It was such a joy and delight to read your book. It is so, so beautiful - I was crying by the end. It really captures what it feels like to be captivated by music, to be drawn in by it and have it fill your imagination and soul! And the illustrations are really beautiful. I love that they are representative of the community, and that the conductor is always female! I love too how it shows how a tiny moment, a chance encounter, can guide a direction in life. It really articulates how I feel about music - how important it is, how it creates connection, possibility, wonder, solace...

Oh, and I really love how before the music begins there is always silence! That is the magical moment when everyone is listening!

Zoë Barry, Musician, Composer

Winner, 2021 Telstra Aria Music Teacher Award.

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Hamish and the Double Bass captures the excitement of a young boy's musical adventure. He discovers an array of different instruments by watching the musicians play and later shares these sounds amongst his friends. When children discover the musical instrument they want to play, magic truly happens. I know many musicians will relate to Hamish’s story because his story is also our story — one of being inspired to play music after attending a concert. Playing music is truly a life-long adventure, and when we can share our music with family and friends — well that makes it even better!

Karen Kyriakou

Conductor of the MSO’s Jams for Juniors

Music Educator, Composer, Musician

B.Ed (Sec. Mus), M.Ed. (Mus), CF

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It’s very musical and delightful and it has a lot of impressions of music.

I like how Hamish described how the music sounded; it made me feel ups and downs, lows and highs.

It made me feel anything is possible if you put your heart to it.

Goldie aged 8

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As an infant, child and family psychiatrist, whose professional life has been steeped in finding creative ways to facilitate and encourage young children’s healthy development, I am delighted by what this picture book offers young children and those who care for and about them.

 

Story and music are brought together in this book that invites discovery. The story itself is rich, and the drawings bring Hamish and the Double Bass alive on the page in a new and deeper way. The illustrated story becomes an invitation for shared adventures for a young child and a loved one. Shared discovery and delight are vital for the healthy development of a young child’s body, mind and spirit.

There are very few picture books for young children that introduce the magic and marvel that metaphor and music offer us all.

Julie Stone BA, BM, FRANZCP, CF

Infant, Child and Family Psychiatrist