Marvin loves the piano and he loves music. He likes the music that he makes up in his head best, so he has a hard time when he is supposed to practice his lessons because he doesn’t like to play “old music”. He also has a hard time performing in front of other people. His parents think that he is good enough at the piano that they want him to audition at a special musical school, but he is nervous. They arrive to the audition early enough that Marvin and his father go to the roof to take a deep breath and look at the city. They get locked on the rooftop and by the time someone helps them get down they are late for the audition. Although he is flustered, Marvin imagines that he is on the roof with his father when he plays for the judges, plays his piece great and is accepted into the music school. The illustrations are great and this book is telling a story from the real composer, Marvin Hamlisch’s life which makes it even more interesting.
I think this is a great book for inspiring kids to keep practicing their instruments even though the songs they may have to practice aren’t always what they want to play. It also discusses what Marvin did about his stage fright, which also could help kids talk about ways to overcome their fear of performing in front of others.
EL (K-3) (4-6)-ADVISABLE.
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