Kids love to collect things - bugs, leaves, sports cards, just to name a few. More and more kids are starting their own collections of music, and they can talk about it with the same authority they have when quoting a baseball player's batting average or ERA. That's pretty amazing!
When I was growing up, I remember having access to a few recordings that I would listen to over and over again for hours. Some belonged to my parents, some were my big sister's. When I finally had the money to buy recordings, I started my own collection. This article will attempt to make some suggestions on beginning what may well become a lifelong connection with music listening.
Many recordings feature settings of well-known children's songs, which work great for toddlers. Beyond age three, there are many CD/cassette releases from talented musicians who also write songs for kids, such as John McCutcheon (no relation to the author) and the duo of Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer (a favorite of mine is "Air Guitar"). Songs which tell neat stories and teach positive values abound, and are usually set in a folk or soft-rock style which kids can easily follow. Other recordings actually teach things about the music being played, as in my own "Guitar Man" recording.
For orchestral listening, some version of Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" is a must for a youngster's collection. A narrator tells the story in between orchestral music sections which feature different instruments playing musical themes which belong to the different characters. Many versions have been recorded, featuring narrators such as Star Trek's William Shattner (Captain Kirk) and Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard), as well as a rather creative version by the rock star Sting. Violinist Itzak Perlman has also recorded a very nice version. Actually, you can't really go wrong selecting one of the many available.
Another set of recordings that are wonderful for kids is from the "Classical Kids" label from Canada. There are at least five in a continually growing series of musical biographies about some of the world's greatest composers, including Bach, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky and Mozart. They tell historically accurate stories of the composers' lives from a child's point of view and intersperse the narrative liberally with musical performances of the composers' best-known works. What a great way to educate kids about the world's greatest music! Even as an adult, I enjoy listening to these recordings. Classical Kids has also begun to release videos of these stories.
Other classical music which children enjoy would include opera overtures by Rossini, such as the William Tell Overture, which a lot of grownups know as the "Lone Ranger Theme," or the overture from "Barber of Seville." Kids always respond to the fast action in these overtures, the booming crescendos, and the frequent, clear contrasts in the music. Since the themes in these pieces are very singable, it is common to hear children humming them after they've heard the recording just a few times. Kids singing Rossini? Pretty cool!
Many local stores have areas specifically set aside for children's recordings. The selection is often quite large, as at Borders Books & Music on SR 725. Most children's recordings exist in both CD and cassette format. As your child assembles a collection of recorded music, keep in mind that seeing music performed live is essential for a complete musical experience. Even with excellent sound quality available on CDs, it cannot compare with the real thing.
Throughout the school year at Memorial Hall, the Dayton Philharmonic has several programs geared to youngsters, including a Family Concert Series called "Do-Re-Mi" as well as three Young People's Concerts. During the month of March, the DPO also schedules several Magic Carpet Concerts held at sites throughout the Miami Valley. Ticket information can be obtained at 224-9000. Other area arts agencies, such as the Centerville Arts Commission, the Dayton Jewish Community Center, and the Washington Township Recreation Center sponsor one or more children's concerts in their annual series. Call your local arts group for information about their musical activities and to be placed on their mailing lists.
No comments:
Post a Comment