Some trumpet drama

So my daughter is heading off to a wonderful overnight music camp tomorrow. One of her passions is playing the trumpet. While she plays in various orchestra and bands during the school year she loves to attend her music camp each summer. This Northern California music camp is set outside under the Redwood trees in a beautiful grove. It really is a stunning setting. Unfortunately in the past few days her trumpet has been acting up. Now, one might ask, how does a trumpet "act up". From a non-trumpet player it has something to do with the valves, slides and some interior issues that need to be fixed. Unfortunately there is also the possibility that the trumpet cannot be fixed. My heart goes out to her because she has been waiting all year to head back to this fabulous camp but if her trumpet isn't working properly how can she possibly enjoy herself and play beautiful music? While we try to fix this issue the day before she leaves for camp, a book comes to mind The Philharmonic Gets Dressed by Karla Kuskin. It is one of my favorites and I remember reading it over and over to my children when they were younger. It actually isn't a picture book but rather a beginning reader (probably level 3 or 4). It was at one time a Reading Rainbow Book, for those of you familiar with the Reading Rainbow series through PBS.

The story begins late at night. Outside it is dark and all around the city there are 92 men and 13 women getting dressed to go to work. We don't know where they are going or what they are doing, but we watch as they bathe, put on their underwear, and then their special black and white apparel. We try to guess what they are doing and where they are going. Then we watch all these people take a musical instrument and travel to town where they begin to work together, playing. It really is a gem of a book.

While I'm on the subject of music there is another wonderful author, Matthew Gollub that comes to mind. His stories include music and rhythm. Matthew's books are picture books and I have actually had the opportunity to see him speak/perform at a local book store for a group of children. He was fabulous. My favorite books of his include: The Jazz Fly,  and Gobble, Quack, Moon. Both of these books include a CD that you can listen to and follow along with the book.  Matthew's musical talents in these CD's are wonderful and they just make you want to get up and move to the beat. For more information on Matthew Gollub, check out his site at: http://www.matthewgollub.com