Little Melba and Her Big Trombone

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone

Vocabulary

Steady

• at an even rate

• Grandpa John said, "Now stand up straight and blow steady."

Multiple Choice

What is a synonym for steady in this sentence?

A steady rain fell for more than an hour.

• unchanging

• odd

• useless

• dreadful

daydreamed

• thought about pleasant things as if dreaming

• She daydreamed about beats and lyrics.

Multiple Choice

What does the word daydreamed most likely mean in this sentence.

Susan daydreamed about the vacation she would soon take.

• told all her friends about

• started packing her bags

• thought about nice things

• saved enough money

thrill

• something that gives a sudden feeling of pleasure or excitement

• Traveling with the band was a thrill.

Multiple Choice

What does the word thrill mean in this sentence?

It was a real thrill to ride the giant roller coaster.

• difficult experience

• something exciting

• expensive trip

• climb to the top

discouraged

• having lost courage, hope, or confidence

• Discouraged, Melba almost walked away from her trombone.

Multiple Choice

What does discouraged mean?

• not invited

• seen very often

• having many friends

• without confidence

solo

• music that only one person sings or plays on an instrument

• She was only eight when the local radio station invited her to play a solo.

Multiple Choice

Which of these words means music played by one person?

• reef

• plea

• solo

• oath

Multiple Choice

Why did Melba decide to play the trombone?

• She liked how it looked.

• Her mother liked it.

• It didn't cost very much.

• She liked how it sounded.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the story best supports your answer?

• It's big, and you're a little girl.

• What instrument could I play?

• Still, Melba was lonely.

• It's beautiful!

Multiple Choice

Why did Melba skip some grades in her new school?

• She was older than other students.

• She was a good student.

• She could play the trombone.

• She joined a music club.

Multiple Choice

What did Momma Lucille mean when she said, "You have my blessing"?

• She thought Melba should stay home.

• She was sad that Melba would be leaving.

• She wanted Melba to tour the country.

• She knew Melba was a good girl.

Multiple Choice

When Melba first started playing trombone, Grandpa John

• said she was no good.

• thought she should play guitar.

• wanted her to quit.

• gave her encouragement.

Multiple Choice

What is the "jazz scene"?

• the place where Melba bought her horn

• people who play or enjoy jazz

• a time when things didn't go well

• places where musicians live

Match each expression with its meaning.

Multiple Choice

No piece of cake

• Intelligent

• Hold it close

• Appearing in a newspaper

• Hard to do

• Really bad

Multiple Choice

Making headlines

• Intelligent

• Hold it close

• Appearing in a newspaper

• Hard to do

• Really bad

Multiple Choice

Smart as a whip

• Intelligent

• Hold it close

• Appearing in a newspaper

• Hard to do

• Really bad

Multiple Choice

Cradle the horn

• Intelligent

• Hold it close

• Appearing in a newspaper

• Hard to do

• Really bad

Multiple Choice

Hard times hit rock bottom

• Intelligent

• Hold it close

• Appearing in a newspaper

• Hard to do

• Really bad

Open Ended

Why did Melba and Billie Holiday have a hard time in the South?

Open Ended

What is a master musician?

Open Ended

Why was it hard for Melba to move to Los Angeles?

Open Ended

What happened when Melba first played a trombone?

Open Ended

Describe Melba's feelings during the story, and explain why you think she felt that way.

Write your answers in complete sentences. Explain how she felt at the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Use the sentence frames to help you.

At the beginning of the story, Melba felt _________. She felt this way because __________. In the middle of the story she felt ___________. She felt that way because __________. At the end of the story, she felt ____________. She felt this way because __________.