What the Critics Are Saying
"Fun is the starting point of a new illustrated music tutor called "Michaela's Music House". Based around the musical adventures of the eponymous four-year-old Michaela, its pages fairly bubble and crackle with mischief..."
— ARMINTA WALLACE, THE IRISH TIMES
"Michaela's Music House is a beautiful-looking publication, full of colour, pictures, games, musical examples and photos... The stories are imaginative and full of magical ideas, and the descriptions of lessons are loving and child-centred. ...The book possesses a wonderful energy, allied to a certain naivety that hints at a world beyond run-of-the-mill experience, and definitely outside usual conventions. Writing on Michaela's growth of confidence in music is excellent, as is the idea of a public performance as just another game among many."
— PHILIPPA BUNTING, THE STRAD MAGAZINE
"I have to admit that I generally don't expect entertaining reading when reviewing yet another violin method for beginners. When I opened Gwendolyn Masin's "Michaela's Music House", however, everything was different right from the first page. The reader witnesses Michaela's violin progress from the start until her performance of Küchler's Concertino in such a vivid way that one is amazed to realise that the story is fictitious. Masin's formulation is precise as well as easily understood… She successfully presents her methodical approach with complete consistency; concurrently, Michaela perceives the learning process, embedded in a multitude of stories, fairy tales and games, as a continuous game and adventure. Rarely, if ever, have I read such a competent, and at the same time inspiring and amusing book about children learning to play the violin."
— HERWIG ZACK, ÜBEN & MUSIZIEREN (translated from the original German review)
"...that which makes it innovative and unexampled is the imagery, the manner in which the book appeals to the emotional and imaginary world of a child."
— LEONTIEN AKKERMAN, ARCO (NL ESTA MAGAZINE) (translated from the original Dutch article)
"...filled with true poetry. This unprecedented opus successfully manages the balancing act of not only being an instructional workbook for children and a manual for parents with no prior experience of playing an instrument, but is also an educational guide in which fundamental principles and sophisticated practice routines are clearly explained. Masterfully instructive..."
— WALTER AMADEUS AMMANN, SCHWEIZER MUSIKZEITUNG (translated from the original German review)
"...provides an indispensable resource of exercises which are explained in a way that a child of the age of 4+ would easily be able to understand and actually love doing.
In fact, this book could be seen as an invaluable reference book by violin teachers when lateral thinking is required to develop or indeed improve the physical posture which we as teachers are always aiming to achieve or modify.
This is a book I will be able to use extensively to improve my own teaching and I feel sure my pupils will approve of the new imaginative games, analogies and stories I intend to incorporate into my lessons. Thank you so much Gwendolyn Masin."
— DAVID COOPER, ARCO (UK ESTA MAGAZINE)
"Masin's violin manual is a hit for aspiring child stars... could this be goodbye at last to dull, old violin primers?..."
— DICK O'RIORDAN, THE SUNDAY BUSINESS POST
"...an endearing and visually-appealing book..."
— ANDREA BYRNE, SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
"...a unique way of teaching violin to young people..."
— THE IRISH TIMES, MUSIC IN THE CLASSROOM SUPPLEMENT
"...how splendid the book is — a great concept, beautifully realised.
The design and artwork are magnificent."
— IAN FOX, MUSIC CRITIC
"What makes it extraordinary is that one can feel the author's love of
music, the violin and for her pupils who can become masters of their instruments..."
— DIPLOMATA MAGAZINE
"...a novel approach to learning a string instrument, particularly the violin... by appealing to a child's imagination throughout with various characters and stories, the author aims to enable young pupils to learn about their instrument and different playing techniques, gain confidence, and enjoy creating music and performing."
— AEDÍN GORMLEY, LYRIC FM
"...a wonderfully illustrated and designed book that clearly explains all the difficulties a beginner goes through… if I were a few years younger and had a little more time, I would be only too pleased to learn to play the violin with Michaela's Music House."
— GABRIELA KAEGI, SR DRS 2 (translated from the original German review)
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