American Band: Music, Dreams, and Coming of Age in the Heartland

by Kristen Laine

Book Overview

In the spirit of Friday Night Lights, Laine presents the stirring story of a marching band from small-town middle America in this snapshot of a heartland community and its triumphs, disappointment,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1592404006
• ISBN13: 9781592404001
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Gotham Books
• Length: 324 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

One of the best books......

This is one of the best books I've ever read! Great for anyone involved in marching band or even parents looking for a reason to get their kids involved in an outside activity. Highly recommended!

Excellent!

What a compelling, engaging text. Ms. Laine really creates a beautiful story about a topic "outsiders" would rarely have interest in. Part embedded journalism, part biography, partly spiritual, this book really captures the essence of the great all American activity that is marching band. It highlights the personal struggles of the students as well as the heights of their achievements. This book is very personal and moving. I loved it!

For anyone who has marched in a high school marching band or band parent and more

I happen to be a parent from this particular program whose son graduated before the book was written. I read initially to open the "mysterious" "how" in the world did this man, Max Jones, consistently get these kids from summer freshman band camp, to marching a complicated show with fabulous, entertaining, difficult, music, marching, color guard, and a total show that always brought the state finals crowd to their feet. What inspired those kids, how could he chew out the entire band without raising his voice? Why did he command such respect? What were his real goals for these kids? We knew some of them when our son arrived at Taylor University just wanting to audition for the Jazz Band for the love of music, but was majoring in business and computers. Mr. Jones had called ahead unknown to us the Chair of the Music department and told him to keep an eye our for our son as he was a good kid and musician he'd want to have in his program, as a bass trombone player. This book shows how an excellent music program is not just about music, it's about making kids who will become excellent parents, workers, students, parents. He taught leadership, perserverence, teamwork. There are also several students who were highlighted. Their stories are remarkable and touching. You will be swept into their lives. Prepare to be totally caught up in a story that isn't just about a band, a community, or kids. It becomes a spiritual experience, it's compelling. My husband cried at the end. Now that's a book! It's inspirational. It's too bad they did not include the DVD of the state fair show,final show, and the next year's that was in a way a tribute to Max . I'm trying to get my hands on them as we speak from friends at church!

Truly inspiring

I had the pleasure of spending some time with Kristen Laine when she came to my high school in New Hampshire to meet with my former band director. I knew right away that this book what be a hit, but never did I expect this. She truly pays tribute to young musicians, their trials and tribulations in an extremely demanding field, and the passion they bring to music.

A well-written book about today's teenagers

A well-written book makes a topic I would not have thought interesting very engaging indeed. Although the band is well-covered, I and others may find the profile of students in a changing town more compelling.