We Rock! (Music Lab)

Finally! A hip, fun and culturally relevant series of music appreciation books, perfect for modern music-loving families who want to take advantage of this era of exploding musical access! Get a personal guided tour through an amazing historical back-catalog of music that was previously unavailable. We Rock!: A Fun Family Guide for Exploring Rock Music History is a guided tour through thrilling corners of the musical universe that should not be missed! This book highlights great songs in rock history, shares insights and stories on the artists, details the social and historical influences at play, and offers fun activities for families to do together. Detailed listening guides help music fans understand song structure, lyrics, and instrumentation. Related listening lists introduce readers to other exciting artists in similar genres. Set into 52 music labs, these stories can be explored at will by individuals and families or used as a curriculum for community groups and educators. There really are no other books out there like this - that are music appreciation books for a general audience that focus on popular music - so pick up yours today and you will have your whole family singing along with We Rock.

“"Though books introducing pop and rock and roll artists to the younger generation are legion, this attractive volume, aimed at families, sets itself apart through its focus on the music itself. Divided into seven different chapters (including "Rock Roll Basics," "Punk Rock," and "New Rock Sounds"), this title covers not necessarily the best songs of all time or even the most popular song by a given musician, as the author states in his introduction, but rather those that he believes will resonate with listeners. Along with basic song facts and an artist profile, Hanley includes a "Listening Guide" for each song, closely examining its introduction, verses, and chorus and advising readers to pay attention to aspects such as the insistent guitar riff that opens The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" or Stevie Nicks's use of vibrato on Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide." There's a strong interactive element here, too, with users encouraged to make comparisons among singers and bands and to seek out performances on YouTube. Hanley's casual but accessible writing style conveys his enthusiasm for the subject, while photographs and colorful design add to the appeal. Although those seeking a stronger foundation in music history might prefer Robbie Robertson, Sebastian Robertson, Jim Guerinot, and Jared Levine's Legends, Icons Rebels: Music That Changed the World (Tundra, 2013), Hanley's work is a fun option with an emphasis on song analysis. VERDICT This title will easily spark ideas for programming." - School Library Journal”

"A must-have book for any music loving dad to properly preach the good word of rock through fun activities and histories of some of the greatest songs and artists of all time. - CATCH "Though books introducing pop and rock and roll artists to the younger generation are legion, this attractive volume, aimed at families, sets itself apart through its focus on the music itself. Divided into seven different chapters (including "Rock & Roll Basics," "Punk Rock," and "New Rock Sounds"), this title covers not necessarily the best songs of all time or even the most popular song by a given musician, as the author states in his introduction, but rather those that he believes will resonate with listeners. Along with basic song facts and an artist profile, Hanley includes a "Listening Guide" for each song, closely examining its introduction, verses, and chorus and advising readers to pay attention to aspects such as the insistent guitar riff that opens The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" or Stevie Nicks's use of vibrato on Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide." There's a strong interactive element here, too, with users encouraged to make comparisons among singers and bands and to seek out performances on YouTube. Hanley's casual but accessible writing style conveys his enthusiasm for the subject, while photographs and colorful design add to the appeal. Although those seeking a stronger foundation in music history might prefer Robbie Robertson, Sebastian Robertson, Jim Guerinot, and Jared Levine's Legends, Icons & Rebels: Music That Changed the World (Tundra, 2013), Hanley's work is a fun option with an emphasis on song analysis. VERDICT This title will easily spark ideas for programming." - School Library Journal

Jason Hanley has been the Director of Education at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum for the last eight years. He holds a Ph.D. in Musicology with a sub-emphasis in Composition from Stony Brook University, where he completed his dissertation entitled Metal Machine Music: Technology, Noise, and Modernism in Industrial Music 1975-1996. In his position at the Rock Hall Jason teaches students of all ages in a wide variety of educational programs and produces the Museum's public programs.Over the last eight years he has conducted oral histories and interviews with a wide variety of musicians, producers, and record industry professionals including Les Paul, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Peter Hook (of Joy Division/New Order), Darryl DMC McDaniels, DJ Spinderella, Alan Parsons, Dennis Edwards, Al Bell, Bill Kreutzmann, Tommy James, Spooner Oldham, and the band Asia.He has taught courses in music history, electronic music, and popular music studies at Hofstra University, Stony Brook University, Cleveland State University, and Case Western Reserve University.He has delivered presentations at meetings of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music, Society for Ethnomusicology, American Musicological Society, Americana Music Association, Feminist Theory and Music, Teaching Music History Day and numerous other conferences. Jason has published articles in books and journals on the topics of popular music, film music and music technology, and in 2009 he was a guest editor for a special issue on pedagogy for the Journal of Popular Music Studies where he currently serves as an editorial board member. Active in the music industry since 1988, he has played on, composed for, and produced numerous recordings and has performed live with many bands.

Finally! A hip, fun and culturally relevant series of music appreciation books, perfect for modern music-loving families who want to take advantage of this era of exploding musical access! Get a personal guided tour through an amazing historical back-catalog of music that was previously unavailable. We Rock! : A Fun Family Guide for Exploring Rock Music History is a guided tour through thrilling corners of the musical universe that should not be missed! This book highlights great songs in rock history, shares insights and stories on the artists, details the social and historical influences at play, and offers fun activities for families to do together. Detailed listening guides help music fans understand song structure, lyrics, and instrumentation. Related listening lists introduce readers to other exciting artists in similar genres. Set into 52 music labs, these stories can be explored at will by individuals and families or used as a curriculum for community groups and educators. There really are no other books out there like this - that are music appreciation books for a general audience that focus on popular music - so pick up yours today and you will have your whole family singing along with We Rock .

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