Amy Nathan is the award-winning author of several books for young people, including Meet the Musicians, Meet the Dancers, Count on Us, and Yankee Doodle Gals. A Harvard graduate with master's degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Columbia Teacher's College, she is an ever-struggling piano student and has two musical sons: one a composer and a trumpter, the other a saxophone-playing government major.

Award for the first edition:
Winner of the Parent's Choice Award
Winner of NY PUBLIC LIBRARY'S Books for the Teen Age
Winner of GOLD MEDAL: "Excellence in Communication" from Association of Women in Communication (Westchester chapter)

Reviews of the first edition: "How do young people cope with the demands of a life in music? For thoughts on this, Amy Nathan has turned to a variety of helpful sources. This revised and expanded edition adds new sections on the ways in which technology can assist in the process of mastering an instrument; it also addresses the special concerns of young composers and conductors."-- Teaching Music

"What a great book to have in a studio or rehearsal room, just waiting for young musicians to pick up and explore. Fascinating bits of advice from both professionals and student musicians fill every page." --American Music Teacher

". . . filled with practical advice about how to find time to practice, how to calm down before playing in public, and how to handle that chatterbox who sits behind you at rehearsal." --The New York Times

". . . young performers will discover that the frustrations and fears they experience are not unique. . . . The guide is geared to those who dream of a professional future in the field as well as to those for whom music will remain a hobby." --School Library Journal

"From choosing an instrument to practicing regularly to learning the rules of ensemble etiquette, this guide is packed with useful suggestions and enthusiasm for music." --Publishers Weekly

"Nathan provides advice for teen musicians on topics such as choosing an instrument, finding time to practice, handling performance jitters, and dealing with others in the band or orchestra. . . . a unique and potentially useful resource." --Booklist

"Amy Nathan has provided a unique resource for the young instrumentalist." --Leonard Slatkin, National Symphony

"She even talked to pianist/basketball star David Robinson about conflicts between excellence in sports and music." --Dallas Morning News

"It is a book that every single school . . .should have." --St. Augustine Record

"Handy survival guide. Recently out in paperback is a book that should prove useful for any young, struggling instrumentalist. ...There's a lot of sensible advice on choosing or switching instruments, practicing, getting over concert nerves, keeping music in your life even if you decide not to be a professional musician, etc. Nathan presents the material in a manner that is neither simplistic nor condescending, drawing on interviews with teenage players and some stellar musicians. ...Talk about sound advice." --Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun

" ... like sitting down for a heart-to-heart with a caring music teacher." --The Book Report