Book Highlight: Marian Anderson, Singer and Barrier Breaker

Introducing: When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson

(Written by Pam Muñoz Ryan; Illustrated by Brian Selznick)

Are you familiar with Marian Anderson? She was an African American opera singer who lived through most of the twentieth century, astonishing her audience with her emotive singing and forging a pathway to opera for other people of color.

Enter the world of Marian Anderson with your children in the award-winning book, When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson. The book opens as if it were a staged performance, with scenes from Anderson's childhood. The story showcases her determined pursuit of vocal training and opportunities to perform, in spite of rejections by music schools and by the American public because of her skin color. Learn about Anderson's unique talent, her rise to fame, and her tours of Europe. Experience the triumph of Anderson's Lincoln Memorial concert and her debut at the Metropolitan Opera. With engaging prose and beautiful, sepia-toned illustrations, this book will immerse you and your child in the life and music of Marian Anderson.

When Marian Sang is used in our Primary A curriculum for Grades K-2. In addition to the "true recital" of Marian Anderson's life in the main text, the book also contains informative author's notes about Anderson, if you would like to dive deeper. When Marian Sang is just one example of the many beautiful and informative books that make up the core of Music Comes Alive.

Wondering how to acquire the books for Music Comes Alive? We encourage you to start with your local library system, where many of these books may be found. In many cases, you may also find these books through second-hand book stores/websites. For your convenience, we also sell the books for our curricula on our website. You can purchase them individually or as a course bundle.

Check out Primary A: Medieval Melodies to Musical Theater or Shop Primary A (Grades K-2)

Check out Elementary A: Medieval to Modern or Shop Elementary A (Grades 3-5)

Bring music to life at home with Music Comes Alive. Our easy-to-use, literature-based curriculum empowers YOU, the parent, to teach music in your homeschool!

Book Highlight: Beethoven and His Piano Builder

Introducing: What Music! The Fifty-Year Friendship between Beethoven and Nannette Streicher, Who Built His Pianos

(Written by Laurie Lawlor; Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander)

Did you know that the way Beethoven performed at the piano changed the way pianos are built? Enter the world of Ludwig van Beethoven with your children in What Music! The Fifty-Year Friendship between Beethoven and Nannette Streicher, Who Built His Pianos. Learn about Beethoven's rise to fame and descent into deafness and experience the joy of his triumphant Symphony No. 9 through the lens of his friendship with Nannette Streicher. An enduring friend whom Beethoven called "an uncommonly good influence" on his life, Striecher was an innovative piano builder. Her pianos, which were louder and sturdier than earlier instruments, were among Beethoven's favorites. With expressive text and lively illustrations, this book will immerse you and your child in the life and music of Beethoven.

What Music!, the book highlighted above, is used in our Elementary A curriculum for Grades 3-5. Featuring a compelling story and evocative illustrations, the book also contains informative author's notes about Beethoven, Nannette Streicher, and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. What Music! is just one example of the many beautiful and informative books that make up the core of Music Comes Alive.

Wondering how to acquire the books for Music Comes Alive? Many of these books can be found through your local library system or through second-hand book stores/websites. For your convenience, we also sell the books for our curricula on our website. You can purchase them individually or as a course bundle.

Check out Elementary A: Medieval to Modern or Shop Elementary A (Grades 3-5)

Check out Primary A: Medieval Melodies to Musical Theater or Shop Primary A (Grades K-2)

Bring music to life at home with Music Comes Alive. Our easy-to-use, literature-based curriculum empowers YOU, the parent, to teach music in your homeschool!

Book Highlight: Meet Mozart and His Musical Starling

Introducing: Star & the Maestro: How a Musical Bird Made Melodies with Mozart

(Written by Thor Hanson; Illustrated by Matt Schu)

Imagine sitting on the couch with your child and opening the pages of a beautiful picture book. Before you know it you and your child are transported to 18th century Vienna, immersed in the sights and sounds of the city and taking pity on a poor, unattractive starling whom no one wants. Imagine your joy when the musical maestro Mozart hears his very own piano concerto coming from the beak of the musical bird and brings him home. With rollicking rhymes and inspiring illustrations, you and your child will find yourselves cheering for Star, the musical starling, and for Mozart's music!

Star & the Maestro: How a Musical Bird Made Melodies with Mozart, the book highlighted above, is used in our Primary A (K-2nd) curriculum. In addition to the beautiful illustrations and lively text, it contains informative notes about the time period, the composer, and more details about the true story of the musical starling who inspired Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This book, just released on September 24, 2024, is only one example of the many beautiful and enlightening books that make up the core of Music Comes Alive.

Wondering how to acquire the books for Music Comes Alive? Many of these books can be found through your local library system or through second-hand book stores/websites. For your convenience, we also sell the books for our curricula on our website. You can purchase them individually or as a course bundle.

Check out Primary A: Medieval Melodies to Musical Theater or Shop Primary A (Grades K-2)

Check out Elementary A: Medieval to Modern or Shop Elementary A (Grades 3-5)

Bring music to life at home with Music Comes Alive. Our easy-to-use, literature-based curriculum empowers YOU, the parent, to teach music in your homeschool!