Horning in: The Grown-Up's Guide to Making Music for Fun [Paperback]

Jerry Germer (Author), Lucie C. Germer (Author, Illustrator), Adrenne Spector (Editor), Lucie Germer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2000

A how-to book to inspire adults to take up a musical instrument, with advice on overcoming obstacles, choosing an instrument, finding the best learning method, and finding other amateurs to play with. The text draws on the expertise of the authors, both amateur musicians, and the experiences of many other adults whose quality of life is enhanced by making music. Over 100 cartoons and illustrations make the book as entertaining as it is informative. The appendix gives a list of helpful resources, glossary, and index.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Architect Jerry Germer and his wife, Lucie (an ESL teacher), "want to get you playing, either going back to an instrument you once played, or taking up something completely new." In a conversational, folksy way, they challenge adults to put aside their age, talent (or perceived lack thereof), physical limitations, time limitation, and any other excuses; making music, they stress, is a fun activity. Drawing on their experience as amateur musicians, the experiences of others, and advice from professional musicians, they provide guidelines for choosing the right instrument, deciding on a workable learning plan, and finding outlets for music-making. They also list some information on burgeoning web-related resources. Studies examining the benefits of adult participation in music organizations are fairly common, but resources like this one, devoted to encouraging adult music-making, are virtually nonexistent. For public libraries.
-Janet Brewer, Murray State Univ. Lib., KY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Horning In is a virtual mini-encyclopedia of unpretentious, easy-to-assimilate practical wisdom on the subject of the hows, whys, and whats for adults learning to play musical instruments. If you've always wanted to play a musical instrument but "never seem to get around to it," this book could be the kick in the pants that gets you going. If you've started but don't know what you should do next, this could be the book that gets you back on track. If you are now playing an instrument and having a good time with it, this book can help you have an even better time. -- John Payne, Founder, The John Payne Music Center, Brookline, MA.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Frost Hill Pr; 1st edition (April 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967551706
• ISBN-13: 978-0967551708
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,761,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, motivating, practical, effective., May 3, 2000

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horning in: The Grown-Up's Guide to Making Music for Fun (Paperback)

In Horning In, Jerry and Lucie Germer collaborate to turn music-loving adults into music-creating adults. A lively, accessible text is enhanced with cartoons to inspire the reader to get started at making whatever kind of music will recharge his or her spiritual batteries, prove self-fulling, and provide sheer fun through the joy of creating and performing. Horning In is the ideal "getting started" guide for anyone who has never before played an instrument of any kind, as well as for the man or woman who once played an instrument in their youth but whose adult life has been too filled with the necessities of making a living for them to continue earlier ambitions for music making. This mini-encyclopedia offers inspiration and information that will prove invaluable to starting (or re-starting) a personal involvement in amateur music as either a therapy to relieve modern stress or just for the fun of it!