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*anj*

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Posts posted by *anj*

  1. I'm thinking about subscribing to the Naxos Music Library this year, and I'm trying to decide if it'll really be worth the money. Has anyone here ever done this? There seem to be (at least) two different levels of membership. One costs $225/yr., the other costs $19.95. I'm considering the less expensive one, but it's hard to see whether or not there are enough composers represented.

     

    I took a free 15 minute trial of the complete site, and it was really nice. There was an especially good children's section.

     

    Pro: Less expensive than purchasing all of the music that I want us to experience this year.

     

    Con: Potentially very expensive, plus there's some annoying copyright law in the US that prevents us from listening to certain genres through the site.

  2. I found How Does the Show Go On? An Introduction to the Theater by Thomas Schumacher very informative about all the work that goes into producing a Broadway show. Be aware, though, that this book is produced by Disney, and as such, overwhelmingly focuses on the Broadway shows that Disney has produced in New York.

     

    I just received my copy of this book, and oh my. I love it. It's a really nice book. I know that some children perform on stage regularly, and attend live theater often enough that these things are already really familiar. But I think that even those kids would enjoy a book like this. First of all, the layout is gorgeous. The colors are rich and vibrant. The book contains all kinds of cool things like a sample Playbill, a couple of scripts (I mean, paper scripts stuck in pockets, and you can pull them out!), sketches and swatches (individual swatches of paper, stuck in an envelope), liftable photos that show actors before and after make-up, wigs, etc.It covers the actual physical layout of a theater, how to read a ticket, kinds of shows, styles of theaters, lighting, costumes, props, backstage, lots and lots of stuff.It's usually $20, but you can get it on Amazon for only $8, so you really can't go wrong. And I actually have to give Disney credit. While this book highlights several of their live productions, I don't think that it is a cheesy attempt to make children beg for Disney stuff, you know? :001_smile:

     

    Shifra,

    Thanks so much for this recommendation. I think that my children will really enjoy this book and learn from it. :)

  3. You've already gotten lots of good advice. I love musicals. I have loved them ever since I first saw The Wizard of Oz as a kindergartner. I have a friend who is equally passionate, and we often speak to one another in lines from musicals. That probably sounds weird, but it's actually so much fun, and certain lines just beg to be sung in specific situations.

     

    Anyway....

     

    I would recommend that you just play the music in your house, in your car, wherever you are. Read the libretto and explain the context of the songs. If you can see some live performances, great. If not, rent some film versions of really great things like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma, Singin' in the Rain, etc.

     

    I hope this helps! :001_smile:

  4. I have specific authors/titles I want to use, and SL doesn't schedule them: MOH, Guerber, AAH, and Mike Venezia books are all on my must read list. I don't like History of the US

     

    Heather,

    This is kind of off subject, but can you flesh out these thoughts? Which titles by those authors? Why or why not? I know there has been a lot of debate about the History of the US series, but I never paid much attention because I wasn't using them.

     

    I'm making my TOG Y4 shopping list today, so I'd be really interested to learn the reasons behind the opinions that you stated above.

     

    Thanks! :001_smile:

  5. Hi there!

    I am thinking about registering ds 13 for a science class with The Potter's School. I'm just wondering if I can get some feedback about the various teachers. Can any of you recommend a specific teacher? Do you have strong feelings about anyone in particular?

     

    Please feel free to pm me, especially if you have something negative to say about a certain teacher.

     

    Thanks!

    --a

  6. Hi there!

    I am thinking about registering ds 13 for a science class with The Potter's School. I'm just wondering if I can get some feedback about the various teachers. Can any of you recommend a specific teacher? Do you have strong feelings about anyone in particular?

     

    Please feel free to pm me, especially if you have something negative to say about a certain teacher.

     

    Thanks!

    --a

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