Classical Music for Children Young and Old

Overtures, Symphonies, Waltzes, Sonatas, Operas and Composers

Aug 12, 2009

Children are exposed to current music trends every day. Introducing classical music to broaden their scope will give them a better appreciation of music and its cultures.

Classical music is just like any other musical genre. It can evoke joy, excitement, anger, tears, passion and wonder. Experiencing these emotions through all types of music is not something most children will be familiar with unless they are encouraged to broaden their listening repertoires. There are many classical pieces, some widely recognized and others not, in which children can learn to appreciate the artform.

If a child recognizes any of this overture music and is not regularly exposed to opera, it's likely the recognition comes from the Looney Tunes cartoon short The Rabbit of Seville (1950), starring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.

The music is absolutely delightful, ranging from carefully thought out melodies to almost frantic sequences. Rather than an entire score, which would be tedious for any child, an overture provides a sampling of the different passages telling the story.

It isn't necessary for a child to understand the opera's actual story; in fact, it's a good opportunity for imagination to take over and conjure up a story based on how the music plays out.

In 1976, an extremely accomplished musician by the name of Walter Murphy created a disco version of Beethoven's 5th symphony, cleverly naming it A Fifth of Beethoven. It created quite a stir but not just because it was the #1 instrumental on the Billboard charts that year.

Teenagers were suddenly referring to the symphony of the 18th century-born composer in the same breath as Queen, Peter Frampton and The Eagles. The original symphony, while not having a dancing beat, still holds up with its energy and intense crescendos. Both versions are worth a listen but don't be surprised if the original becomes the favorite.

The Waltz from the Sleeping Beauty Ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Even more so than Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky's most popular work for ballet pas de deux, the waltz from this ballet is a favorite amongst children and adults alike. The melody was forever immortalized in the animated Walt Disney version of Sleeping Beauty (1959).

It is within the song Once Upon A Dream, when borrowing the waltz's melody, wherein the unknowing princess finally meets her prince. Young children will enjoy the act of being carried around the room to its tuneful sound or going through the motions of an actual waltz. Adults may regard the familiar lyric enough to sing it as a lullaby, further strengthening the child's attachment to the music.

It's interesting to discover where classical music turns up but none more surprising than this stop-motion segment from The Children's Television Workshop program Sesame Street. From the 1970s, it consists of an orange on a kitchen counter, creating its own face from common counter items (eyelashes from a vase of daisies, etc.) and then regaling the viewer with a rendition of The Habanera from the opera Carmen.

It runs for under two and a half minutes and is a fine example of how classical music can be introduced to children at a young age. Other familiar passages within the Carmen overture are the Flower Song and Toreador. The latter presents itself like a march to which young children can have a great deal of fun with.

Written in 1801, it was forever dubbed Moonlight Sonata by a critic's observation that the music resembled moonlight shining on a lake. It has a sweet, almost melancholy sound that can work wonders when comforting small children of all ages, often putting them to sleep with its soothing composition.

The pace of this piece is slow; it is not recommended to have a child sit still and listen to it. It would likely be more effective to incorporate it as a backdrop for other situations and allow the subtle notes of the sonata to work their magic.

Children adapt amazingly well and are naturally inquisitive when exposed to new things. Have a few bits of information ready when introducing a new symphony, waltz or sonata to satisfy their curiosities when they arise. If done regularly but gently, the introduction of classical music will become so natural that soon it will be the children choosing to listen to it.

The copyright of the article Classical Music for Children Young and Old in Children's Instrumental Music is owned by Deborah Read. Permission to republish Classical Music for Children Young and Old in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.