An Interview with Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson has been an educator at all levels from pre-K to college for over twenty years. He also hosts the nationally syndicated author interview show, The Writer’s Block, and has hosted events around the world. Pete’s Beat is his second book (he wrote Lions, Tigers, and…Bulldogs? An unofficial guide to the legends and lore of the Ivy League in 2020), and he looks forward to sharing it with your students soon!

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Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

Pete’s Beat is named for my late father (to whom my Ivy League book is also dedicated), but it is very much my story. When I was a kid, I had a lot of nervous energy (what would now be called ADHD) and was constantly tapping on things and getting reprimanded for doing so. Music was where I found my place and found my voice, just like Pete does in the book.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I’ve been a writer and a teacher for many years, and I started my writing career writing for and about people in the music industry in places like The Boston Globe, Rolling Stone, and Billboard magazine. Now that I’m focused more on teaching writing, I always involve music in my classes, especially in places where formal music education may not be a priority. These are the types of students I’m hoping to share Pete’s Beat with.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

My late father’s name was Peter, but I also wanted a title that rhymed and had something to do with percussion and rhythm, so we went with Pete’s Beat.

What part of publishing your book made it feel real for the first time?

This book was published by Red Barn Publishing, and I first met the co-owner of Red Barn, Tom Lehrich, when he was a guest on my author interview television show, The Writer’s Block. After the taping had finished, Tom casually asked me if I had any other book projects I was working on. And I hadn’t really touched this manuscript in some time because I had still been focusing on promoting my book about the Ivy League. But I mentioned it, and he suggested that I send him the latest edition. And two days later, he emailed me back and said that he and his partner loved it and were going to publish me!

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

I’m actually assembling a soundtrack for it now that will include the sounds of all the international instruments that are in the book and hopefully samples of percussion masters from around the world. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know!

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

I hope that readers realize that what we call the ‘western’ drum kit is not western at all, but it’s an amalgam of every other country and culture, just as the United States is.

I also hope that they realize that everyone has their own sound, and it’s important to do whatever it takes to find a sound that is true to you!

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

Being able to share the book with some of my musical heroes, but also with students, music therapists, parents, and teachers has been wonderful…and it’s only just beginning!

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I’m actually working on another version of the book for older students that goes a little more in depth into the cultural background of each of the instruments and the history of percussion.

A lot of people have asked me to write books about the other three musical families, but for right now, I’m just hoping to get the book in its current version to as many students, schools, libraries, and bookstores as I can, because I really think it’s an important message that kids need to hear whether they’re interested in music or not (but hopefully they are!).

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