Adventures in Singing

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Very helpful

Very good book

My review

Adventures in Singing
Clifton Ware
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

Voice | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Basics of Singing (5th Edition)

The Private Voice Studio Handbook: A Practical Guide to All Aspects of Teaching

Foundations in Singing

The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults: A Manual for Teachers of Singing and for Choir Directors (with accompanying CD of sample vocal faults)

Basics of Vocal Pedagogy

ASIN: 0072978406

Book Description

This popular text combines a thorough introduction to the singing process with an anthology of 60 songs. While offering a clear introduction to the basic workings of the voice and methodical voice-building techniques, the text takes a holistic approach, reflecting the view that the study of singing helps students develop greater self-awareness of body and mind. Piano accompaniments of the songs included in the anthology are provided on the companion CD.

Customer Reviews:

Very helpful.......2007-01-09

As a novice singer in our community chorale, I was looking for a book that would review the basics (I sang in high school groups long ago) and teach me things to help me keep up with the near professionals in this group. The beginning section was an asset with lessons on breathing, sight reading, techniques for practice and many other valuable subjects. The last 2/3 of the book contains songs that have been around for years that provide opportunities for further practice. I would say this is a good book to use when wanting to review or learn the basics. It was recommended by my voice teacher.

Very good book.......2005-05-05

This book is very well thought out and written. Lots of good information for beginning and probably advanced singers. Lots of theory and lots of song. Definitely get the accompanying CD set.

My review.......2000-10-10

The book had a lot of information on the importance of voice. It taught an individual how to develop and how to effectively use one's voice to it's fullest potential. It made the ability to develop one's talent much easier that what was atually thought by many people, especailly me.

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Love this book
My Son's favorite Dragon book
A great book to share with children of all ages!
Sophisticated, Yet Fun
Kids love this book, so do I

The Dragons Are Singing Tonight
Jack Prelutsky
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0688161626

Amazon.com

"If you don't believe in dragons, / It is curiously true / That the dragons you disparage / Choose to not to believe in you," matter-of-factly claims America's premiere children's poet Jack Prelutsky. Dragons aren't all the same, of course--some are amiable, some are disconsolate, and some are downright nasty. Here Prelutsky, who has written over 30 books of poetry for children, turns his considerable talents to the subject of dragons--a secret dragon, a thunder dragon, a mechanical dragon, even a lazy dragon who likes to sleep all day. The 17 poems range from the whimsical to the scary, but all reflect Prelutsky's incomparable flair for rhythm and humor. The fabulous fire-breathers are illustrated in all their irresistible splendor by award-winning artist Peter Sis. The sophisticated style of his large oil paintings is complemented by his trademark borders in antique gold, giving the pages an Old World look. If you don't believe in dragons then you need this book, because the magical combination of art and poetry will make you and your kids believers. If you listen closely, you might even hear the dragons singing tonight: "We are dragons! We are real!" (Click to see a sample spread. Text © 1993 by Jack Prelutsky. Illustrations © 1993 by Peter Sis. Permission by Greenwillow Books.) (Ages 5 to 9) --Marcie Bovetz

Book Description

An "excellent collection....Prelutsky and Sis...bring to life so many sorts of dragons: the large, the small, the ferocious, the technological, the gentle, the ominous, and the disconsolate. There's a `just right' quality to the verse that makes it a pleasure to read the words aloud. Their sounds fit together with seamless craftsmanship and their sense rewards listeners with humor, imagination, and occasional poignancy....Because it appeals on so many levels, this is one poetry book that won't siton the shelf for long."--Booklist.

Customer Reviews:

Love this book.......2006-08-29

I had a soft copy for my two kids and they trashed it from use. I was thinking about it when we decided to theme the office programming area the "Dragon's Lair". So I bought two copies, one for my daughter and one for our artist. My daughter immediately remembered the book and it is now read 1-2 times a week for her. My artist draws dragons for fun so she is about as happy as my daughter!

My Son's favorite Dragon book.......2006-04-28

This is a wonderful book with beautiful illustrations. When my son was a preschooler I would read this to my son at bedtime cover to cover. Now as a second grader, he is reading it himself and also used one of the poems for a poetry reading at his school.

As an adult I too enjoy the poems. They are well written with a lot of imagination. I love this book as much as my son does. If you looking for a great book about Dragons this is a must. It also makes a beautiful gift for other children. A must have for every childs library.

A great book to share with children of all ages!.......2005-09-12

We have enjoyed sharing this book with all three of our girls as well as with nieces and nephews. All the children are riveted as we read these poems aloud. Nasty Dragon and Boom are a couple of their favorites. I have also purchased this for gifts and the parents always have raved how wonderful this book is. Happy reading!

Sophisticated, Yet Fun.......2004-05-07

When I first read this book, I was six years old, and very enthralled with dragons. Now I'm well past my "Dragon Phase," but I still find this book a joy to read. The poems are very well written, considering the age group this book is meant for, with some large words such as "disconsolate" and "cacophonous". As a little kid, I actually learned some new vocabulary words from having the poems read to me. I like how the poems have many different moods: some are playful, some serious, some funny, and some scary. But the best part to me is the illustrations. They are detailed and creative. I used to just stare at the last picture in the book (A rustic scene of a mountain shaped like a dragon) and imagine I was there. Overall, this is a wonderful picture book.

Kids love this book, so do I.......2003-08-14

We got this book as a gift. I love the poems, and they read with a sort of happy cadence, even the ones with the more wicked lyrics. But more than anything, I really enjoy the artwork, which is reminiscent of illuminated manuscripts. Very appropriate. After reading this to my kids, I like to watch them run around pretending to be fire-breathing monster dragons. Much fun.

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Feel the Fire

Can't Stop The Shine (Kimani Tru)
Joyce Davis
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0373830785

Book Description

When an American Idol-like competition comes to Atlanta, Kalia and Mariama Jefferson (sisters who couldn't be more different) stop arguing long enough to agree on one thing: Kalia has to try out. A senior at a prestigious performing arts high school, Kalia has a shot at making her dream come true. And with sixteen-year-old Mariama cheering her on, Kalia sings her heart out, eager to beat thousands of other hopefuls.

But when Kalia makes the top twenty, the competition really begins—on stage and at home. Suddenly, Kalia and Mariama are up against each other. And there's only one way to win….

Customer Reviews:

Feel the Fire.......2007-04-17

In Can't Stop the Shine by Joyce E. Davis, we are taken into the home of the Jefferson sisters. Mariama (Mari), 16, and her sister Kalia, 18, are born on the same day but two years apart and could not be more different. Mari, a student at a prestigious Atlanta-area private school is a stellar student and an athlete excelling in track & field. Besides having a competitive spirit, Mari loves hip-hop and hanging out with her two best girlfriends, Colby and Shauntae. On the other hand, because Kalia sings, acts and plays classical piano, she attends their local area high school where there is a performing arts program. Kalia spends her time with her best friend since they were young children, Dewayne, who lives just across the street.

Mari encourages her sister to enter a singing competition at their local radio station. If she wins, Kaila will obtain a one-year recording contract with Fire Records and be able to record an album. Although hesitant, because it really goes against her grain, Kaila enters the contest. What she learns through this process tells her a lot about people in the music industry and she also learns something about herself, mainly how to persevere while having relationship issues of her own and seeing her parents go through marital problems.

Joyce E. Davis does a magnificent job of illustrating the bond between two sisters, enduring difficult times and sharing in joyous occasions. What the sisters experience are real-life issues that affect average African-American teenage girls all the time. I enjoyed the story from beginning to end, learning about the characters and how they develop into better people because of their circumstances. The characters, storyline and language were very age-appropriate for the age group intended and I would recommend this book to any African-American high-school girl that needs encouragement to read more.

Lena Willis
APOOO BookClub

Adventures in Singing: A Process for Exploring, Discovering, and Developing Vocal Potential with CD (Audio)

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Adventures in Singing: A Process for Exploring, Discovering, and Developing Vocal Potential with CD (Audio)
Clifton Ware
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Langua
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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ASIN: 0072998504

Spotlight on Charity: A Story About Overcoming Selfishness : Featuring the Psalty Family of Characters Created by Ernie and Debby Rettino (Kids' Praise Adventure Series)

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Spotlight on Charity: A Story About Overcoming Selfishness : Featuring the Psalty Family of Characters Created by Ernie and Debby Rettino (Kids' Praise Adventure Series)
Ken Gire
Manufacturer: W Pub Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0849999995

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A form of cruel and unusal punishment
The Black Canary
Canary sings true
Caged Canary

The Black Canary
Jane Louise Curry
Manufacturer: Margaret K. McElderry
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689864787

Book Description

Twelve-year-old biracial James has grown up in a musical family. Not only are both of his parents musicians, but his four grandparents are as well. Everyone assumes that James will pursue music, yet he would rather become a newspaper reporter...or an astronomer...or a cook...anything that will let him leave music behind and be his own self.

Everything changes when, on a family visit to London, James discovers a portal that leads to London in the year 1600, then finds himself unable to return to the point in time he had left behind. James is forced to join the Children of the Chapel Royal, a group that performs for the queen of England, and the musical talents he denied are now put to the test and pushed to their limits. In this alternate world James comes to realize that he cannot survive and get back to the twenty-first century without recognizing, understanding, and making the most of his musical gifts.

Jane Louise Curry brings Elizabethan London to life in this remarkable story about music, family, and finding one's place in the world.

Customer Reviews:

A form of cruel and unusal punishment.......2006-04-18

The children's book, The Black Canary, is a lackluster book that took me to snoozeville. Jane Louise Curry did a good job of writing about a kid that time travels to the1600s; however, the book does not keep the interest of children. It seems that she is not writing for children, certainly not for young boys, but for a seniors' knitting club. She uses no action whatsoever. Every time I thought that something exciting was going to happen to the main character, James, it did not. The book also confused me. I had a very hard time trying to keep up with James' whereabouts. Each time I turned a page, he was politely walking somewhere new, not previously mentioned in the book. I do not consider myself an avid reader; therefore, when I pick up a book I want to be entertained. The Black Canary, though interesting, was laborious and not pleasurable. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend The Black Canary to a senior knitting club. I plead with parents not to buy this for their 12-year-old sons, unless they are looking for a form of cruel and unusual punishment.

The Black Canary.......2005-10-04

Anyone who does not enjoy this lovely adventure of a young boy struggling to keep out of the grip of his musician family, or at least find his own music, has not sat at a window and daydreamed enough in his/her life! A compelling story with historical accuracy made palatable and fascinating, from dress of the period to what everyone ate at table, The Black Canary sings. A perfect book for the holidays for anyone, child or adult. Miss Curry's books take children's literature to another level, which, in this age of bite information, gives a child a bite he can chew.

Canary sings true.......2005-08-13

Jane Curry's "The Black Canary," contrary to the view of the previous reviewer, is an engrossing read: my 13 year-old grandson went right through it (he quit "Harry Potter" V) and pronounced it "Good," which for him is the second-highest praise (first is reserved at the moment for the Artemis Fowl books). He especially liked the intriguing portal, through which James travels from contemporary London to the London of the Children of the Chapel Royal and the plots against Queen Elizabeth I, a portal which takes him to different points in both times, so that he has to arrange his final return to the present to precede the dramatic accident that placed him in the Thames in the winter of 1600. He also comes to feel responsible for helping one of his peers to save the boy's uncle from a coming purge of plotters against Queen Elizabeth, and figures out how to do this while still effecting his return "home."

Curry is clearly interested in the world of the Elizabethan theater--Ben Jonson and other documented figures connected with the child actors and singers are characters--and the complicated politics of the time. Young readers may not be specifically interested in early music or English history, but they'll likely remember the ambience of this book when they do come to read about the Elizabethan age or go to a Shakespeare play or an early music concert. The main characters--James and his rival/mentor in the company, Jack--are compellingly drawn, and minor characters such as James's parents (one black, one white--hence James's sobriquet as "The Black Canary" when he is pressed to sing for Queen Elizabeth) and the singing teacher, not to mention Ben Jonson, are vivid and memorable. The details of contemporary London vs. London in 1600 give a lively contrast for readers thinking about how people lived then and now.

I read quite a few young people's books because I vet them before sending them to my grandson (or he recommends books to me). We like books that are well written, with neat, surprising plots and interesting characters (other books we've liked are "Holes" and "Hoot," as well as Eion Colfer's Fowl series). Maybe not everyone in the school to which the other reviewer gave the book will "get" it, but those curious about other times or experiencing difficulty finding a grownup self out of the tangle of insecurities and sometimes resentments of early adolescence will enjoy it and learn from it. Also, I thought it was well written without being at all precious.

Caged Canary.......2005-02-28

With the attention-grabbing theme of time travel, Curry could have gone far into the literary cosmos with this text but instead the book runs out of fuel far short of where this plot could have ventured. She goes into long, rambling descriptions of incidential items and flash backs almost losing her young readers in wordy passages barely connected to preceeding thoughts. Curry could have done a better job with the main character's impressions of 17th century London. The author should have better expressed the differences in the character's life in two different worlds instead of describing rocks, curtains and feathers, etc.
I purchased this book as a donation for a school library. I hope the youngsters don't get lost in this book's outer space of disconnected words. Curry kept this canary in the cage.

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The Singing Snowbear
Carol Grigg
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0395942233

Book Description

When Snowbear hears a beautiful and mysterious sound coming across the ice floes, he wonders who or what is making it. Snowbear wants to learn how he can make this music too. The melodies haunt him until he feels he has to find out where they are coming from. He leaves his home and sets off across the ice to seek the music maker. Along the way he meets Walrus, Arctic Fox, and Raven, who give him advice but do little to help him in his long and arduous search. When he finally finds the source of the soulful sounds, it is not what he expected, and he is soon called upon to use his own strength and talents to rescue the mysterious music maker.

Singing in Baghdad: A Musical Mission of Peace

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An Epic of Human Courage, Caring and Connection

Singing in Baghdad: A Musical Mission of Peace
Cameron Powers
Manufacturer: GL Design
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0974588253
Release Date: 2006-03-16

Book Description

A real-life modern Musical Mission of Peace into Baghdad: American couple put their hearts on the line and invade Iraq by singing popular Arabic music on the streets of Baghdad as the US Marines invade with weaponry in the spring of 2003. They give another message to Iraqi people: we're here to sing and to learn and to listen. How were they received? And what was it like for them in the streets of Cairo, Ramallah, Amman and other Arab cities armed only with their singing voices and an Oud, an ancient Arabic lute? This is a fantastic view into the hearts and minds of the Arab world unparalleled and unique in modern reporting.

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Customer Reviews:

An Epic of Human Courage, Caring and Connection.......2007-06-07

I just finished reading this amazing book by Cameron Powers and highly recommend it. It is an incredible tale of the beauty of the Middle East, the generosity and humanity of the men, women and children who inhabit those countries and make them palaces of the heart. As one reads this amazing tale of human warmth and connection, one can only be dismayed by the treacherous foreign policies of U.S. and European government and corporate agents who justify genocide by pretending that people who seek to defend themselves from murder, rape, torture, theft, deceipt, violation of international laws, etc., are anything less than human.

But this book is NOT a political polemic or diatribe. It is a story of amazing friendships, of opulent hospitality, of heartfelt generosity - and the amazing capacities of Palestinians, Iraqis, Jordanians, Syrians and Egyptians to open their hearts, their homes, and their treasures to people willing to simply taste and receive. This book is an amazing invitation to be about our lives as individuals liberated from any false allegiance to the plunder rackets orchestrated by government and corporate thugs in our name.

Dare to Live! Dare to Love! Read this Book and Rejoice in your own freedom to choose, to connect, and to make your own way daringly and lovingly!

Average customer rating:

Novel breaks the rules, but manages to fall flat.
Stayed Up Late to Finish This One!
Well Written, Interesting, Thriller!
If you enjoy Sandford's "Prey" books, you will enjoy this!
Now for something different: Amberg nukes the genre's rules

Blackbird Singing
Jay Amberg
Manufacturer: Forge Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312865546

Amazon.com

Among the many things Jay Amberg does right in this sharp and savage new thriller is to create a credible monster--a physically and psychologically maimed computer wizard named James Robert Saville. This character plans and executes the kidnapping of the 9-year-old daughter of Chicago Bulls superstar Robert "Sky" Walker and his glamorous, high-profile television news reporter wife.

Amberg quickly makes us believe that Saville really is a master of the electronic universe, smarter than the people pursuing him and also able to do all the hard work necessary to make his plan succeed. The only cop with a shot at stopping him is a suburban detective named Tom Hopkins, a decent, dedicated man with undiscovered links to Saville's past, plus the obvious integrity to earn the trust of a jaded but ultimately likable sports legend like Walker.

Two other characters add depth to Amberg's strong story: an ambitious, amoral television journalist manipulated by Saville, and Walker's slick, secretive lawyer with an agenda of his own. There are several disturbing moments of pain involving children, but they're there for reasons of realism rather than exploitation. --Dick Adler

Book Description

Everyone thinks that Robert "Sky" Walker has it all. And they're right. He's the world's most famous athlete and the darling of the Chicago Bulls; his wife is an internationally adored and beautiful anchorwoman; his nine-year-old daughter, Tonya, is the apple of his eye. He has money, fame, awards, and a picture-perfect family. Sky Walker has everything. And he loses it in a twinkling.

Sky Walker's world comes crashing down when Tonya is kidnapped. At first, there is no ransom demand-only deranged e-mail messages, incendiary faxes, and provocative photographs sent to the media. As the world watches on television, lead after lead evaporates. Tom Hopkins, the head investigator is rapidly caught in the middle of what is fast becoming an out-of-control media circus when he realizes that he's dealing with an insane hacker whose motives are highly complex-having more to do with revenge and megalomania than with money.

As the story unfolds, Hopkins and Walker discover they're caught up in an increasingly dangerous web of escalating violence, media mania, massive egos, computer wizardry, and high-tech madness. Inevitably, Hopkins becomes a target of the warped genius who abducted Tonya Walker-a genius who has concocted a climax designed to stun the world and link his name forever with the crime of the century.

Customer Reviews:

Novel breaks the rules, but manages to fall flat........2005-09-08

Jay Amberg's "Blackbird Singing" tries to be a thriller involving a twisted hacker out on a spree for revenge and infamy, a very good local cop, and a kidnapped girl, the daughter of a basketball superstar in Chicago. The novel tries to turn convention on its head by the way it ends, but the violence in here, and some of the one-dimensional scumbags who reap the whirlwind deservely, bring it down into the mire of mediocredy. The villian was so irrating that I wanted him to die, just because he wouldn't stop with the old Beatles music musing that are so annoying.

Stayed Up Late to Finish This One!.......2000-03-10

I love a good detective thriller and this one certainly fills the bill. Likeable, hard-working Commander Tom "Hoop" Hopkins faces seemingly unsurmountable odds in trying to catch the cyber-kidnapper of Tanya Walker, 9-year-old budding-gymnast daughter of the Chicago Bulls' superstar player, Sky Walker, and his glamourous anchor-woman wife. Lots of characters get involved in this fast-paced story and I'm still having trouble figuring out what to do with Pit Bull, the sleazy t.v. reporter...but that's okay. The story twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my chair. I had started to bed and finally gave up and just got a cup of tea and finsihed the book! I hope there are more books forthcoming about this group of dedicated law enforcers...Hoop, Carl Henderson of the FBI and others. We gotta catch that brutal Saville. Surely he can't get away to Europe never to be heard from again. This book is truly a "thriller" in every sense of the word. A really good read!

Well Written, Interesting, Thriller!.......1999-07-09

I agree with the reviewer below who compared this book with John Sandford's "Prey" series. Blackbird Singing's hero, Tom Hopkins, is very similar to the Lucas Davenport hero of the Prey series. The only reason I gave this book 4 instead of 5 stars is because you need a scorecard to keep track of who's who and who does what for whom. Otherwise I really enjoyed this book and hope to see more stories involving Tom "Hoop" Hopkins.

If you enjoy Sandford's "Prey" books, you will enjoy this!.......1998-11-09

Jay Amberg's "Blackbird Singing" is a sensational thriller, that one only hopes is the first of many. Tom Hopkins, the lead detective in a much publicized kidnapping, is very likeable and believable. As a reader you will want to become better acquainted with him. What we do learn is that he is able to match wits with the cunning, delusional, computer-genius kidnapper who has captured the daughter of the famous Chicagoland basketball hero, Robert "Sky" Walker. We also learn that he is as vunerable as the rest of us. If you are a fan of John Sandford's "Prey" books or Robert Tannenbaum's many thrillers, you will enjoy Jay Amberg's "Blackbird Singing".

Now for something different: Amberg nukes the genre's rules.......1998-09-28

Everyone believes that Robert and Monique-Jones Walker have it all. He is the NBA's finest player and she is an internationally renowned news-anchor. They both love and adore their-nine year old daughter Tonya. However, the perfect world abruptly collapses when Tonya is abducted by an insane hacker.

It becomes apparent that this is no ordinary celebrity kidnapping. No ransom appears. Instead, E-mail notes, ugly faxes, and nasty pictures are sent to the media. Revenge for some apparent slight seems to be the motive. As the Walkers become more desperate by the minute, others see this as the international case that will bring them fame and fortune even if it costs the victim her life.

BLACKBIRD SINGING is a taut thriller that will either elate readers with its unending excitement or leave them feeling extremely nauseous. The story line is fast-paced and graphic, and genre rules are smashed in not so pleasant ways. This will definitely leave some of the audience (not just purists) upset, but actually adds to the overall demeanor of the tale. The characters are intriguing, but extremely sad, anxious, and tragic. Jay Amberg scribes a brilliant kidnapping who-done-it, but some individuals will have problems with the lack of relief from the unending madness of the culprit and the melancholy of the Walkers. A bit of comic or other relief from the constant downward spiral would have left everyone singing the praising of Mr. Amberg.

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