Life is an adventure, whether that means summiting a 20,000-foot peak, making a first descent on a wild river, or in the case of James I. Mitchell, a non-musician, learning to play every instrument in the orchestra at the age of seventy-six. Musical Chairs follows Mitchell on his quest to perform excerpts from the classical repertory with only twelve lessons on each instrument, a journey in learning and the imagination that takes him to unexpected places. As he delves into music history, immersing himself in the works of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and other great composers, Mitchell does battle with the orchestra in this breezy, almost humorous account that informs as well as delights. He weaves in tales of Tarzan and Jane, doing surgery on a double bass, falling in love with a cello, and spy games between the Stradavari and Amati families in 17th-century Tuscany, to name a few. Uniting these flights of fancy is the central theme of the power of serial learning and the lifestyle of struggle and epiphany that comes with it. Musical Chairs is a multi-dimensional book that will appeal to any reader with a healthy curiosity and a sense of adventure.
