Wharton Music Center
Wharton Music Center is pleased to announce the publication of a
survival kit for new music parents by trombonist and WMC Board of Trustees
member Anthony Mazzocchi. The 47-page resource book provides practical,
step-by-step instructions for parents with little or no musical experience who
want to support their child’s interest in a musical instrument. From picking
the right instrument to play to recognizing whether your child is practicing
correctly, The Music Parents’ Guide
arms parents and students with essential information needed to get a solid
start on their musical craft. Mazzocchi has been a WMC board member since 2013
and is an alumnus of the New Jersey Youth Symphony, where he was a member from
1990-1991.
Q: What was your inspiration for writing the book?
A: During my time as a teacher, administrator, and professor, I have been fascinated by the fact that so many students are interested in playing a musical instrument, yet one year later most quit. I spent a lot of time contemplating teacher and student education, but when I began writing a blog for music parents in my district in order to educate them about helping their child learn an instrument, the attrition rate reduced dramatically! That was the inspiration for the book.
Q: How did you decide what to put in the guide, and what to leave out?
A: I didn’t want to scare parents too much--a thick manual would do that. I've supplemented the guide with a blog and YouTube channel for parents who choose to "dig deeper."
Q: Who do you think will most benefit from having a copy of the book?
A: Parents of children who come home from school with an instrument for the first time and think they may just do it for a year and call it quits, or parents who gave up on music when they were younger for reasons that they probably didn't understand. This book was written to change minds.
Q: How many copies of the book have you sold so far (I've heard it's a high number!)?
A: 25, 052...but who's counting :)
Q: What was your inspiration for writing the book?
A: During my time as a teacher, administrator, and professor, I have been fascinated by the fact that so many students are interested in playing a musical instrument, yet one year later most quit. I spent a lot of time contemplating teacher and student education, but when I began writing a blog for music parents in my district in order to educate them about helping their child learn an instrument, the attrition rate reduced dramatically! That was the inspiration for the book.
Q: How did you decide what to put in the guide, and what to leave out?
A: I didn’t want to scare parents too much--a thick manual would do that. I've supplemented the guide with a blog and YouTube channel for parents who choose to "dig deeper."
Q: Who do you think will most benefit from having a copy of the book?
A: Parents of children who come home from school with an instrument for the first time and think they may just do it for a year and call it quits, or parents who gave up on music when they were younger for reasons that they probably didn't understand. This book was written to change minds.
Q: How many copies of the book have you sold so far (I've heard it's a high number!)?
A: 25, 052...but who's counting :)
“Anthony Mazzocchi crafts an
insightful and informative guide for the music parent-to-be…An important read
for parents preparing to invest in their child’s musical future,” says
Christopher Woodside, Assistant Executive Director of the National Association
for Music Education.
For more information about The Music Parents’ Guide, visit www.musicparentsguide.com/book.
A GRAMMY® nominated music educator, Anthony Mazzocchi has performed as a trombonist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, San Diego Symphony, San Diego Opera, Riverside Symphony, Key West Symphony, in various Broadway shows and numerous recordings and movie soundtracks. Mazzocchi has served as faculty or as a frequent guest lecturer at The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and Mannes College of Music. He has taught grades 4-college and has served as a school district administrator of fine and performing arts. He has been a consultant for arts organizations throughout the NY/NJ area and is currently Associate Director of the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University in New Jersey and Co-Executive Director of the Kinhaven Summer Music School in Weston, Vermont with his wife, Deborah.
For more information about The Music Parents’ Guide, visit www.musicparentsguide.com/book.
A GRAMMY® nominated music educator, Anthony Mazzocchi has performed as a trombonist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, San Diego Symphony, San Diego Opera, Riverside Symphony, Key West Symphony, in various Broadway shows and numerous recordings and movie soundtracks. Mazzocchi has served as faculty or as a frequent guest lecturer at The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and Mannes College of Music. He has taught grades 4-college and has served as a school district administrator of fine and performing arts. He has been a consultant for arts organizations throughout the NY/NJ area and is currently Associate Director of the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University in New Jersey and Co-Executive Director of the Kinhaven Summer Music School in Weston, Vermont with his wife, Deborah.
