Title: The Girls’ Guide to Rocking
Author: Jessica Hopper
Publisher: Workman Publishing
Source: LibraryThing EarlyReviewer June 2009 Batch
My oldest brother played guitar and sang in a band. I figured I could too until he tried to teach me how to play. He’s left-handed, I’m right-handed and the guitar was too big for me. It was too hard so I gave up. There were no rock camps for girls and of course no Girls Rock! to watch.
This book is the answer to my 8-year-old self. It tells the reader where to find instruments and equipment, how to tell if they’re damaged, and how to care for them. If the new rocker decides to write songs, record or go on tour, this book has related sections that will encourage and inform.
Throughout the book are eye-catching sidebars of informational nuggets. Some of the topics include: female solo artists to view on YouTube (some of whom I’ve never heard of); books about female rockers; and five keys to keeping your band together. These sidebars combined with the appendixes will open up the reader to some new influences. And for mom or dad will bring back some fond memories. Even if your child doesn’t want to learn how to play music or be part of a band, there is enough resource material to point parents and children towards music related discussions.
About the author:
Jessica Hopper is a music and culture critic whose work regularly appears in Chicago Reader, LA Weekly, SPIN, ANP and Chicago Tribune and has also been included in DaCapo’s Best of Music Writing 2004, 2005 and 2007. She is also the music consultant for the public radio show, This American Life. Her widely-anthologized essay, “Emo: Where the Girls Aren’t” was described as “influential” by The New York Times.
Holding fast to the music-is-my-life credo, Hopper has also done time as a tour manager, band publicist, DJ, touring bassist, Girls Rock Camp booster, and fanzine publisher. She lives in Chicago.
This book sounds like so much fun. I’ll definitely have to get a copy for my two daughters (and me too, of course).