Children and Classical Music Musings

Many of us are brought up to disdain classical music as though it is stuffy, incomprehensible, dull, or elitist. But, this is only because we are not exposed to it from the very beginning. Maybe, to some, it is, an acquired taste, but, like anything else, the more you listen to it, the more comfortable you become, and the more comfortable you become, the more you will want to incorporate it into your  life.

I tend to talk a lot about classical music and it's importance for children. Sure it's complex, but, so are kids. Yes, there are no lyrics, but, that is what is so great. This allows the imagination to figure out the story and connect it's own dots. I am not a scientist, but, I believe with all my heart that classical music aids imaginative thinking and artistic development in profound ways. I know it did for me, so, when our daughter was tiny it was a natural thing for us to listen (and still do) to KING FM, which is one of the great classical music stations in the world. She would sit in her car seat and conduct. She loved opera. She loved Vivaldi. She still does. (You can listen to KING FM while you are online. Take it for a test drive, it's amazing!) Whether or not my daughter's incredible focus and artistic bent is because of this exposure I will never know, but, I'm guessing it has made a positive and long lasting influence. If you have any doubts, Just watch this!  Pretty amazing, huh? Now, clearly Jonathan is a gifted little thing, but, still just try putting classical music on with a small child and see what happens. I guarantee he/she will not be sitting still.

There is something so transcendent about playing your favorite classical music DVD and losing yourself in  your creative activities; writing, sewing, painting, cleaning your room. With classical music playing I always feel like I am able to go to a deeper, more focused and satisfying place with my projects. I mean, even bill paying becomes less tedious when spent with Yo-Yo Ma, Mozart, Tchaikovsky,  Vivaldi, or Bach. The same is true with children. Try putting on your favorite classical music CD when the kids are doing their chores. It will be much less of a battle and I bet it will get done faster. It works for me.

Classical music also has a tremendous calming effect on kids. It's great to study, read, write, or think to. I believe the brain really loves it.

Here is a list of my current favorite classical music CDs:
1. Vladimir Horowitz The Complete Masterworks Recordings 1962-1973, Vol. III
2. Vladimir Horowitz The Complete Masterworks Recordings 1962-1973, Vol. III, continued
3. The Compleat Four Seasons Narrated by Patrick Stewart - Perfect for this time of year and Patrick Stewart has one of the best narrator voices ever!

4. Midori, violin/ Robert McDonald, piano Encore! This CD is intoxicating and addictive. 
5. Yo-Yo Ma plays Ennio Morricone (this is really film scores played by Yoyo, but passes as classical, come on it's Yo-Yo!!!) I also love it because the score to Cinema Paradiso, which is my no.1 fave film of all time is on this recording. Bliss!

When I was a kid I was obsessed with. . .
6. Nancy Carlos' Switched On Bach (first released in 1968 and recently remastered). I am going to go out on a limb here - You will LOVE this!!! This is funkified Bach to the enth degree and I dare you and your child to sit still while listening to it. It's simply hilarious and still sounds current. Anecdote: When this first came out I was playing the organ every Sunday for one and many times two Masses every week. I tended to get bored playing the same 'ol, same 'ol, so, during Communion I would jazz up my Bach by "Switching it On" with some of the more techno stops on my organ, speeding it up; people loved it. There is no reason music in church needs to be dull as dishwater, right? It should be a celebration of epic proportions!

Specially for children:
7. Serfei Prokofiev's Sneaky Pete and the Wolf Written and Narrated by Peter Schickele with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. 

For the most part I think kids like listening to the same classical music recordings as adults. Sometimes the recordings specifically for children feel a little condescending and silly. There is absolutely no reason to water down  perfection. Kids are smart and sophisticated. Share exactly what you love and they will respond. 


Here is a treat; if you've never heard of Benjamin Zander take 20 minutes, go to TED, sit down and be prepared to have your classical music paradigm toppled. He is a consummate musician, conductor, communicator, passionate artist with energy, talent, and humor galore. He takes us on a thoughtful and emotional ride with a classical music passage that he plays on the piano. Listen to his talk with your children and see what they think.


To be continued. . .