Making Time for Making Music: How to Bring Music into Your Busy Life

by Amy Nathan

Overview

Are you a former music-maker who yearns to return to music, but aren't sure where to begin? Or are you a person who never played music as a child but you are now curious about trying? You're not alone. Many adults who used to play an instrument haven't touched it in years because either they can't find the time to practice, are afraid their skills are too rusty, or are unsure of what kind of group they could join. Others are afraid to sing or start playing an instrument because they received negative feedback from childhood experiences. Performing, practicing, and composing music may seem like unattainable goals with insurmountable obstacles for busy adults with non-musical careers.

Making Time for Making Music can help adults find ways to make music part of their lives. The first book of its kind, it is filled with real-life success stories from more than 350 adults who manage to fit music-making into their jam-packed schedules. They polished rusty skills, found musical groups to join, and are having a great time. Their testimonies prove that you are never too old to learn to make music, and that there are numerous musical paths to explore. Featuring advice from dozens of music educators, health care professionals, and music researchers who point out that making music can even be good for your health as well as an extensive resource list of websites, organizations, and summer programs, this book offers inspiration and tried-and-true strategies for anyone who wishes to return to music-making or begin as an adult.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190611590
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	05/22/2018
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Amy Nathan, an amateur pianist and choral singer, is an award-winning author of nonfiction books for adults and young people, including two music books for Oxford University Press: The Music Parents' Survival Guide: A Parent-to-Parent Conversation and The Young Musician's Survival Guide. Other books include: Meet the Musicians, Meet the Dancers, Round and Round Together, Yankee Doodle Gals, Count On Us, Take a Seat-Make A Stand, and The Kids' Allowance Book. A graduate of Harvard with masters' degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Columbia's Teachers College, she is the mother of two musical sons: her older son is composer Eric Nathan; her younger son is a saxophone-playing political scientist.

Table of Contents

1. A Lifelong Passion
2. The Benefits of Keeping on with Music
3. Making Music All Along
4. Returning to Music-Making
5. Trying Something New
6. Making Time
7. Instructional Options
8. Smart Practice
9. Making Music with Others
10. Performing
11. Giving Back, Playing Forward

About the Advice Panel
Bibliography
Resources
Author's Note
Acknowledgements
Credits
Index

What People are Saying About This

Through the Eyes of Women Radio, KHSU, NPR in Northern California - Brenda Starr

“Making Time For Making Music-How To Bring Music Into Your Busy Life helps busy adults figure out how to make music by singing in choirs and choruses or playing instruments in ensembles large and small, or even practicing solo at home —and discovering the joy and sense of community that comes from expanding their lives with music.”

ACMP, Associated Chamber Music Players - Jennifer Clarke

“Making Time for Making Music: How to Bring Music into Your Busy Life is packed with stories of adult musicians’ journeys back to music playing. Nathan's book tells of the benefits of music engagement as well as the many barriers that players overcome to enjoy playing music in adult life.”

From the Publisher

“Making Time for Making Music: How to Bring Music into Your Busy Life is a fascinating collection of stories from hundreds of people about their relationships with music. . . . a book that proves the importance of keeping music in our lives and the importance of chasing our dreams.”
— Dellan Stokesbary, Local Exposure,WVXU, Cincinnati Public Radio

“Making Time for Making Music: How to Bring Music into Your Busy Life is packed with stories of adult musicians’ journeys back to music playing. Nathan's book tells of the benefits of music engagement as well as the many barriers that players overcome to enjoy playing music in adult life.”
— Jennifer Clarke, ACMP, Associated Chamber Music Players

“Making Time For Making Music-How To Bring Music Into Your Busy Life helps busy adults figure out how to make music by singing in choirs and choruses or playing instruments in ensembles large and small, or even practicing solo at home —and discovering the joy and sense of community that comes from expanding their lives with music.”
— Brenda Starr, Through the Eyes of Women Radio, KHSU, NPR in Northern California

“ ‘Making Time for Music: How to Bring Music Into Your Busy Life,’ by Amy Nathan (Oxford University Press, 2018, 280 pages, $24.95). Great resource to get grown-ups inspired to begin or renew a love of music. The book includes a comprehensive reference section, as well. . . . Now go play.”— Wacky Mommy Blog, wackymommy.org

Local Exposure,WVXU, Cincinnati Public Radio - Dellan Stokesbary

“Making Time for Making Music: How to Bring Music into Your Busy Life is a fascinating collection of stories from hundreds of people about their relationships with music. . . . a book that proves the importance of keeping music in our lives and the importance of chasing our dreams.”

Editorial Reviews

"an excellent resource ... Here is a valuable resource for music educators, informing teachers on important issues for adult 'amateur' musicians and for music schools to plan appropriate individual and group programs. Due to the professional level of this study it would also be a useful document for researchers.Nathan's experience as a writer is evident in the readability and structure of this book." — , Anne BerryStringendo

"The soul of this work comes from the 441 adult amateur musicians who share their stories. . . Adult amateurs may just pick up some useful tips about practice, finding the right teacher, and techniques for dealing with stage fright, but perhaps the most useful of all, they'll find a sense of a wide vibrant community. It's never too late to pursue music on whatever terms you choose - and you certainly won't be alone on the journey." —Strings Magazine

"I don't know of any other book that gives such a comprehensive picture of adult music making activities. Everything from rock bands to bands and orchestras is included. . . . You may very well pick up some new ideas. . . . One very good outcome of reading this book is that it might encourage you to take on a new musical activity-learn a new instrument or play with a new kind of group." —Roy Ernst, Founder, New Horizons Music

"Most adult musicians would find the book to be a breath of fresh air, an encouragement to their musical experience and a comfort to read about the adults' musical challenges and joys that may mirror their own. . . . Making Time for Making Music deserves a place on every educator's bookshelf, and certainly has the potential to influence, inspire and enhance many lives."—American Music Teacher

"An inspirational guide. Readers can easily see how people of wide-ranging ages, backgrounds, and levels of musical expertise have found outlets for their creativity and passion ... Perfect for either novices or lapsed performers who want to embrace music but aren't sure how." — KIRKUS

"Making Time for Making Music: How to Bring Music into Your Busy Life is a fascinating collection of stories from hundreds of people about their relationships with music. . . . a book that proves the importance of keeping music in our lives and the importance of chasing our dreams." - Dellan Stokesbary, WVXU

"Making Time For Making Music: How To Bring Music Into Your Busy Life helps busy adults figure out how to make music by singing in choirs and choruses or playing instruments in ensembles large and small, or even practicing solo at home... and discovering the joy and sense of community that comes from expanding their lives with music." - Brenda Starr, KHSU

"Making Time for Making Music: How to Bring Music into Your Busy Life is packed with stories of adult musicians' journeys back to music playing. Nathan's book tells of the benefits of music engagement as well as the many barriers that players overcome to enjoy playing music in adult life. " - Jennifer Clarke, Associated Chamber Music Players

"Amy Nathan has written an engaging and lively book that strongly supports what millions of choral singers have learned: making music together makes our lives better. Making Time for Making Music will serve as great encouragement and a helpful resource to lifelong-learners who wish to enrich their lives through the awesome power of making music." -Catherine Dehoney, President and CEO, Chorus America

" Amy Nathan once again opens up the world of music to make it more accessible to more people. This book, by focusing on real stories, challenges, and benefits adults have faced keeping and bringing music into their lives, demonstrates how music is for all-at any level, at any point in life. Makes me want to get my flute out!" -Erika S. Floreska, Executive Director, Bloomingdale School of Music, NYC

From the Publisher

‘Making Time for Music: How to Bring Music Into Your Busy Life,’ by Amy Nathan (Oxford University Press, 2018, 280 pages, $24.95). Great resource to get grown-ups inspired to begin or renew a love of music. The book includes a comprehensive reference section, as well. . . . Now go play.

wackymommy.org - Wacky Mommy Blog

2018-08-22

Making music isn't just for professionals, according to this guide that aims to make the joys of playing and singing accessible to adults.

Nathan (The Young Musician's Survival Guide, 2008, etc.), a prolific author of books for children and their parents, turns her attention to adults who want to incorporate music into their lives. Unfortunately, she writes, "many people aren't aware of the range of music-making options that are available for people who choose not to pursue music professionally." In this encouraging, engaging volume, she quickly dispels the notion that being musical requires innate talent or years of rigorous training that must begin in childhood. To discover how "avocational" musicians manage to make time for playing, singing, and composing, she assembled a panel of 363 amateur performers who either completed open-ended questionnaires or shared their experiences in interviews. This trove of diverse, real-life stories helps turn this book from what could have been a ho-hum, how-to manual into an inspirational guide. Readers can easily see how people of wide-ranging ages, backgrounds, and levels of musical expertise have found outlets for their creativity and passion. After a brief overview of the advantages of "Keeping On with Music," which include cognitive benefits, social connections, and reduced stress, she discusses how three broad categories make it work. First are those who began playing as children and never stopped. Though dreams of performing professionally have been abandoned, these individuals have joined choirs, amateur ensembles, and semipro orchestras. There are also those who played in the past but gave it up for a time only to return, as well as adults who are new to making music (or at least new to their chosen instruments). She touches on the unique challenges each of these groups faces, from poor teachers and time constraints to lack of practice space and the belief that one is simply not good enough to play or sing. Throughout, the emphasis is on the pleasure that can come from making music, whatever one's skill level.

Perfect for either novices or lapsed performers who want to embrace music but aren't sure how.

Kirkus Reviews