School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-5-Everything about these books, each highlighting a single type of instrument, is beautiful. Poetic language describes the imagery each instrument's sound evokes ("Rumbling thunder. Waves crashing against rocks."), while well-composed photographs of details or performers take up the entirety of every facing page. Simple, declarative sentences place the instrument within its family, describe its physical aspects, and break down the parts of the instrument. Readers will learn the mechanism by which the instrument is played and creates sound and meet a musician (e.g., Elton John in Piano, David Gilmour in Guitar). A page of history highlights a precursor or early example, such as the dizi, a bamboo flute from China, or an early European instrument such as the pianoforte. Brief but well-edited back matter (e.g., a YouTube video of James Galway demonstrating embouchure in Flute) provides fascinating further exploration. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
These introductions to key instruments in each family border on simplistic (e.g., "a trumpeter pulls the water key to let water out"), but they have attractive photos that are well labeled, and the layout is uncluttered and accessible. In addition to covering basic parts, techniques, and historical background, each book concludes with a profile of a well-known performer. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Making Music titles: Drums, Flute, Guitar, Piano, Trumpet, and Violin.] (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
