Tricia Tunstall
Playing for Their Lives
Playing for Their Lives: The Global El Sistema Movement for Social Change Through Music, co-authored with Eric Booth (W.W. Norton & Co., 2016)
“I am hopeful that this inspiring book will encourage more communities to launch programs on the El Sistema model, so that all of our children can have this beautiful opportunity.”
—Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, Maryland, 7th Congressional District
ABOUT THE BOOK
In some of the bleakest corners of the world, an unprecedented movement is taking root. From the favelas of Brazil to the Maori villages in New Zealand, from occupied Palestine to South Central Los Angeles, musicians with strong social consciences are founding intensive orchestra programs for children in need.
In Playing for Their Lives, authors Tricia Tunstall and Eric Booth tell the remarkable story of the international El Sistema movement. To discover what makes this movement successful, the authors traveled to 25 countries, where they discovered programs in a wide variety of cultures and circumstances that were thriving centers for children’s musical and social development. At the heart of each program is a deep commitment to inclusivity and “a pedagogy of joy.”
Reviews
In this follow-up to Tunstall’s Changing Lives (2012), which examined the growth of El Sistema in Venezuela, the authors look at the expansion of this artistic-social project around the world. Activists and artists Tunstall and Booth traveled to 25 countries interviewing directors, teachers, students, and parents involved in more than 100 El Sistema-inspired musical and educational programs to understand how the project’s principles are working in diverse environments “from Kabul to Rio, from Bethlehem to Soweto, from Manila to Manhattan.” …
A wide-ranging, highly positive assessment of the El Sistema movement, serving as both inspiration and manual for would-be social activists.
- Kirkus Reviews
…Co-authors Tunstall and Booth detail the experiences of El Sistema programs through interviews, success stories, and vignettes. The text is lively and focuses on the international scope of El Sistema, introducing extraordinary musicians and other contributors. A remarkable narrative with broad appeal to everyone from sociologists to general readers, this is one of the best recent books promoting social change.
- Library Journal starred review
Tunstall and Booth traveled widely in researching this book, and the result is a blend of anecdotal color and pedagogical analysis.
- Symphony Magazine
Praise
“This book is an important call to action for people everywhere who care about using music to remake our kids’ future.”
- Quincy Jones
“An inspiring story of how a social justice movement founded on music education is changing lives in the poorest communities of the world. Anyone looking for evidence of the transformative power of the arts should read this important book.”
—Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind
“I am hopeful that this inspiring book will encourage more communities to launch programs on the El Sistema model, so that all of our children can have this beautiful opportunity.”
—Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, Maryland, 7th Congressional District
“This is an amazing story that has meaning for all of us in education. Plus, there’s a blueprint for how your own school can duplicate the remarkable success of El System. You’ll love the book!”
—Eric Jensen, author of Teaching with the Brain in Mind
“Tunstall and Booth provide a beautifully textured exploration of the intersection of child development, social justice and the orchestral experience. Their book should eliminate any doubt about the global relevance of the orchestral canon and its transformative powers.”
—Jesse Rosen, President and CEO, League of American Orchestras
“Tricia Tunstall and Eric Booth are writers I admire and respect. I am very enthusiastic that they share the story of the international growth of El Sistema in such an accurate and engaging way for readers across the world who care about helping children in need.”
—Dr. José Antonio Abreu, founder of El Sistema
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