Classical music curriculum for preschooler

[deditus]

My dd LOVES classical music. I don't and know nothing about it. I was wondering if there were any introduction/appreciation curriculums.

[greenmamapagan]

Hmm, not that I know of. Is there an opera house or concert hall in your city or nearby? They usually have a kids or an education series of concerts or both. I'd check their website

[moominmamma]

The Classical Kids series of story/music CDs are awesome -- Beethoven Lives Upstairs and similar. There are six or eight of them. My kids all listened to them repetitively as preschoolers and got to the point where they could hear a new piece of music and say "this sounds like Vivaldi" or "is this Tchaikowsky?" and be at least in the ball-park, if not right on, most of the time.

The composer series consists of Vivaldi, Handel, Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikowsky and Mozart (2). Of the two Mozarts, the better one from a historical standpoint is Mozart's Magnificent Voyage.

Concerts in the park and children's concerts at a symphony hall are also wonderful opportunities for kids. Outdoor concerts are definitely more amenable to a young child with an untested attention span, so if there are any of those in your region this summer, definitely take advantage!

Hope that helps!

Miranda

[Marimami]

DD has loved these. They're a great mix of biographical information about composers, samples of their music, history, etc. So, it's not really a classical music curriculum but they really are great.

Story of Classical Music
http://www.amazon.com/Story-Classica...0161788&sr=8-1

Famous Composers
http://www.amazon.com/Famous-Compose...0161885&sr=1-3

More Famous Composers
http://www.amazon.com/Famous-Compose...0161919&sr=1-1

We liked these too:
Those Amazing Musical Instruments
http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Musica...0161936&sr=1-5

Story of the Orchestra
http://www.amazon.com/Story-Orchestr...0162002&sr=1-1

[deditus]

Great resources! I really like the looks of the Story of the Orchestra! Thanks!

[ebethmom]

My kids listen to a lot of classical music. Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf is still their favorite. That seems to be a favorite with both orchestras that I play with. I think my kids have seen it performed four different times (and they are only 9 and 6). Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra introduces the orchestra as it goes, too.

My kids like the Classical Kids CD's, too. Those have been known to kill a backseat fight dead! The CD's grab their interest and they forget what they were upset about.

[nov05mama]

The Classics for Kids website is also a great resource:
http://www.classicsforkids.com/

[St. Margaret]

DDv has recently shown quite an interest in this... subbing...

[WhaleinGaloshes]

My DD (almost 5) and I have both had so much fun with this:

Themes To Remember Vol. 1, Classical Magic

I have the teacher manual, too, which is nice for additional ideas, enrichment but not a necessity to enjoy the program IMHO.