Customer Reviews

Do Re Mi: If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido D'Arezzo

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I never gave a thought to the system of written music or its inventor; the system of notes and clefs and staves seems so much bigger than one person could create. And yet, our system of musical notation was developed in the 10th century by an Italian monk from the tiny Tuscan town of Arezzo. This picture book biography explains the how and the why of Guide d'Arezzo's invention, including the struggles he had to go through to convince choirmasters and others that there was any benefit to written music. A fascinating story for musicians and non-musicians alike. The only fault I have with this book are the torn-paper collages. The scenery and backgrounds are lovely, but the human figures are so primitive and clunky looking that it detracts from the story.

I use this book in my music classes for grades 4 and above. I found it to be a great read and an interesting story for my students.

Thoughful and charming presentation of how musical notation came to be created. The choice of subject does credit to the author's questioning mind in that she decided to explore something that's been around for centuries and that we usually take for granted. It is important to let children know that some things that always seem to have been in existence were actually begun by someone who saw the need for innovation and did something about changing the situation.

If you can read musical notes you can sing or play any piece - but there was a time when songs had to be memorized lest they be forgotten. It was Guido d'Arezzo whose efforts lead to the sheet music records we have today, and his biography and challenges are here presented in a lively fictional form backed by solid facts. Kids in grades 2-4 will appreciate the fun, lively chatty format of DO RE ME: IF YOU CAN READ MUSIC, THANK GUIDO D'AREZZO: a fun survey which will reach fiction and nonfiction readers alike.

We use the solfege system described in this wonderful children's book to teach elementary students music and I will most certainly be sharing this book with them this year at school.

This is a delightful book for children which relates the methods used by early musicians to create the notation system now used world-wide. The story of Guido is a true historic story and will encourage your child to learn the DO-RE-MI system of reading vocal music.