BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE MUSIC OF JOHN CAGE by Lisa Rogers

Diane McBee! Congratulations!  You are the winner of a copy of SONG AFTER SONG: THE MUSICAL LIFE OF JULIE ANDREWS!  I'll be in touch for how to collect your prize!  I know you will love this amazing book! Enjoy!

A Lovely Conversation with Lisa Rogers, author of BEAUTIFUL NOISE

Lisa and I had the loveliest conversation.  She is beautiful and gracious and mellow and it was a delight to talk with her about books and music and writing process and art. The marriage of art and text . . . She gives you a little sneak peak read aloud of the first couple of spreads and a wonderful look at the amazing end papers. So cool! I could have talked with Lisa for hours!  I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did!

BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE MUSIC OF JOHN CAGE

A unique structure and a unique illustrative style are very well-suited to tell the story of a very unique composer and musician, John Cage. With a compelling if. . . then format, this book will draw readers in and insist that they make decisions about how they see the world -- and how they define music and whether or not they have some similarities to John Cage.  Readers of all ages will close this book enlightened and challenged -- and introduced to some musical ideas they possibly have not encountered before.
 October 10, 2023
by Lisa Rogers (Author), Il Sung Na (Illustrator)
Publisher
Anne Schwartz Books

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

I chose this piece from John Cage's compositions for a few reasons:
1. I try to keep these selections short so that they are of the most benefit in a classroom setting.
2. I think students will be intrigued by these sounds.
3. I really like how this video shows how the piano was "prepared" for this piece of music. I think they will find that fascinating.

​There are additional compositions and performances on the YouTube playlist in the links section below.

Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics

1. Listening skills is s very natural content piece to pull from this book. The last line of the book is literally "Listen." Adapt that in any ways you see fit. (Listening to teachers, listening to nature, listening for directions, directed drawing, etc.)
2. What if. . . then . . .(Cause/effect; if/then relationships) Create if/then statements, look for cause/effect relationships in this book and others.
3. Asking "what if" questions -- embracing your curiosity.
4. 4:33. Listen in silence for 4 minutes 33 seconds.  Discuss what you heard during that time. Were those sounds music or noise? Why? How do you know?
5. Look up noise and music in several dictionaries. Discuss the similarities and differences.  After talking about the comparisons, write your own definitions of noise and music.

Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

Can I just purport that we thrown out age expectations of picture books? I always say picture books are for everyone, but some books, in particular, while being perfectly suited for younger audiences are at least as well-suited if not even better-suited for older audiences. I believe BEAUTIFUL NOISE is one such book. Yes, it's a picture book for young children, and it introduces John Cage in a very appropriate way for young kids, but it's also a very informative and easy-access way to get older kids interested in JOhn Cage and then do more of an in-depth study of him and his philosophies of music and sound.

1. Any activities that explore sound would be a perfect correlation:  shaker eggs/boxes where students try to identify the contents or match up ones that are the same.
2. Pitch experiments with water glasses would be a great tie-in.
3. Modifying instruments in creative ways: Blending, adding, mixing,PLAY with the instruments.
4. Listen for "ordinary" sounds and really pay attention.
5. Found sound activities
6. STOMP! video performances (Found sound)
7. Go for a sound walk on the playground or around your school. Record or make a list of as many sounds as you can.
8. Do a sound scavenger hunt.
9. Listen to John Cage's music and discuss it. Talk about what is happening.
10. Any listening activities are appropriate. You can find additional listening activities on the lists/boards for LISTEN. UP LOUELLA by Ashley Belote and LISTEN by Shannon Stocker

Writing Prompts from Tonnye

1. John Cage's quote at the beginning of the book, "I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones."  Write about your impressions of that quote. What does it mean? Where do you fall on that continuum? Why do you think some people are afraid of new ideas? Why do you think John Cage is afraid of old ideas?
2. Write an autobiography (or a biography of someone you know well) using Lisa Rogers' " What if . . . .Then . . . " structure.
3. Spend 4 minutes, 33 seconds listening in silence.  Make a list of all the sounds you hear in the background. Write about that experience. What surprised you? What was hard? What was your favorite sound? What will you listen more carefully for now?
4. Why is listening important?
5. How can you tell if someone is really listening to you?  How will that help you be a good listener to someone else?
6. What is your favorite kind of music to listen to? Why?
7. What sounds are hard for you to listen to? Why?
8. Listen to one of John Cage's compositions and write about the experience.
9. Write about what you think the difference is in music and noise, if there is one.
10. Where does the title BEAUTIFUL NOISE come from? Do you agree with the idea?
11. Write a story about a child who didn't listen to their parents.
12. Write a story about a child who loved noise and an adult who didn't.
13. Write a story about 2 friends: one who was like John Cage and thought noise was beautiful music and another friend who had a very strong idea about what music is.
14. Write a poem using at least 5 of the onomatopoeia you heard during your 4 minute 33 second listening adventure.
15. Choose 5 sounds that most people think are "noise". Listen to each one carefully and see if you can find any beauty in it. Write about each of the sounds in that way.
16. What is your favorite sound that most people would probably not think of as music.
17. Write a story about two characters: Noise and Music.

Writing Tips from Lisa

1. First, it’s essential to read widely in the genre in which you’re writing. Be
sure to read recently-published books, say, within the last five years, and
carefully study them. When you find ones you love, take a closer look. See
how the author sets up the story, notice any special techniques, such as
rhyme, repetition, or lyrical language, notice whether the ending reflects
the beginning…whatever resonates with you. See if you can identify the
heart of the story—the reason why the author wrote the book.
To find books, use the new books section of your library, subscribe to book
bloggers’ posts, read Publishers’ Weekly season previews—new and
exciting books are everywhere!

2. Read your work out loud. After more than 20 years of reading all day, every
day with children, I can make almost anything sound fantastic. But I’m not
always able to hear when my own writing doesn’t work. When I set it aside
for a week or so and then read it out loud, it’s easier to identify the clunky
parts, what I might be able to cut, or whether the story lacks that
emotional core that is required to not only sell the book but have readers
want to explore it again and again.

3. Share your work with critique partners. It can be hard to hear questions
and criticism about something you’ve poured your heart into. But if your
partners identify a hole in your work or have a question, young readers will
too. How to know when you need to rework something? If two or more
readers make similar observations, it’s time to take another look at your
manuscript. Every revision brings your work closer, because you’re thinking
of possibilities and trying them out.

4. Write not to trends, which likely will be outdated by the time your story
becomes published, but to what’s in your heart. It’s hard to find a new idea.
Yet once you develop your own unique response to that idea, your take
could be the key to writing something that holds meaning to you and
resonates with others—including agents and editors.
​
5. Unplug and spend time observing the world around you. Meditate on your
work in progress. Let your mind float. Keep something near you on which to
write and record any words, phrases, bits of story, or even the essential
heart of the story you’re working on. My best work often comes when I’m
not trying so hard to wrestle words on the page. Instead, I’m thinking about
why I’m writing the story and digging deep into its emotional core. I’ve
written words in the sand and scribbled on the backs of envelopes, and
sometimes, those scribbles become stories.

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

A spectacular resource book: Russell, Barry. “Everything we do is music:” Cross-curricular experiments in
sound based on the music of John Cage. Henmar Press/C.F. Peters, 2016. 

An excellent article on John Cage and his influence (not written for kids; more to inform us as adults who may be teaching kids).

John Cage's Credo from his book Silence -- interesting reading to get "into his head" and understand why he did some of the things he did.
​
Pinterest board with a few photos, quotes, musical notation, etc. related to John Cage

YouTube playlist of John Cage music

---

PBJamz Snack

While we're talking about unique perspectives and unusual presentations, this seems like the perfect PBJ recipe for this episode -- Peanut butter and jelly bacon burger!  You can find the recipe here or just begin somewhere and create your own version!

Guest Links and Giveaways

Lisa's website

Lisa's Twitter/X

Lisa's Instagram

To purchase BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE MUSIC OF JOHN CAGE (Out October 10, 2023); Preorders available here

Lisa has graciously and generously offered winner's choice of either:
1. A picture book critique
OR
2. A classroom Zoom visit
Leave a comment below to be eligible. A winner will be drawn from all comments entered here within the deadline (Between 9/28/23 and 10/12/23
​