All Together Singing in the Kitchen: Creative Ways to Make and Listen to Music as a Family (Book & CD) [Paperback]

Nerissa Nields (Author), Katryna Nields (Author), Dan Zanes (Foreword)

Book Description

Release date: September 13, 2011 | Series: Book & CD

Music is not only fun, but it's also the foolproof way to family harmony and connection—it can soothe a crying baby, engage an active toddler, entertain during long car rides, and help everyone get through daily chores.

In All Together Singing in the Kitchen you'll find all the tools you need for family music making—you don't need to know a thing about music to get started.  With over thirty songs (with lyrics, chords, and audio recordings) to get you singing, musical games to get you dancing, and tips on playing instruments to get you grooving, this book will help you make music a larger part of your family's life, from playtime to bedtime.


Making music with any group of people is one of the best and surest ways to forge deep emotional connections. Making music with the members of your family practically guarantees a lifetime of distinct, memorable, warm moments of togetherness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The Nields show you how to weave music into your children’s lives with glitter and grace. This wonderful go-to book will help real people create not just musical opportunities, but a musical home.”—Dar Williams

“Thank you to The Nields for gathering all of the ideas, hopes, stories, and songs that people love to share with each other and for putting them into this one generous, limitless, and inspiring book.”—Dan Zanes, from the foreword

“One part music and two parts fun. . . . I recommend this book to families, teachers, babysitters, and daycare providers to encourage children to be creative and to find joy in creating music together.”—Sacramento Book Review


“All Together Singing in the Kitchen is more than just helpful tips about singing together; it is an invitation to be fearless and sing our hearts out. Whether we’re parents, teachers, caregivers, or just a-traveling through this crazy world on our own, connecting with each other through music gives us those sweet moments of joy that we long for. Here is a collection of inspirational stories and great advice from fellow travelers on that musical connection highway.”—Annie Patterson and Peter Blood, editors of Rise Up Singing 

About the Author

Nerissa and Katryna Nields are national touring musicians and sisters, a part of the legendary band The Nields who toured North America throughout the nineties and into this millennium. As a duo, they were a part of Lillith Fair, and have shared the stage with Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Natalie Merchant, Suzanne Vega, Sarah McLaughlin, Dar Williams, the Indigo Girls, James Taylor, Joan Baez, the Band, 10,000 Maniacs, Billy Bragg, Dan Zanes, and countless others. With fifteen albums in fifteen years, they remain prolific. Now that they are parents to young children, they have expanded their repertoire to include the youngest in the folk festival crowds. They have released two family albums, All Together Singing in the Kitchen and Rock All Day/Rock All Night, and a family music DVD titled Organic Farm.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Roost Books; 1 Pap/Com edition (September 13, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590308980
• ISBN-13: 978-1590308981
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Singing works better than tylenol October 4, 2011

By ERT

Format:Paperback

This book is delightful and hilarious, full of the spark and joy The Nields bring to their stage shows. As a harried mom, I have only had time to read snippets here and there and use some of the songs off the CD, but it's enough! My 14 month old has been outrageously fussy recently--probably teething. I could not get him to stop crying this morning until I sang "Babar the Elephant" and gave him a ride on the "elevator." He went from crying, to indecisively caught between laughing and crying, to outright giggles. Same thing for diaper change--he was kicking and crying until I started in with "The Noble Duke of York" and then it was all smiles. Music is magic, and this book is the wand. Also them Nields gals is fun.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular book! October 2, 2011

By Benjaz

Format:Paperback

After decades of watching movies or playing games to pass the time I've only recently found the joys of playing music with my loved ones. I love looking up at the clock and realizing that hours of jamming have passed by in what seems like minutes. This book inspires me to do more and fills in the gaps as to why music makes me feel so good! The personal stories enrich the experience and make for a classic book that should be on every kitchen counter. The illustrations on the inside are all done by Katryna Nields and beautifully represent the profound impact that music has on all of us. Maybe she'll get to do the art on the 2nd edition cover!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich resource for musical and non-musical families September 30, 2011

By Mary Demerath

Format:Paperback

I was given a copy of All Together Singing in the Kitchen as a gift and I am amazed at by how thorough and well-written it is. I do not play an instrument, but am a part of a musical family. I now feel like I have some tools for being a part of the music my family makes together. I actually feel like it may be possible for me to learn basic guitar using some of the chord charts provided! My children are 4, 8, 10, and 15- and there are ideas for connecting musically with children of all ages here. There are guidelines for family songwriting, musical parties, or instituting all school sings at your child's school. My favorite parts, however, are the sweetly illustrated narratives inserted throughout the book detailing the cute and clever ways Katryna and Nerissa's children approach music.