May 9

May 9 Introduction to the orchestra - where to start?

Stuck on how to introduce your little one to musical instruments and formal concerts? As a musician myself, I have been keen to introduce my son to classical music as soon as possible. Here are some of the things I have done, which may work for your family.

From the moment my son was born, I had a playlist of calm and quiet music playing while he slept. Some research shows that music during sleep can enhance relaxation, however I just wanted my son to be exposed to lots of different musical instrument sounds as early as possible.
These have been some of my son’s favourite books. Jessica Courney Tickle has created these books using stories and real orchestral snippets from famous ballets, orchestral works and operas. We have found them a fantastic way to explore movement in response to music. It was also really helpful to have my son familiar with little sections of music before attending concerts with the longer music in it.
Some music is easier than others for little ones to appreciate
Generally, younger people will appreciate music that has a variety of colours and styles. Here are some works you could look out for:
Saint-Saens - Carnival of the Animals
This work is full of short songs that depict different animals using different instruments. It has great variety of speeds and colours to explore with your little one.
Prokofiev - Peter and the Wolf
In this work, there are different instruments taking on the role of different animals while there is a narrator telling a cautionary tale about a wolf.
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Boston Baroque have created a beautiful animation of The Four Seasons, giving your little one an introduction to the string family. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtMi66anolg
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra have created an interactive experience for little ones based on this fantastic work here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQxFRHrEFWo
Good quality soundtracks
Our household’s favourite music to listen to at the moment is Rene Aubrey’s soundtracks to Julia Donaldson’s books. Why? They are all beautiful and fully encapsulate the different characters and moods of the books. While you may not wish to watch the animations, the soundtracks work beautifully by themselves.
There are lots of other fantastic movie and TV soundtracks!
Don’t expect your little one to be able to go from nothing to a one-hour concert overnight. Some things to think about
- There are some concerts which are specifically targeted for younger audiences.
- Think about how long your little one will last. If there is an interval, are you better to leave then? MAYBE! It is better to leave on a positive note than push your little one beyond what they are capable of.
- Plan ahead. Is there a way you can listen to the music before the concert? Is there a story that goes with it?
- Is there anything you need to make your toddler aware of? Is there likely to be big noises? Will it get dark? Information is power - ask the venue for details if you’re not sure.
- Keep a lookout for free concerts in your local library or community centre. Often it’s better to introduce your little one to their first concert experience when you’re not worrying about how much money you’re letting go of if they don’t last!
- Outdoor concerts may be a better alternative