Advice on helping someone learn magic.

[Julia]

I have a special friend who is 8 years old, but is going on about 29 years old.

Just a really bright young guy. He has been reading since he was 3, and knows more about astronomy than most adults.

I just found out that he is almost obsessed with magic tricks, and is learning as much as he can. His parents tell me he practices for hours a day. So, can anyone suggest ways I can help him? Books, videos? Anything on the web?

It's exciting for me because I like to watch the way he decides to master something and then just full-speed-ahead goes for it. That is how he learned to read so young. He has displayed some of his magic tricks for me, and he has a great dramatic flare! I really see some potential here.

Thanks.

 

[Garrette]

Excellent.

Books are the way to go to start. You will get many wonderful recommendations, and they are all great places to start.

My personal favorite to recommend is Harry Lorayne's "The Magic Book."

I think it fits extremely well in this circumstance because it shows the basics and only the basics of several types of magic. Your friend can choose his favorite fields and expand from there.

I also find Lorayne to have some of the clearest explanations. It would be above the reading level of most 8 year olds, and may prove somewhat difficult for your friend, but given your description, I think it would be a safe bet.

 

[bignickel]

Can't go wrong with Mark Wilson's stuff I warrent.

Being only a magic afficiando, I leave the better book suggestions to the pros on this board.

I would suspect that a video would be of great service, especially a DVD, since it's one thing to show drawings of hand positions, it's quite another to see continuous motion. I have none, so I can't recommend any.

I suggest taking your friend to your cities magic shop, if it has one. Explain the situation to them, and they should be able to make all kinds of recommendations.

 

[handa]

Beginner's Magic Resources

I use and teach from the following resources:

MARK WILSON'S COURSE IN MAGIC

THE KLUTZ BOOK OF MAGIC (Martin Gardner is a contributor)

MAGIC FOR DUMMIES (Jamy Ian Swiss, among others, is a contributor)

All are available at (or through) most major booksellers, including amazon.com. This is not true for most quality magic resources. A trip to a local magic shop would turn up some more useful resources.

A major problem: not all great magicians are great writers. In fact, most "classic" text resources are quite difficult to follow. Look for a resource with clear pictures/illustrations, and read a few passages of text to see if you understand and can follow the explanations before putting it into the hands of a child...no matter how intelligent.

There are many good videos out there. I'd hesitate to recommend any particular video, but you should know that video instruction is also an option.