Strings Attached: One Tough Teacher and the Gift of Great Expectations Audiobook

Quotes

• “This book makes me believe that one man can make a difference. The life and teachings of Jerry Kupchynsky, affectionately known as Mr K, certainly did for his daughter Melanie and her friend Joanne Lipman, and for legions of students whose lives were affected and changed by the powerful vision of this passionate, complex man. Even more importantly, this book reveals how music can become an anchor, a binding element for creating friendship and support during times of grief, illness, and tragedy. By being inspired, the authors themselves become inspirational. Mr. K’s work lives on, and we are all the richer for it.”

  — Yo-Yo Ma, renowned cellist and winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

• “A joy to read—an affecting, emotional, triumphant story.”

  — Amy Chua, New York Times bestselling author

• “A very fine dual memoir...For those who had a figure like Mr. K in their lives, Strings Attached will resonate. Everyone else will wish they had been so lucky.”

  — New York Times Book Review

• “Strings Attached gives us many gifts. It allows us to look into the world of music; it reminds us of the promise of America to immigrants with ambition; it gives us a portrait of a man who struggled against great odds in life, who suffered great adversity, but who always forged ahead in spite of his many trials.... It also reminds us to be thankful for those teachers who made a difference in our lives, those who refused to listen to our excuses, those who terrorized us as did Mr. K., who pushed us to overcome obstacles, who took us out of ourselves and helped carry us toward our dreams.”

  — Smoky Mountain News

• “Inspirational lessons from the life of one tough teacher. Today’s parents who lament their children stressing over tests may be horrified by the themes of tough love and tenacity offered by this biographical tribute to the late Jerry Kupchynsky, ‘Mr. K,’ a gifted high-school strings teacher from East Brunswick, New Jersey, whose exacting methods helped spawn the careers of generations of musicians and educators…Surviving these early hardships helped instill in Mr. K an appreciation of adversity as a motivator, an unflagging belief in the value of hard work, and a willingness to fight for the underdog…Moving and motivating—a must-read for practicing professionals and would-be musicians.”

  — Kirkus Reviews, (starred review)

• “If you’re a teacher, you’d want your students to write about you like this. If you’re not, this is the audiobook you wish you’d written about someone who had a profound effect on your life…Narrators Kathleen McInerney and Eliza Foss alternate the narration. McInerney’s voice is gentle and expressive, and she does a fine job with characters and intonation. Foss has a rather stern, pointed voice that grabs our attention and leads us through the text. Her voice is not as polished, but its authenticity lends her reading credibility and realism.”

  — AudioFile