video and the soundtrack. Very evocative. It has become one of my favorites.

The solo voice pieces by Andreas Scholl and Hayley Westenra are excellent. Selection #15, "Bridal Ballad", is the one that stands out. The CD price is a bargain.

I am really picky about film scores. A lot of film scores I hear are loud, bombastic, and over the top. My favorite film score of all time has to be Jocelyn Pook's compositions for the 2004 film adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice". Her orchestral compositions really reflects the time period the film takes place in. For me, the gorgeous film score was what made the film so engaging for me. The meldoies were never loud or bombastic like you would hear in John Williams' or Hans Zimmer's work. Andreas Scholl's operatic vocals added a nice touch to Jocelyn Pook's music. Originally I thought Andreas was a she and not a he. His voice is very high for a man and I mean that in a positive way. My favorite track on the album is "Bridal Ballad" with Hayley Westenra. This was my first introduction to Hayley. I must say I was quite impressed. She has a lovely voice that is rarely heard in singers around her age. I wish Britney Spears could sing like that, much less sing like a human and less like a chipmunk.Anyways, I really feel that Jocelyn captured the Shakespeare era that the story was takes place with her music. I hope to hear more from her in the near future.

Composer Jocelyn Pook bridges the gap between Renaissance and modern day to create a soundtrack for Michael Radford's film version of the Shakespeare play "The Merchant of Venice." Her moody, delicate score is decidedly mellow, evoking gentility and laced with quiet longing. Real Renaissance dances intertwine with lilting original compositions played by chamber orchestra and harp, with period texts mixed in too, lightly sung in countertenor and boychoir voices. Near Eastern motifs also wend their way through the music in the form of Hebrew songs, sultry oud (lute) and shimmering kanun (an Arabic psaltery). The result is a pensive, winsome, consistently elegant soundscape that is just lovely to listen to. Featured musicians include Pook herself on viola, Pamela Thorby playing a delightfully pure, straigh-toned recorder, Siobhan Armstrong on harp, Harvey Brough on psaltery, Elizabeth Kenny on theorbo (archlute), Jon Banks on qanun, and singers Andreas Scholl, Hayley Westenra, Ben Crawley, Uri Yehuda and Robert Prizeman's Libera boy's choir. Compare with Pook's other albums, such as "Untold Things" and "Flood." Try also the work of composer Anne Dudley, and any of the real Renaissance music put out by the Dorian label.

Victor Wooten writes well. He's a talented and spiritual musician who has the gift of being able to teach others through his music and words. The Music Lesson is not just about how to play the bass guitar or any other instrument, it is about the allowing of music that already exists and the attitude of spirit when creating that music. A wonderful analogy in the book likens the instrument as simply a medium for allowing the music that is already within you in the same way that a pen or computer allows words from within to be created and written onto paper. The pen is not the holder of the words, the writer is. The guitar is not the holder of the music, the player is...

I give four and half stars to this book because as I read I felt as though I had come across some aspects of the writing elsewhere in the past. When I read the acknowledgements page I saw that indeed, Mr Wooten had been inspired by Neal Donald Walsch's brilliant book, Conversations with God which I read many years ago. For someone who has not read Conversations with God, you will gain much from The Music Lesson.

This Book just changed the way i feel music, and how it relates to people and life... a must read for every musician!

Victor Wooten has succeeded in communicating a complete "how to" concerning what plagues most most musicians: the transfer of your emotional attachment to the music to the audience. Many musicians become so wrapped up in the technique they lose the ability to let the music flow and speak to them and through them to the audience. Victor explains how to utilize technique without losing spontaneous communication,the real essence of music, especially American Jazz. A read for every serious musician, and those who want to better understand how to feel the music.

As a music major and literature lover, the first section (and usually only) I visit at the book store is the music section. I was actually searching for another book that was no where to be found, and decided to just browse around. I accidentally stubled upon this book that had only two copies of itself. It seemed intruguing, and then upon seeing its author I definatly had to give it a chance. While leaving the store, I was hoping my money was well spent.

The character Mr. Wooten learns from in this book would most likely call my stumble upon it a sure act of fate. I was meant to pick up this book and it has now given me a new, liberating outlook on my music and developed love for the art better than anything I had ever experienced. Any musician or music appreciator can read this book and change their ability and enjoyment for music perminantly. I have even created a method of incorporating the book with my practice routine. No, I have actually created a new routine based on this book-It is THAT life changing.

Your life and your music are a unity, the same entity, and should be treated as so. This book will teach you to do this naturally, as if you were born with this knowlege. You will connect with Music in the perfect way for the rest of your life, and if you care about her, you will read this book!

Although he has shamelessly "borrowed" from Richard Bach's book, 'Illusions', Victor Wooten has written an inspiring reminder for us. He reminds us that what we wish to know we already know and that we only need to remember that. It's a very zen and easy read; also much funnier than I had imagined it would be. The sound of one hand slapping has never sounded so good.

This is a must-have item. It is an incredible beautiful book. If you are a pethead, you must have it. But, if you will buy this item, you must have in mind that is a catalogue of items, pictures and comments, the name is literal, not a book as "PSB vs America" or "Literally".

With 14 reviews already written, I doubt I can say anything that hasn't already been said. But I will give a short review of my impression of Catalogue.

This book is more like Pet Shop Boys history in pictures. While it's true this is a catalogue of all the album and CD covers. It is also the history of Pet Shop Boys in a brief chronology near the back of the book. It gives a time line of what they were doing on particular dates.

There's also an interview from April 2006 with Neil and Chris by Chris Heath. It also includes a complete in depth discography of all their singles and albums they released.

The silver cover of the book makes a great coffee table attraction. It's a must for any Pethead's collection. It's also a great reference book for new fans of the boys. For those who never subscribed to the fan club will enjoy looking at the various Christmas Cards and cover art of the fan club magazine Literally.

I purchased multiple copies so I could have one on display and to thumb through and one is kept sealed. At this great price, who could resist?

Pet Shop Boys Catalogue

El libro es excelente [casi una obra de arte] en el cual se repasa la historia gráfica del dúo a través de sus primeros 20 años de carrera. Un verdadero must para cualquier fan de los PSB.

This book is beautifully packed and chronicles the product of the pet shop boys for the first 20 years. It includes album/single covers, tours, costumes, videos, etc. It is worth every penny and a true companion for any psb fan!

You can easily forget that Chris and Neil, Pet Shop Boys have been making fantastic music together for close to 30 years now. This large volume is an authoritative visual representation of what the PSB have done throughout their career. If there is one problem (not really) it would be that since they Boys are still active, the book will be outdated nearly immediately following its publication.

Its fun to see all the international releases, versions, one-off items that have come from their musical output, from singles to albums to videos to other books. Catalogue is comprehensive to say the least. And the photos are many, and all relatively great quality.

This is a true gift to the real PSB fans. It is sort of like your own personal scrapbook if you've been following the Boys through the years or a wonderful collection to introduce newer fans to the career that Neil and Chris have enjoyed. Price seems more than reasonable for the quality of the book. The cover is stunning and makes a great conversation piece for your coffee table. It just sort of begs to be opened with its silvery cover image.

Pet Shop Boys fans should be thrilled that such a volume exists and that the artists have seen fit to offer something of this scale. So many bands, defunct or ongoing seem to spurn their fans requests for such items. In this case, no matter what the intent of the artist--whether purely self indulgence or wanting to give back, the fans who purchase this book are the winners.

Love this book. Love the Boys. And most importantly, Love the music they continue to release. Left to your own devices, you probably will buy this book.

Peter Jennings was taken from us at the pinnacle of his
career. He shaped the news in many areas like the
ABC Nightly News. The book provides many specifics about
his life and career. There are memorable pictures
contained throughout the book. i.e.
o The Miss Canada Pageant of 1965
o various political conventions
o the Munich Olympics
o the Clinton Presidential Inaugural of 1997
o a meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991

The acquisition would be perfect for persons interested
in journalism, politics and government.

This book is purchased for our Book Club for next year's books. Several of our members had read it to be sure it was okay. It was difficult to purchase - first we had to wait till it was published (you know how THat goes!) and then the price was exhorbitant (that was overcome) and finally it joined the other books we purchased for the Club. Oh, and say, did I mention that this is a book for next year's selections? and that it will be much like "saving it for dessert?" I haven't read it yet either - just scanned through it, and therefore I know it to be the "icing on the cake."

I was never a regular viewer of Peter Jennings' news broadcast or any of his documentaries, but now I wish I was.

This book pointed out all the great time, effort and blood, sweat and tears that Peter Jennings put into all segments of his broadcast and documentaries. He did not take his anchor position lightly and wanted all viewers to share his same passion and understanding of the subjects he was speaking.

It also went into great depth to speak of the man that none of us saw on his nightly newscasts. One who was such a humanitarian and lover off people from all different walks of life.

This book kept my attention and made me feel sad that I did not pay closer attention to his newscast while he was still with us.

If you loved Peter Jennings you will love this book. It was written in an innovative style by way of an amalgam interviews with his colleagues. If you are looking for dirt on Peter skip this book, but if you want to relive the hundreds of wonderful hours you spent with him on your TV, this book does the trick. Your memory might also be jogged when you read the many adjectives describing him in the book: charming, distinctive, exuberant, thoughtful, reflective, gracious, caring, sincere, whimsical, questioning, authentic, direct, gentle of spirit, warm, great sense of humor, intelligent.

I loved the insight many of the contributors gave, as well as the quotes from Peter: "He connected with every person he met. He didn't use them." "He had this life force that seemed to surround him--his enthusiasms, his boundless energy and curiosity. He was one of those people that was just a great sense of nirvana to be around." "And when he was faced with the actual test, he instantly did the right thing." Peter: "Be spare, be precise, take your time, and don't say too much. Let each work carry the weight of the story....communicate in a concise way."

Peter would ask, "What are we going to do today what will distinguish us?" He despised predictability, mediocrity of any kind, laziness." "Listening to Peter was...riveting." Peter WAS riveting, and so is this book!

Bill Kizorek, CEO, Two Parrot Productions

When ABC newsman Peter Jennings died from lung cancer in 2005, he left a void in the industry that has yet to be filled. Along with the likes of Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, Jennings helped revolutionize television news, sitting on both sides of the desk, transforming the genre from a 15-minute afterthought to a major component of network broadcasting.

The editors of PETER JENNINGS: A REPORTER'S LIFE, including his wife, have collected the thoughts and memories of scores of family, friends and colleagues who are universal in their praise and turned these stories into an oral biography. It seems as if Jennings was almost predisposed to the profession. As the son of one of Canada's most respected radio broadcasters, he got an early start, hosting his own children's show as a nine-year-old. Formal education held little interest for Jennings; these days he might have been diagnosed with ADD. His success, despite dropping out of high school, was truly remarkable.

Jennings was just 26 when he was handed the anchor assignment for ABC News in 1965, a job to which he admitted he was not suited at the time. He earned his stripes by going out into the field --- far, far afield to Europe and the Middle East where he thrived on the exotic surroundings and the action.

The entries in A REPORTER'S LIFE reveal a man in a hurry, ever curious and always willing to do whatever it took to get the job done, even when that meant putting himself in harm's way. Jennings was no "Scud-stud," a term used to describe reporters who made a name for themselves during the first war in Iraq; he didn't even like to fly. But he impressed everyone, from his sound men to heads of state, with his ability to soak up information and present it to his audience.

When he stepped down as an active reporter to once again take over the anchor desk for ABC News, he brought that same restlessness with him. He was a demanding boss, always expecting the reporters to do the same thorough job he did. But his humanity was always evident. During the coverage on 9/11, he wanted the audience to see the devastation of the World Trade Center rather than in-studio shots of him. And he was never afraid to defer to experts or admit he did not know every issue involved.

Many of those interviewed said that Jennings never wanted to be the center of attention, which made his on-air revelation of his illness all the more conflicting. For him, it served as an abject lesson, another chance to educate his viewers.

The format of A REPORTER'S LIFE both works and doesn't work. Since it's not a straightforward biography, it appears choppy at times, a series of mini-monologues interspersed with Jennings's own words. It is also understandably biased; you won't find too many speaking ill of him. On the other hand, these are the people who knew Jennings best, and the book serves as their final chance to pay him tribute.

--- Reviewed by Ron Kaplan

The Red Balloon is a wonderful story with an adorable little boy as the star character. I bought both the book and the DVD to give as a present to younger children (4 yrs old). I think they will enjoy if only for the visuals. The film is produced in French language but there is so little dialogue that not understanding the script doesn't affect the enjoyment of watching the film. Overall, it is a fun story with a good feel to it. There were only a couple of situations in the story that I thought might be a little sensitive or a bit scary to younger kids .. one being a group of boys chasing the little boy trying to take the balloon away from him. The other a very quick scene where a school headmaster is upset with the chaos going on and he puts the little boy in a room and locks the door. These are minor to the overall upbeat feel of the story but parents may want to review first to consider their own fast forward editing or explanations. In my case, the quality of the DVD was not great. It's an old film so perhaps the age is showing a bit in the reproductions.

Great story....grew up watching the short film and checking this same book out from our local library. Now that I'm a mom, I have introduced this video and book to my kids, and they're infatuated with everything about it. Great, well-made books with lively photos and storyline that holds little ones' attentions.

this book was written some decades ago but the excellence of the writing and the very skilful, thoughtful & sensitive photography which integrates very successfully with the story, are such that I believe this book will be deservedly popular with very many generations of children in the future. I believe that it is a masterpiece of children's literature and I strongly recommend it as a gift to be given by any parent - or grandparent.

I must have checked this book out a hundred times when I was in Elementary school as it was such a favorite. What a joy it was to find it still in print and telling it's charming story to future generations. This is a classic, and a book that I would recommend to all children and adults that want to hold a piece of their treasured childhood memories. This story was told in film on the International Children's Film Festival, hosted by Kookla, Fran and Olie, and further helps to bring this story to life.
Treat yourself and your children to the story of a boy and his friend, the red balloon.

The photographs, the text and presentation are remarkable. A piece that makes a good complement of the movie.

I PURCHASED THIS BOOK TO READ WHILE WAITING IN A DOCTORS OFFICE . IT WAS A GREAT READ . I SHARED IT WITH ALL THE GIRLS AT WORK AND THEY HAD TO HAVE ONE.IT IS A GREAT BOOK TO SHARE WITH CLOSE FRIENDS WHEN THEY NEED COMFORTING OR JUST HAVING DAILY LIFE STRUGGLES. I CARRY MINE IN MY PURSE AND ONE IN MY CAR.

Very comforting message, beautifully illustrated. A nice gift book.

This book has so many comforting and inspirational comments by Mr. Lucado. I highly recommend it for anyone.

Safe in the Shepherd's Arms: Hope and Encouragement from Psalm 23What a great book. Read also "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller [available at AMAZON]. You will be amazed to learn how much more God loves and takes care of you than you have realized. Both books are great as gifts. There is more to being a Shepherd than one would think.

This easy-to-read book is excellent for people who find themselves in survival mode. The book is very portable, small enough to slip into a handbag. The illustrations display hope, safety, and love, and the words speak comfort and solace. I gave this book as a gift, and I am thoroughly impressed with it. Author, With Great Mercy.

Posted by Roger Hitts on Jul 22, 2007 - 7:19:00 PM

At a time when the attention span of a celebrity-infatuated America lasts about as long as a ride on a bucking bronco, and snarkiness gets passed off as literary enlightenment, it can seem downright amazing that writers even bother crafting a loving, thoroughly researched and sweat-from-the-keyboard tome about the machinations of the Hollywood star system and the secrets behind the people who made our country swoon decades before Brad Pitt ever graced the cover of a tabloid.

Then again, there's not many Tommy Garretts in the world. A self-described chicken farmer who lives in the hinterlands of deep rural Virginia, Garrett has fashioned an incredibly successful career as a Hollywood publicist, radio and TV personality and foremost, an author, all from the relative comfort of the sticks and some 3,000 miles from Tinseltown. Yet he also returns to Los Angeles long enough to pick up new clients, find new writing material and for awards shows. It just shows to remind one that Hollywood is a state of mind - and in my mind, steering a wide berth around the day-to-day meetings at the Creative Artists Agency and hours-long lunches at the Polo Lounge keeps a romanticism toward the magic of movies alive without getting bogged down in the details.

Take Garrett's latest literary offering, So You Want to Be in Pictures - an exhaustingly researched, meticulously crafted book featuring insights and sidenotes, anecdotes and yes, dishy details on the lives of 55 Hollywood haymakers and what made them tick. The cast populating the book range from Golden Era legends such as John Wayne and Bette Davis, to the likes of Darlene Conley, an actress who didn't cross into big screen fame but maintained a rabid following among daytime soap lovers.

In many ways, Garrett may have crafted the perfect book for these times. Garrett is so obviously a student of the bygone era of Hollywood he likely could have fashioned 55 books from the ranks of thespians detailed in So You Want To Be In Pictures. Instead, the readers are given quick hits and peeks into the lives of stars from the inimitable Lena Horne to the 1950s icon and later John Waters pet Tab Hunter. Even those with the shortest attention span won't have to comb back a few pages to figure out what they had just read! But even more than sparing readers from having to learn what Ann Blyth's favorite color was, Garrett offers up something else that gives today's blogging generation something to sink their teeth into - real dish!

For example, in his own straightforward manner, Garrett offers up this about the marriage of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly:

``What many don't know was that Rainier's first choice for a wife was the blonde bombshell, Marilyn Monroe. What man in the 1950s was not lusting after Monroe -- or that other doomed blonde sexpot, Jayne Mansfield? But between discussions with royal advisors and the Vatican, Rainier figured that Grace Kelly was his best choice. He did, however, fall madly in love with Kelly and probably didn't know that she spent many of the years of her marriage being a serial adulterer. For example, she continued an affair with David Niven until the time of her death."

In the hands of another writer, that paragraph would seem to be provocative for its own sake - but with Garrett, the reader gets the feeling he offers up the marital infidelity in the interest of full disclosure, not simply to be the schoolyard gossip. To be sure, Garrett - whose publicity firm specializes in managing the public lives of the more senior members of the Hollywood community like Clint Walker of TV's Cheyenne fame - has heard and seen more in his life than most, and is uniquely shaped to pass along the lessons he learned and the insights provided from his own, storied career.

What's more, neophyte celeb-watchers will be shocked to learn the exposes of the Hollywood scandal didn't start with Paris Hilton dancing on a tabletop in a Manhattan nightclub. By the very nature of the acting profession, Hollywood has always been a repository for some of the most colorful - and sometimes least judicious - people America has to offer. But many of the stories Garrett offers up in So You Want To Be In Pictures may have been lost to history if Garrett hadn't put in the time and effort to chronicle them.

While dish is plentiful in the book, it never seems ham-handed on Garrett's part - indeed, he throws more bouquets than spitballs at his subjects. Obviously, knowing Garrett's background in show business, he's emotionally invested in the people on which he writes, and it's evident in his turn of the phrase.

It's obvious in this day and age, Garrett could have made a killing knocking out a quickie book rehashing the recent misadventures of Lindsay Lohan. That he decided to take on a meatier subject matter - giving readers a real look inside the people who helped build the film and television industry on the backs of their labor, is certainly to Garrett's credit, even with a lower commercial potential.

After my wife read through an advance copy of So You Want To Be In Pictures, she commented to me, ``Why the heck would anyone want to be involved in that industry? Dumb luck supercedes talent, petty jealousies swallow people whole?" Certainly, the carrot of stardom and adulation looms large on the stick. Even Garrett cautions, ``after you read this book and still have yearning for stardom, you'll gain a great respect for me."

Garrett gained my respect for writing it.


Roger Hitts, two-time United Press International columnist of the year, is a veteran celebrity journalist whose by-lines appear in numerous magazines and newspapers in the U.S. and around the world.

Tommy Lightfoot Garrett- "So You Want To Be in Pictures". This book is a must for anybody who wants to be in pictures, or is just fascinated by the whole 'celebrity' culture. The knowledge and first hand account that Tommy has of the celebrities is amazing. Tommy gives very objective and honest accounts of the stars, and with such integity. One really feels like they are stepping into the celebities lives just for a moment. Tommy gives the book an even personlised feel, by displayed autographed pictures of the Stars.
This boot is particularly insightful for the 'younger' person who isn't too familiar with the 'greats' of yesteryear. The book is very easy to read, and a must for anyone interseted in Hollywood.

Esteemed Hollywood publicist and historian par excellence Tommy Garrett has crafted a brilliant and wonderfully balanced look at nearly 60 industry performers, past and present -- from the biggest superstars (Bette Davis, Bob Hope and Joan Crawford) to its slightly lesser-known, but no less talented, or accomplished, artists (Ruta Lee, Rex Reason, Simone Simon, et al). With a benevolent and even-handed approach that mirrors his own gracious and straightforward personality, Tommy relates several rare (and sometimes, heretofore unknown) tales about these people in a highly ethical and non-exploitive way that makes you feel you know both them, and him, personally. Fair and balanced journalism abounds in this project, and yet it is at all times a fun, and sometimes even boisterous, read!

The approach Tommy has taken to dispense the book's fascinating material is unique. He begins each chapter in a traditional, linear fashion -- telling these people's stories more or less in a straight-line, from their births to their deaths -- but then he backtracks and delves into earlier aspects of their lives to take an even closer look. It is a particularly incisive technique that is all Tommy's and it really holds your attention (much like the man himself)!

The book is liberally peppered with photos and the selections run the gamut from scene stills and portraits to obscure and hard-to-find candids. All are gorgeously rendered and captioned on high-quality paper stock. Wasteland Press has done a fine job with the superb material (both textual and photographic) that Tommy has given them, and their continued alliance is one that every true classic movie fan should pray for!

Despite his youth, Tommy Garrett has accomplished a great deal in the entertainment industry and will continue to reap a healthy harvest of accolades and respect. Tommy's lighthearted public persona belies a serious knowledge of all aspects of show business and it is to his credit that the formidable writing skills he displays in this book are commensurate with his talents as one of the industry's most beloved agents and publicists.

Well done, Mr. Garrett! A superb work, and here's to looking forward to many more books from a TRUE "Hollywood Insider"!!

John O'Dowd

"So You Want To Be In Pictures", by Tommy Lightfoot Garrett, is a book every classic movie buff should own! I never read a book the second time, but this is one book I will! I have the pleasure of living in the same small town he mentions in the book, and the pleasure of having him as a dear friend. In knowing him, I can tell you, that reading his book is like talking to him, and having him share his experiences with these stars. He writes like he talks, and what you come away with after you read this book, is an understanding of the lives of the stars, and an understanding of how much this author cares about what he writes! From his late night e-mails, I know the hours and hard work he put into this book and his newly released book, "The Making of Hollywood Stars". Tommy loves what he does, and it's apparent in every aspect of his books. He wanted this book to be as "timeless" as the stars themselves. Twenty, thirty years from now, this book will be just as interesting to people who love classic movies and the stars that made them, as it is today, because it's movie history. I listen to Tommy's Australian Radio Show every week. By listening, I have learned so many things about the old stars and their movies, that makes their "larger than life" images on the screen, come to life on a human level. This is a writer who really cares about the stars as people, and who really cares about the things he writes about them! You will treasure this book, as much as I treasure the Author....

Tommy Garrett did an outstanding job when he wrote this book. Unfortunately, his publishing company apparently has no one on their staff who is capable of editing anything that is written in the English language.

There are many redundancies, many misspelled words and paragraphs that seem to be transposed making it difficult to read some chapters. I'm not certain that Mr. Garrett had/has the ability to take issue with the publisher with regard to this egregious practice but I think if I were him, I would look for another publisher.

This is an excellent book to get you on the right path to reach your goals in the music business.For years I have been trying to find a way to get my career moving to no avail. And with this book I found out what mistakes I was making that was keeping me from growing if you are serious about making it then take control of your career and get this book it is easy to follow and remember the music business is a business and with this book you can learn how to move with the business.

This is an excellent book. All the tools necessary for success are included here. Stiernberg even gives you the format and ideas for a business plan, which is essential for any serious entrepreneur. Everyone in the music biz should get this book.

I've read too many music business books that try to be all things to all musician readers and end up being shallow overviews of the industry. Succeeding In Music focuses on one thing and does it thoroughly. At its core, SIM could be called a musicians textbook for writing a business plan. Each chapter takes you through the steps necessary to make a legitimate small business out of whatever your music venture may be. If you're looking for cute anecdotes or secrets to getting a record deal, this book is not for you. In fact, it's a rather dry read. But if you want to make a serious business out of your band/record company/studio etc., then this book is the first step that must not be skipped. It IS a workbook, so it will take some work. I found the sample plan at the end of the book to be particularly helpful, and the enclosed CD-ROM contains all the forms and worksheets found in the text. This book is a necessary edition for those of us who want a music career and are willing to do the dull stuff it takes to get there.

A great title detailing the ropes for all the people involved in producing a hit record. Given that so many people are involved in the producing cycle, starting from the songwriter to the promoter to the performer, it is hard to collect all the information into one title. Fortunately John Stiernberg succeeded in putting all that is needed for producing hit records into one title, explaining the parts of all the people involved and detailing each role with real life examples.

I highly recommend this book to gain greater insights in the Music business or any business. It was a great buy along with a couple of manuals I purchased from Musicbrains.net entitled the Indie label Kit.

Open this book and enter a world of symphonies, mysteries, cheerleaders, romance, laughter, faith and love. Sharon Hinck managed to compose a story as entertaining as the symphonic music her main characters perform.

Amy Johnson has dreamt of playing flute professionally instead of for weddings. Her dreams are realized when she earns a place in the Minneapolis Symphony. But, what is she to do when her daughter becomes more interested in cheerleading than music, her attraction to the conductor leads to distraction and the mysterious disasters and near-misses threaten to close the symphony for good? She turns on her amateur sleuth skills to investigate and solve the crimes. Then she will be back in control of her life, her daughter, her destiny.

Amy's daughter starts attending church with her best friend and talking about God. Amy is certain God has no place in His heart for her. While playing in an ensemble between masses one Sunday, the creator of music touches a spot in her heart.

Will Amy solve the mystery before her beloved orchestra, her one chance at the profession, closes? Will she and her daughter find a way to reconnect? Will the attraction between Amy and Peter, the maestro, bud into something bigger before they drive each other crazy?

Read the book. You will laugh out loud. You will love the story and if you listen carefully, I believe you can hear the symphony playing. Sharon has done it again, creating great story and endearing characters. You'll want to revisit them and see how their lives turn out.

Amy is a single mom who has two passions in her life: her daughter and her flute. When she hears that tryouts are open to join the local symphony she jumps at the chance for what could finally be her big break. But it's not all happy melodies and cheery tunes. Amy has to put up with a jealous flutist and a daughter who can't seem to understand her passion for music. Then there's her symphony master who seems to have more than just a musical interest in Amy. To top it off someone seems bent on destroying the symphony's reputation and closing it down for good. Will Amy be able to use her amateur sleuthing skills to track the culprit?

I used to play an instrument. I played trumpet in the middle school band for three years. I got as high as first chair. So I could definitely related with Amy and her quest in the classical music world. Even if you're completely tone deaf, you won't get lost amid all the musical terms in this book. Everything is explained precisely so even the those who don't know a timpani from a tuba will be able to follow along. To be honest I didn't really like Clara that much. Usually it's because I bond with the protagonists that makes me dislike other characters who don't get along with them. I felt at times that Clara was selfish towards her mother's own wants and needs. Yes, Amy should have told her daughter the true story about her birth father from the beginning and not kept it a secret. But at the same time, I felt like it wasn't fair that Clara would place guilt trips on Amy for not being like the other moms. Obviously Amy was not a cheerleader type mom and I felt that Clara didn't seem to realize that being a single mom is not an easy task. I'm glad that for the most part they have a wonderful mother-daughter relationship but it just irked me a bit at the unreasonable demands placed on Amy at times. I loved the growing relationship between Amy and Peter. It wasn't your typical love story, fused instead with lots of humor and realistic feelings. The mystery part was great as well. Love seeing Amy's skills being put to use. This book was like several different stories combined into one - music, romance, relationship, mystery. Just like a medley of different songs, the author meshes them together to form a wonderful melody to the eyes. Another winner for Sharon Hinck!

I just finished reading Symphony of Secrets and loved it! I enjoyed how she wrote about a non-Christian and her journey towards faith which is unique in Christian fiction. Hinck made flutist Amy Johnson seem real as a musician with music affecting her whole life. I enjoyed all the music references. The dialogue was snappy and fun. The mother-teen daughter relationship was very real as well. I really appreciated how Amy was moved by the more classical piece she had to perform at the Basilica rather than through the contemporary music at the church her best friend attended. Of course all the Minnesota references were fun to visualize. Amy's sleuthing sometimes got a little over-the-top.

It is obvious the author is planning a sequel--I just hope it is sooner than later! I am anxious to see the church Amy chooses and her continued spiritual growth, Clara finding her father, and of course how her relationship with Peter, the conductor, develops. He is very endearing.

This is the first book I have read of Hinck's because I do not like sci-fi and the books about the young mom didn't interest this grandmother. But she nailed it with this one for me. I am seriously considering having our book club read it next year. I will certainly
recommended it to them as an interesting, fun, and good read.

Symphony of Secrets is the story of Amy Johnson who is a music teacher and single parent to Clara, her fifteen-year-old daughter. When a position for a flutist in the Minneapolis Symphony becomes available, Amy has the chance to fulfill the dream she gave up when she became pregnant. However, due to mysterious events that keep happening, the symphony is in danger of being closed and Amy's dream will once again be lost.

Adding to Amy's stress is the fact that Clara, who is also musically talented, is much more interested in being a cheerleader at her school than in studying music. Amy dreads having to socialize with "cheerleader moms" and participating in fundraisers. When the situation arises where she must choose between attending Clara's cheerleading competition or playing a solo at a symphony-sponsored event, Amy relives the guilt she feels at having let Clara down in the past.

Amy is a very dynamic character. Watching her agonize over the decision to be honest with Clara about her father's identity was moving. The guilt she felt about secrets from her past initially prevented her from trying to build a relationship with God. Her gradual change from disbelief to being open to the possibility of the existence of a higher power was well chronicled. I thought it was great that she did not have a revelation and instantly become religious because that is not how faith occurs. It grows over time.

My only difficulty with the story was the way Amy constantly put herself in dangerous situations while trying to find out who was sabotaging the symphony. She seemed obsessed with keeping her dream alive, regardless of the consequences. As a parent, she should acted more responsibly and let the authorities investigate.

Symphony of Secrets is a good story with great characters that contains two important messages. The first is that God seeks us out because He wants to help us. The second is not to make quick judgments about other people because first impressions are often misleading.

Armchair Interviews says: Unique look at parental love--and human guilt.

Single mother/music teacher Amy Johnson finally gets the break she has longed for--a place in the Minneapolis Symphony. It's a much needed boost after her daughter Clara announces that, instead of devoting more time to music, she is joining the cheerleading squad. Amy is quickly swept into a thrilling world of ego-driven musicians and concert sabotage. Wait, what? Concert sabotage? Yes, Amy's taste for mystery is challenged as well when strange "disasters" put the history of the Minneapolis Symphony in jeopordy. When Clara begins asking questions about her father, Amy has a much more intense problem than a mystery to sort out.

I have loved every one of Sharon Hinck's books and this story was no exception. Many moms will relate to Amy's parenting insecurities, her struggles over past mistakes, and her desire to follow life-long dreams. Symphony of Secrets is a fun yet heart-touching story of dreams and secrets . . . and yes, a little bit of mystery.

I have a number of Voice over books, and this one is hands down my favorite. Even though I've worked in the voice industry for years, there are so many proven voice techniques in this book that I keep it handy in my studio. I strongly recommend it to beginning students as well as veterans.

My favorite aspects of this book are:

- outstanding presentation of the fundamentals of voice over. When you read each technique, it's absolutely clear how to use it AND how it improves the result.
- great advice for revising my demos (or creating them if you don't have one)
- interviews with copy writers and agents, to give a real-world view of the industry

I've seen proven results in my own work, and I highly recommend this book to anyone serious about a career in voice over.

I'm at the beginning of my career in voice-over and I've read a good handful of books on the topic and taken tons of classes...but rarely has anyone "broken down" the essentials of technique quite as clearly and succinctly as Elaine Clark does in this book. For the first time, I felt like I had some practical tools I could refer to when approaching copy, which not only gave me a promising ground to start from, but also helped build my confidence and desire to "stick-to-it." Rather than give you hollow, abstract phrases about the need to connect emotionally to the copy, she shows you "how" to make it "yours." Obviously she's a great teacher with a lot of experience, as she leaves no stone unturned in this book with regards to what to expect in every aspect of this career and how to be best prepared so that you can succeed.

Elaine Clark is my guru. I have read this book a number of times since purchasing it in 2001, and I return to a number of specific passages when I need a refresher. Having worked steadily in this business for 20+ years, and having purchased many books on voice acting, I 've found "There's Money Where Your Mouth Is" to be my absolute favorite. The reader is taken from the basics to the multitude of details involved in running your own successful voice-over business.
Thanks to Elaine Clark, I have grown professionally as a voice actor, and enhanced my voice acting and copy interpretation skills.

If you are at all interested in VO, get this book. I read it cover to cover a year ago, and I've been cherry picking those areas that I've needed to focus on ever since. Now that I've marked up my copy at least three times and pages are starting to break loose of their binding, I'm ready to get an agent and start working. If your an actor or improvisor this book will help all areas of your artistic endeavors. The nuances & subtleties of speech are examined in great detail. The bottom line throughout this book is how to stop "acting" and be real. The market is hungry for every day real people. There's a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow, pick it up.

This book is very helpful for those new to the industry. It contains information about putting your demo together, about getting an agent, and has sample copy to practice with, and tips for exercising your voice. I definitely reccomend this for anyone who is interested in trying this line of work for the first time.