This is a lively collection of short pieces by some ‘alive and kicking’ contemporary composers, who each supply their name, place and date of birth as well as two of their ‘favourite things’ – details which some children will love. The pieces range widely in style and event the simplest have real character, for example Nikki Iles’ The Wishing Gate which uses only open strings and first and second fingers but is given life by a lovely jazz-tinged accompaniment. Key signatures are kept simple, the better to introduce techniques such as double-stopping, harmonics, glissandi etc, and one piece briefly employs tenor clef. The volume is filled with useful teaching material of a high musical standard….
European String Teachers Association, Summer 2007