Some Kind of Spark. 85 min. Dist. by Argot Pictures. 2014. $100. ISBN unavail.

Gr 5 Up –What does it take to be a musician? Does one have to have an innate song that sounds in the soul, or is it all hard work and practice, practice, practice? The answer is yes and yes in this award-winning documentary about inner-city kids in the Music Advancement Program at the Juilliard School in New York City. It follows students as they begin the program and make their way through it over a three-year span. A bassist, a percussionist, a flautist, a violinist, and a trombone player come from a variety of backgrounds, with different experiences and levels of commitment. There is the initial joy of starting the program, but then come the inevitable stumbles as the students discover that even an activity they love requires hard work, dedication, and a serious time commitment. Viewers rejoice with their successes and feel for their failures as they struggle to express the music within and prepare for the final audition. There is no narration. Instead, we hear snippets of lessons as teacher/mentors urge, cajole, instruct, and encourage. We also see the students at home, with the support they receive from family and friends. VERDICT This is an inspiring program and a lesson not just in music but in life.–Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA

This review was published in the School Library Journal December 2015 issue.