Introducing Your Children to Classical Music
Do your children listen to and love classical music? Mine got their start listening to these. It was the album “Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery” that awakened my kids’ interest. From there we graduated to full orchestra recordings of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”, which eventually led to my 7 year old (now 9) expressing a desire to learn how to play the violin. He and our 14-year-old have been studying violin with a Suzuki teacher for two years now and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons still has a special place in their hearts, as well as ours. I remember many a day when Vivaldi would be blaring (well, blaring probably is not the right term, since The Four Seasons is so beautiful even at its loudest) through the speakers, all day, over and over…. yes, we did get tired of it from time to time, but it was such uplifting music that most days they were great notes to “wake up by”.The collection features several CDs, all of which have become favorites here at one time or another. Tchaikovsky in America is especially wonderful to listen to on July 4th and other American holidays.
If I have any complaints whatsoever about these recordings, it’s that the actors tend to get overly dramatic, but that’s not too unusual with audiobooks — think about the radio plays of long ago! Some people don’t like the stories woven into the music either. While I would agree that sometimes the stories detract from the music appreciation, I also believe that children who have not been exposed to classical music all their life may find this transition/introduction less stressful than suddenly turning your stereo dial (or in this day and age, I guess up/down buttons would be more appropriate) to the local classical music station, with the monotone DJs and in-depth historical notes. I am not knocking those and in fact we listen to our local station now quite a lot, but if you want something that will excite your kids about classical music, this is a sensible choice. The stories keep their attentions focused, and in doing so they develop an ear for the music playing in the background.
I’ve got more classical music suggestions and information — so stay tuned:) — but for now, I’ll leave you with this: Do you know that listening to Mozart, especially when doing Math, actually helps your brain work through the problems? Classical music has benefits for you and your children that it behooves us, as parents, to learn what these benefits are, and to perhaps change that station once in a while.
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POSTED IN: Children's Music / CDs
2 opinions for Introducing Your Children to Classical Music
echomyst
Aug 2, 2005 at 8:56 am
lol, my first exposure to classical music was when I started learning to play the piano when I was 3 or 4 =P
I did not really appreciate it back then, although two songs that have a very special place in my heart are Morning Mood from Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite, and the Toreador Song from Bizet’s Carmen. The former is very beautiful and evokes the images of a sunrise, and the latter has a very catchy tune.
I was also exposed to a lot of folk songs this way. Stuff like Stephen Foster. It was only much, much later that I started playing jazz/blues and pop songs on the piano. I’m more comfortable with playing the "classical" stuff =) Vivaldi, btw, is not really "classical", but baroque. You may already know this, but many people can’t distinguish the many different forms of "classical music". I also adore his Four Seasons.
Stef
Aug 2, 2005 at 9:34 am
hi echomyst, thanks for your comments! A lot of kids are introduced to classical music via an instrument, however, nowadays, there are a lot of children for whom music does not play a huge importance. I too studied classical piano for 15 years, and a couple of years again in college. Peer Gynt is one of my favorites! And yes, Vivaldi is Baroque but I was talking about "classical" in the general sense and not about strict genres. Although now that you mention it, I may do a brief post on the different ones and suggestions for kids for each one! Thanks!
Edited to say: I meant I studied until I was 15, not for 15 years! LOL — so I’m not a professional pianist, but I did start teaching the kids piano when they were 3 or 4.
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