Category Archives: Clean Teen Reads

Music Part #1: Teens, Music, and the Brain

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Like Magic

Music is an amazing thing. When I hear a melody from my past, especially from my childhood, I’m Clean Teen Readsinstantaneously whisked back in time. It triggers scenes in my mind, and even brings back certain smells and aromas.

That’s pretty cool, don’t you agree? Almost like magic. How can music do that?

Did you know…

Music affects the brain in many positive ways. It makes you smarter, happier and more productive at any age. Listening is good, playing is even better.

From Violin to Guitar

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In my novel, Rockin’ into Romance, the main character, Arianna, is a violinist in a youth symphony. Her background is in classical music with a conductor father and professional cello-player mother.

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On the other end of the music spectrum, in Lingering Dreams, the main character, Kirsten Nicholson, lives on an Oklahoma ranch. Her instrument of choice is the guitar, and she not only plays and sings, but is a songwriter as well. (Which plays a big part in the story plot!)

Music-Brain Trivia

Here’s a little more trivia about research of how music affects the brain. If you want evidence to that fact, it makes sense to look at the brains of people who play a lot of music — professional musicians.

Studies have shown (using brain scans), that the brains of professional musicians are different from the rest of ours.

Their brains are noticeably more symmetrical. Areas of the brain responsible for motor control, auditory processing, and spatial coordination are larger.

They also have a larger corpus callosum. This is the band of nerve fibers that enables the two hemispheres of the brain to communicate with each other.

For more info on music and the brain Click HERE.

Wow! Who knew?

So if you play an instrument now, think of where your little brain will be by the time you’re an adult. Don’t stop practicing!

In the Next Blog… Music and Your Emotions

In the next blog, you’re going to see that it’s not only your brain, but also your emotions that are pumped by music! Music can actually produce healing in the body! This is SO fascinating. Don’t miss it! Check it out HERE!

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You can read the first chapter of Lingering Dreams right here:

FREE Download of Chapter 1

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Charlotte’s Web—the Rest of the Story…

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As most of you know, Clean Teen Reads is all about books, stories, and teens. I love stories, and I  think you do too. Here’s a story about a story.

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Cover of Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte’s Web

As a book lover, I’m sure you’re familiar with the story of Charlotte’s Web. You either read the book, or watched the movie. For those very fortunate ones, it would include both.

E.B. White, the author, was a man with a dry wit, an active imagination, a skilled writing talent, and an intense love of animals. That love of “animals” included spiders, hence the writing of Charlotte’s Web.

He sold the book to Harper & Row by way of a supportive and imaginative editor, Ursula Nordstrom. But a few weeks before the book’s release, the Harper & Row publicity department began to get a little edgy about the idea of a spider as the main character. They were worried that a spider might revolt readers and critics, so they asked him to explain his choice.

His answer is classic. I could cut and paste it here, but it’s quite long, so I invite you to visit the site where you’ll find not only his answer to the question, but some of his sketches as well. If you love Charlotte’s Web, you’ll love this. Read it HERE.

The Drama of Hatching Spider Eggs

Be A Novelist

E. B. White – Author of Charlotte’s Web

My favorite part is where E. B. White takes the spider and her egg sac from its place in the barn on his farm, and boxes it up and takes it to New York with him. He just couldn’t bear to part with the unfolding drama.

This is how true writers weave stories—like a spider weaves a web. The writer becomes fascinated with a certain something. And springing out of their fascination are generations of readers who are privileged to enjoy the stories!

Go read the rest of the story HERE.

PS: E.B. White also wrote Stuart Little

 

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I wrote the story of Brought To You By The Color Drab because I was fascinated with the idea of a teen rebel having to slow down and be patient as the driver for a blind piano tuner. Here’s the result! 

Download Chapters 1 & 2 of Color Drab FREE.

Just CLICK HERE!

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