Making Time for Making Music

Are you a former music-maker who yearns to return to music, but aren't sure where to begin? Or are you a person who never played music as a child but you are now curious about trying? You're not alone. Many adults who used to play an instrument haven't touched it in years because either they can't find the time to practice, are afraid their skills are too rusty, or are unsure of what kind of group they could join. Others are afraid to sing or start playing an instrument because they received negative feedback from childhood experiences. Performing, practicing, and composing music may seem like unattainable goals with insurmountable obstacles for busy adults with non-musical careers. Making Time for Making Music can help adults find ways to make music part of their lives. The first book of its kind, it is filled with real-life success stories from more than 350 adults who manage to fit music-making into their jam-packed schedules. They polished rusty skills, found musical groups to join, and are having a great time. Their testimonies prove that you are never too old to learn to make music, and that there are numerous musical paths to explore. Featuring advice from dozens of music educators, health care professionals, and music researchers who point out that making music can even be good for your health as well as an extensive resource list of websites, organizations, and summer programs, this book offers inspiration and tried-and-true strategies for anyone who wishes to return to music-making or begin as an adult.

Amy Nathan, an amateur pianist and choral singer, is an award-winning author of nonfiction books for adults and young people, including two music books for Oxford University Press: The Music Parents' Survival Guide: A Parent-to-Parent Conversation and The Young Musician's Survival Guide. Other books include: Meet the Musicians, Meet the Dancers, Round and Round Together, Yankee Doodle Gals, Count On Us, Take a Seat-Make A Stand, and The Kids' Allowance Book. A graduate of Harvard with masters' degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Columbia's Teachers College, she is the mother of two musical sons: her older son is composer Eric Nathan; her younger son is a saxophone-playing political scientist.

1. A Lifelong Passion 2. The Benefits of Keeping on with Music 3. Making Music All Along 4. Returning to Music-Making 5. Trying Something New 6. Making Time 7. Instructional Options 8. Smart Practice 9. Making Music with Others 10. Performing 11. Giving Back, Playing Forward About the Advice Panel Bibliography Resources Author's Note Acknowledgements Credits Index