Here are 100 books that Itzhak fans have personally recommended if you like
Itzhak.
Book DNA is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.
I have been a professional violinist and teacher for over 30 years. I perform in the Washington-Idaho Symphony and specialize in the Suzuki method. My studio at the University of Idaho Preparatory Division includes violin and viola students ages 5-18. My career as an author began when I searched the shelves at my local library for books for my students to read. Only a few books about classical music graced the shelves. So I decided to try to do something about the void I noticed. My second book, about a trailblazing woman composer erased in history because of her gender, is forthcoming from Bushel & Peck Books.
Mo Williams has hit all the right notes in this lushly illustrated book for young readers. How does one grow up to be a classical musician? Wellā¦ one beautiful moment leads to anotherā¦and anotherā¦and another.
Just as in this book, one magical experience in my young life changed everything. Because my 4th grade teacher took our class to see the original Disney Fantasia film, I heard, for the first time, the sound of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Shadows of violin bows danced across the panoramic movie screen as the musicians, conducted by Leopold Stokowski, performed Bachās Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Because of how that moment sounded and felt, I found my calling Ģ¶ the violin. Thatās how it happens. One precious musical moment leads to another, to places you never dreamed you would go.
1
author picked
Because
as one of their favorite books, and they share
why you should read it.
This book is for kids age
3,
4,
5, and
6.
What is this book about?
Mo Willems, a number one New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, composes a powerful symphony of chance, discovery, persistence, and magic in this moving tale of a young girl's journey to center stage. Illustrator Amber Ren brings Willems' music to life, conducting a stunning picture-book debut.
In 1894, Annie Cohen Kopchovsky set out to ride her bicycle. Not to the market. Not around the block. Not across town. Annie was going to ride her bike all the way around the worldābecause two men bet no woman could do it. Ha!
This picture book, with watercolor illustrationsā¦
Iāve been fascinated with financial literacy for a long time. I have an MBA and have worked in banking and the mortgage industry for more than 15 years. I am passionate about helping people understand concepts and terms that, at times, are obfuscated. Now that I have a son of my own, I am constantly looking for books that expose him to a variety of topics, not just financial. I am always checking out library books for him that will educate him about the world around him. My list of books is curated to some of my favorite educational books that he and I both love!
This book is a little different than a typical childrenās board book or picture book. Itās a hardcover book that plays 11 different snippets of classical music that coordinate with the story as it progresses.
This book was the first time my son was exposed to classical music, and itās how we found out how much he loves it. He has had this book for about two years, and itās still an absolute favorite!
Classical music comes to life like never before in this magical journey through 11 timeless compositions. Meet Allegro, an ordinary boy who can'tĀ stand practicing the piano. Those black dots on the page drive him crazyāuntil the music itself whisks him away on a breathtaking journey. Each beautifully illustrated scene on Allegro's journey is accompanied by a famous classical theme that can be played with the press of a button. Hear Grieg's "Morning Mood" while meandering through a misty meadow, Dvorak's "New World Symphony" while exploring uncharted lands, Debussy's "Claire de Lune" while pondering a shimmering night sky, and 7ā¦
I am an award-winning composer, author, and educator. Since 1990 I have had the privilege of teaching others about music through my concerts, childrenās books, academic books, lessons, and online courses.
Listen to the Birds is part of the series An Introduction to Classical Music. Author Ana Gerhard chooses a different theme for each book and then puts together a collection of songs by various composers which is related to that theme. What a great idea! The included CD only gives you excerpts from the pieces, but that is probably because it is meant as an āintroā to classical music for a younger audience with a shorter attention span. I would recommend despite this downside, since further listening can always be done separately from the book if the readers are interested to hear more.
Throughout history birds have caught the imagination of composers and inspired their creativity, and this selection of works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, and others introduces children to classical music through the discovery of the melodious similarities between notes produced by instruments such as the flute, the organ, and the harpsichord and the birdsā songs. In addition to lovely illustrations, the book features a glossary of musical terms, a short biography of each composer, and a brief description of each bird evoked or mentioned in the composition. The accompanying CD offers excerpts of 20 differentā¦
The summer holidays have finally arrived and Scout canāt wait for her adventure in the big rig with Dad. Theyāre on a mission to deliver donations of dog food to animal rescue shelters right across the state. Thereāll be dad-jokes, rock-collecting, and a brilliant plan that will make sure everyoneāsā¦
Iāve been playing the violin since I was 3, so as of 2022, itās been 15 years. I believe that music unifies, and is a catalyst for social change, social justice, and equity. Iāve written two childrenās books about different powers of music: Bailey Brings Her Friends Together with Musicand The Aria in Me. With both of these books, I donate 100% of my proceeds to Kidznotes, a local North Carolinian organization, which provides underserved youth ensemble-based music instruction for personal, social, academic, and musical development and growth. I chose this list to inspire and captivate young readers and hopefully help them fall in love with music. :)
This engaging book introduces classical music to children in an interactive and brilliant way. By providing readers with hilarious stories about musicians, composers, and conductors while introducing instruments, composers, and musical pieces, the children become exposed to history and the classical music world. Readers also have access to musical examples through audio tracks provided in the book. I introduced my young cousin to classical music with this book, and he became fascinated with the cello and ultimately joined his school orchestra.
A Child's Introduction to the Orchestra is a fun and exciting musical journey. With cheery narrator Orchestra Bob as their guide, kids are encouraged to listen, learn, and enjoy as they are introduced to the most powerful works from the greatest composers throughout history. He tells wacky stories about deaf composers and quirky musicians, and explores the inspirations behind monumental pieces. Kids will also learn about each instrument of the orchestra from the cello to the timpani, as well as different musical styles from Baroque to Modern.
Each step of the way, children can listen to musical examples of whatā¦
I have been thinking a lot about what feminism means for me. In this interview, I said, "I wish more authors would write about strong women, beyond the strength and importance of motherhood, but not just emulating traditional male behavior." I feel that this is the kind of strong woman I am, as a woman forging a non-traditional path in mathematics. I have been on something of a mission to find books like this, and particularly ones written by women. I find such books frustratingly rare, so I wanted to recommend a few that I have found. There is more to being a woman than falling in love and having children.
This is my only non-fiction pick, but it reads a little like a gripping work of fiction except that I had to keep pinching myself to remember it really happened. The author is writing about her experience as a professional violinist in a "fake" orchestra. It is a wonderfully nuanced look at the gray area between "fake" and "real", which is devastatingly pertinent to our times. It challenges us to consider if we can actually always tell the difference and if the difference is really clear-cut at all. The reason I'm including it in the list is that the main protagonist, the author, is a strong woman who is determined to make her own way. And there is one section I found particularly satisfying, in which (and I don't think this will give too much away) she refuses to include any romance in the book. She declines to write ofā¦
When aspiring violinist Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman lands a job with a professional ensemble in New York City, she imagines she has achieved her lifelong dream. But the ensemble proves to be a sham. When the group "performs", the microphones are never on. Instead, the music blares from a CD. The mastermind behind this scheme is a peculiar and mysterious figure known as The Composer, who is gaslighting his audiences with music that sounds suspiciously like the Titanic movie soundtrack. On tour with his chaotic ensemble, Hindman spirals into crises of identity and disillusionment as she "plays" for audiences genuinely movedā¦
Among the many works of fiction inspired by classical music, that include Tolstoyās Kreutzer Sonata, Mannās Doctor Faustus,and Tremainās Music and Silence, I have opted for Vikram Sethās, exquisitely written and highly personal novel of unrequited love, loss, and longing, because his intimate knowledge of the world of classical music, the music and the characters is unsurpassed.Ā
The novelās protagonist is a member of a successful string quartet, haunted by memories of a relationship he had had ten years previously. An unlikely reunion with the object of his infatuation, a pianist now happily married with a son, unleashes all kinds of personal and musical dynamics against the magical setups of Venice, Vienna, andā¦ Manchester. The music performed by the different characters and the emotions that music triggers and unleashes are described with consummate sensitivity and insight. Every music lover will love this novel which is a treasure-troveā¦
Set in the present, with flashbacks, An Equal Music (the title is a phrase from a John Donne sermon) is a story of obsessive love narrated by Michael, a violinist from Rochdale in the north of England. He plays in a trio in Vienna in which Julia, half Scottish, half Austrian, is the pianist. He is much taken with her and she with him. But the trio splits up and the participants go their separate ways. Michael goes to London, where he joins a string quartet as second violinist. He feels the absence of Julia from his life keenly. Oneā¦
Eleven-year-old Sierra just wants a normal life. After her military mother returns from the war overseas, the two hop from home to homelessness while Sierra tries to help her mom through the throes of PTSD.
Since 1996 when my first trip to Venice rearranged my interior life, I have been visiting the city and learning everything I can about it. Most of my reading led me to menās history, but with some digging, I uncovered the stories of Veniceās inspired, undaunted, hardworking women. Their proto-feminism motivated me to share their stories with others in an attempt to redefine beauty. Iāve also created videos showing sites connected to these womenās lives, and Iāve written four books about Venetians, including extensive research into Giacomo Casanova and two anthologies celebrating Venetian life. Reading and writing about Venice helps me connect more deeply with my favorite city.
This historical fiction novel formed Anna Maria dal Violin into a real person for me and inspired me to humanize every woman I wrote about in my own book.
Anna Maria was abandoned at the church of the Pieta in Venice where she was taught to sing and play numerous instruments. She became a violin virtuoso and a favorite of Vivaldi, who wrote pieces specifically to challenge her.
Barbara Quick takes this real story and makes both Anna Maria and Venice live brightly in eighteenth-century Venice.
Fourteen-year-old Anna Maria, abandoned at the Ospedale della Pieta as an infant, is determined to find out who she is and where she came from. Her quest takes her beyond the cloister walls into the complex tapestry of Venetian society, from the impoverished alleyways of the Jewish Ghetto to a masked ball in the company of a king; from the passionate communal life of adolescent girls competing for their maestro's favor to the larger-than-life world of music and spectacle that kept the citizens of a dying republic in thrall. In this world, where for fully half the year the entireā¦
I am a big believer in ghosts. I love to read about them both in fiction and in nonfiction. I think ghosts can be used to elevate a plot in so many ways, either in subtle ways via background influences or overtly by making the supernatural entity a vital character. Beyond ghosts, there are so many ways the supernatural and its various creatures/forms can add layers to a text. Not all supernatural stories have to be a horror story. I also enjoy comedic ones and ones that relay a meaningful message. Itās not the things we see that fascinate me; itās the things we donāt see.
Music, madness, and a malevolent ghost made me love this book more than Interview With the Vampire. I found the twist in this book very compelling, as Rice made her main character human and female with no āgiftā other than her musical talent.
Iām also drawn to novels that move across time periods, as this one does, and bring in so much rich history.Ā
In the grand manner of Interview with the Vampire, this thrilling novelĀ moves across time and the continents, from nineteenth-century Vienna to a St. Charles Greek Revival mansion in present-day New Orleans to the dazzling capitals of the modern-day world, telling a story of two charismatic figures bound to each other by a passionate commitment to music as a means of rapture, seduction, and liberation.
At the novel's center: a uniquely fascinating woman, Trianaāwho once dreamed of becoming a great musicianāand the demonic fiddler Stefan, tormented ghost of a Russian aristocrat, who begins to prey upon her, using his magicā¦
I come by my interest in history and the years before, during, and after the Second World War honestly. For one thing, both my father and my father-in-law served as pilots in the war, my father a P-38 pilot in North Africa and my father-in-law a B-17 bomber pilot in England. Their histories connect me with a period I think we can still almost reach with our fingertips and one that has had a momentous impact on our lives today. I have taken that interest and passion to discover and write true life stories of the warāfocusing on the untold and unheard stories.
Martin Goldsmith has penned the story of his father and mother who were talented musicians in Germany during Hitlerās rise to power. They met by chance and were invited to play for the Kulturbund, an all Jewish orchestra that was allowed to exist while it was convenient to the Naziās. When disbanded, the members were sent to concentration camps. Goldsmithās parents escaped to America, but carried with them the burden of relatives left behind and the guilt of having played into the Naziās propaganda efforts.Ā
Advance Praise for the Inextinguishable Symphony "A Fascinating Insight into a Virtually Unknown Chapter of Nazi Rule in Germany, Made all the More Engaging through a Son's Discovery of His Own Remarkable Parents." -Ted Koppel, ABC News "An Immensely Moving and Powerful Description of those Evil Times. I couldn't Put the Book Down." -James Galway "Martin Goldsmith has Written a Moving and Personal Account of a Search for Identity. His is a Story that will Touch All Readers with Its Integrity. This is not about Exorcising Ghosts, but Rather Awakening Passions that no One Ever Knew Existed. This is aā¦
Zeni lives in the Flint Hills of Southeast Kansas. This tale begins with her dream of befriending a miniature zebu calf coming true and follows Zeni as she works to befriend Zara. Enjoy full-color illustrations and a story filled with whimsy and plenty of opportunity for discussions around the perspectivesā¦
Iām a used-to-be, going-to-be pianist, like Sarah, the protagonist in my book. Even though I didnāt take to the concert stage after studying music, I have integrated music throughout my career as a culture journalist and now as a novelist. I interviewed young bands as a radio host, presented German pop music as a TV host, spoke with A-level conductors as an online journalist, and have written two books about musicians whoāve had to rethink their life paths. Now as mom to three young children, including twins, I am known to sing either Schumannās Dichterliebe or The Itsy Bitsy Spider too loudly during bathtime.
I wish Iād read this book twenty years ago when I was still in music school. Brendan Slocumbās debut is a fast-paced, entertaining mystery but also a gut-wrenchingly personal commentary on what itās like to be Black in the white world of classical music. Violinist Ray is even kicked out of a paid wedding gig by the brideās racist uncle. The painful scenes of prejudice are juxtaposed with Rayās passion for music and determination to be better than everyone thinks he can be. Itās clear that discrimination is rampant in the classical music scene and this book could be a change bringer.Ā
GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK!Ā ā¢ Ray McMillian is a Black classical musician on the riseāundeterred by the pressure and prejudice of the classical music worldāwhen a shocking theft sends him on a desperate quest to recover his great-great-grandfatherās heirloom violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world.
āI loved The Violin Conspiracy for exactly the same reasons I loved The Queenās Gambit: a surprising, beautifully rendered underdog hero I cared about deeply and a fascinating, cutthroatĀ world I knew nothing aboutāin this case, classical music.ā āChris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times bestselling authorā¦
