If you shop at Barnes and Noble this holiday season, you might run across a familiar name.
John Thomas, whose mother Rena Thomas is a retired Lake Orion teacher, recently had his music book ‘Music in Minutes: Recorder? published by Sterling, now owned by Barnes & Noble.
Thomas has lived in New York City for the past 15 years, but grew up in Lake Orion after moving here while in fourth-grade.
He attended Lake Orion High School, but graduated from Rochester.
Thomas works as a freelance musician and music teacher, offering private lessons in percussion and voice.
‘I wanted to be a performer and there’s a great concentration of talent there,? he said of why he moved to NYC.
‘I’ve been teaching privately at the 92nd Street Y (Young Men’s Hebrew Association) in Manhattan,? said Thomas. ‘I’ve been there almost 10 years.?
Thomas learned about the publishing opportunity with Sterling when he saw its ad on Craig’s List, looking for someone to author a music book about how to play the recorder.
‘At that time, I was a working writer too,? said Thomas, who has a bachelor’s degree in music education and performance from Berklee College in Boston.
‘I have taught the recorder in elementary schools in the city,? he said.
Thomas taught music at a private boys? school called Browning, where he was also department coordinator.
‘I responded to the ad and I didn’t hear anything for a while,? he said. ‘Then (Sterling) called and said they were inundated with resumes, but they liked mine.?
The news that Sterling had been purchased by Barnes & Noble was good news for Thomas because it means his book will be more widely available.
‘There’s a good chance I’ll work for them again,? he said. ‘This was (Sterling’s) first music book.?
‘Music in Minutes: Recorder? comes as a set with a recorder and music book, and retails for $14.95. It can be found at Barnes & Noble, and on Amazon.com.
Thomas said he has been told it will be sold at Wal-Mart as well.
‘They say the book is for ages 3 and up, but I would really say more like ages 6-7 and up,? he said. ‘The recorder is usually started in third grade.?
The book begins by teaching three notes, G, A and B.
‘It also gives you the history of the instrument and approaches to care,? said Thomas.
‘The book is designed so you don’t need a teacher to do it.?
The book is accessible for adults as well.
‘I have some standard classic repertoire in there,? he said. ‘By chapter one you’ll be playing recognizable songs, starting with children’s songs.?
Thomas wrote the book in three months and tried to include songs that weren’t featured in already existing books about how to play the instrument, including Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy? and classics by Mozart.
‘There’s also lots of musical terminology, so you gradually learn,? said Thomas. ‘I also tried to inject little blurbs of history about composers.?
That information also makes the book a good one for someone who in interested in increasing their general knowledge of music.
‘And if you don’t have your own music room or 20 music stands, you can put it on your desk because the book comes in easel form,? Thomas said.
‘It’s very attractive and kid-friendly.?
Thomas hopes to start work on another book soon.
‘I have some ideas for other books, children’s fiction perhaps,? he said.
For more information, visit sterlingpub.com.