Modern Singer Book Club: July
The heat is real, and our book club is back to keep you cool! We want to challenge everyone to pick up something new, so every month we are introducing books in three categories: For Thought— books that have been turned into operas, For Music— books about music and the industry, and For Learning— books about something outside of the music industry. This July, we're talking about getting ready for back to school. Whether you're a student getting back to class or a teacher excited to spark new ideas with your students, dive in and learn something new!
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For The Betterment of Humanity
Modern Singer stands firmly against all racism, prejudice, and hatred, and stands with those who fight worldwide for equal rights. We are committed to listening, learning, and growing. We are committed to being the change within our industry, communities, and country - starting with ourselves. We want to share some resources we've been reading and learning from. The first addition to the book club is White Fragility. For those of us who didn't grow up seeing systemic racism in everyday life, talking about racism is hard. White fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. In this in-depth exploration, anti-racist educator Robin DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what can be done to engage more constructively.
For Thought
Alice Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
Tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice and discover a fantastical world with its wonderfully eccentric characters including the Queen of Hearts, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and more! Countless scholars have tried to define the charm of the Alice books by breaking it down into a satire on language, a political allegory, a parody of Victorian children’s literature, and even a reflection of contemporary ecclesiastical history. Maybe Alice is no more than a dream or a fairy tale about the trials and tribulations of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child.
For Music
The Alexander Technique for Musicians by Judith Kleinman and Peter Buckoke
The Alexander Technique for Musicians is a unique guide that provides a practical and informative approach to being a successful and comfortable performer. The Alexander Technique was designed to enlighten people on how to move more mindfully through everyday life. Many performers use the technique as a tool to help release tension and free their bodies during a performance. No matter your skill level, this book is perfect as a supplement for your Alexander lessons or as an introduction to the technique as a whole. Explore topics like daily practice, breathing, performance and anxiety, teacher-pupil relationships, ensemble skills, and the application of the Alexander Technique to both instrumental and vocal work. Complete with diagrams and photographs to aid the learning process, The Alexander Technique for Musicians gives tried-and-true advice drawn from the authors' twenty-plus years of experience working with musicians and provides an essential handbook for furthering your skills. Whether you experience performance anxiety and physical discomfort while singing or you're simply seeking to feel more grounded in your body, this book is the perfect supplemental read to any Alexander Technique class whether you're looking to take a class in person or online!
For Learning
See Me After Class: Advice for Teachers By Teachers by Roxanna Elden
Whether it's your first year teaching or your twentieth, See Me After Class is designed to help teachers reach their full potential. Teaching is tough, and, like the rest of the population, teachers are not perfect. However, good teaching still happens and great teachers continue to inspire and educate each new generation of students. Fueled by hundreds of hilarious (and sometimes shocking) tales from the teachers who have lived them, Elden provides tips and strategies that deal with the challenges that you might not have expected: some lessons will go wrong, parents will yell at you, and Sunday nights will include the dread of Monday morning. As a veteran teacher, Elden offers funny, practical, and honest advice to help teachers walk into their classrooms day after day with clarity, confidence, and sanity!
Want to see one of your books picked as the feature next month? Message us on Facebook or Instagram @modernsingermag!
