Kids in Musicianland: 5 Reasons to Stick with It, describes important reasons for young people to continue with music despite being distracted and pulled in different directions. The audience of readers is both teens and their parents, as stories are entertaining and personal. Unlike other books for young people about music, Kids in Musicianland is a quick and easy read that need not be studied cover to cover but can be used for inspiration and tips. Interviews with adults - radio announcers, professors, professional and amateur performers - illustrate the lifelong joys of keeping music in their lives. These 28 personal and unique stories encourage teens and 'tweens to not give up on music but to continue playing or singing throughout high school, college and their adult lives. The path to becoming a professional musician is not the thrust of Kids in Musicianland, but rather the inspiration of continuing playing music "for fun" and the social experiences and other benefits of being a musician: Reason 1: You Meet a Lot of People Reason 2: You're Part of a Team Reason 3: You're Part of History Reason 4: You Get to Travel Reason 5: You Balance Your Life with Music (From the author): "Music is forgiving and kind. People aren't born knowing how to play the cello or the violin or the flute. They have to learn how to play it -- from the very beginning, learning simply how to hold it in their hands. The musician is the magic that gives an instrument life. Be that magic."
About the Author: As a high school counselor for thirty-three years, Karyn Rashoff has spoken with thousands of parents and teens about school, college, life-and motivation (musical and otherwise). And as the author of a previous book, Parents in Highschooland: Helping Students Succeed in the Critical Years, she has had many conversations with parents and students about the value of a music program in school, or about taking private lessons in addition to school subjects. Seeing the confusion, misunderstandings and family conflict over music, she has now been moved to write to teens. sharing stories about musicians to persuade both children and parents to stick with music because of the lifelong joys it creates. Karyn herself observes: "As the parent of a son now grown to adulthood, I know how teens think, and I understand the tender family dynamics and power struggles in homes. He played cello for eight years in middle and high school orchestras, district honor orchestras, and the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, taking two European tours with the Irvine Classical Players. But it wasn't easy for either of us. "I myself took classical piano for eight years and abruptly stopped when I entered high school and became entranced with other things. Music took a back seat as I carefully put away all my sheet music, never once thinking of throwing or giving it away. "I've now re-entered music, singing in two community Master Chorales and in my church choir. And the rewards in every case are enormous. I'd forgotten the excitement of standing shoulder to shoulder with a single-minded group of steadfast singers as we reincar-nate choral music from centuries past. As our voices rise to-gether, I get goosebumps when I feel the pages of the music vibrate in my hands as I'm engulfed by perfect sound. "Therefore, I was inspired to write Kids in Musicianland as a product of my happy return to music after so many years away. I have re-discovered the gifts of delight and valued friendships from my involvement with music and musicians."