Our children deserve beauty in their lives. One way to provide beauty is to introduce them to classical music. Kids will react differently to listening to classical music if you haven’t been playing it regularly. My older daughter resisted at first but now enjoys classical music. My younger daughter began listening at a younger age and enjoyed it from the beginning. I began with an Introduction to the Orchestra, which is listed below.
We study three composers per year, one per 12-week term. Once a week we listen to one of the selections of music and try to identify the different instruments and any repeating themes. Naxos is a great place to find classical music. For $20 per year (as of July 2015), you can access a large library of classical music. Sometimes we talk about how the music makes us feel. We often dance about the living room to the music. Additionally, we read a book about the composer. Below are book and music suggestions for composers we have studied. Additional composer study suggestions can be found on Ambleside Online.
If your children are old enough to attend the orchestra, find out what will be performed in your area and study those composers for the year, then attend the performance. Some orchestras have a family series meant for younger children.
Composer Study Resources Contents
Below is a listing of resources we have used and enjoyed for composers we have studied. Click on the name to go to the section. The listing is in the order we studied the composer. The details below are in alphabetical order.
General Composer Study Resources
Introduction to the Orchestra
George Frideric Handel
Peter Tchaikovsky
Antonio Vivaldi
Scott Joplin & Stephen Foster
Aaron Copland
Johann Sebastian Bach
George Gershwin
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ludwig van Beethoven
Joseph Haydn
Felix Mendelssohn
Robert Schumann & Franz Schubert
Frederic Chopin
General Composer Study Resources
- Classics for Kids Website—Resources for learning about the composers
- Instruments of the Orchestra on-line activity
- Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull
- Milton Cross Encyclopedia of the Great Composers and Their Music, Volumes 1 & 2 (This is out of print but worth finding used!)
- New York Philharmonic on-line activities
- The Gift of Music by Jane Stuart Smith
- Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers by Patrick Kavanaugh
Introduction to the Orchestra
Book Suggestions
- Meet the Orchestra by Ann Hayes
- Pet of the Met by Don Freeman (OOP)
- Story of the Orchestra by Robert Levine
- The Philharmonic Gets Dressed by Karla Kuskin
- The Story of the Incredible Orchestra: An Introduction to Musical Instruments and the Symphony Orchestra by Bruce Koscielniak (OOP)
- Tubby the Tuba by Paul Tripp
- Zin, Zin, Zin, A Violin by Lloyd Moss
Music Suggestions
Johann Sebastian Bach
Book Suggestions
- Bach’s Goldberg Variations by Anna Harwell Celenza
- Johann Sebastian Bach by Mike Venezia
- Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull
- Mr. Bach Comes to Call by Classical Kids (Audio CD)
- Sebastian Bach, The Boy from Thuringia by Opal Wheeler
Music Suggestions
- Air for the G String
- Brandenburg Concertos
- Goldberg Variations
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desire
- Magnificat in D
Ludwig van Beethoven
Book Suggestions
- Beethoven Lives Upstairs by Classical Kids (Audio CD)
- Ludwig Beethoven and the Chiming Tower Bells by Opal Wheeler
- The Heroic Symphony by Anna Harwell Celenza
- Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull
- Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers by Patrick Kavanaugh
- The Gift of Music by Jane Stuart Smith
Music Suggestions
- Fur Elise
- Symphony No. 5
- Symphony No. 9
- Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor
- Violin Sonata No. 9, Kreutzer
Frederic Chopin
Book Suggestions
- Frederic Chopin, Son of Poland, Early Years by Opal Wheeler
- Frederic Chopin by Mike Venezia
Music Suggestions
- Les Sylphides, Ballet Music
We chose a sampling of the following types of music from Chopin from the 111 Chopin Masterpieces album.
- Etude
- Mazurka
- Nocturn
- Prelude
- Waltz
Aaron Copland
Book Suggestions
- Aaron Copland by Mike Venezia
- Ballet for Martha by Jan Greenberg
Music Suggestions
- Appalachian Spring Suite Doppio Movimento
- Billy the Kid
- El Salon Mexico
- Fanfare for the Common Man
- Lincoln Portrait
- Rodeo Four Dance Episodes
YouTube of Appalachian Spring
Appalachian Spring Part 1
Appalachian Spring Part 2
Appalachian Spring Part 3
Appalachian Spring Part 4
Stephen Foster
Book Suggestions
- Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull
- Stephen Foster & His Little Dog Tray by Opal Wheeler (OOP)
- Stephen Foster, Boy Minstrel by Helen Boyd Higgins (OOP)
Music Suggestions
- Camptown Races Foster
- Oh! Susanna Foster
- Old Folks at Home Foster
George Gershwin
Book Suggestions
- Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue by Anna Harwell Celenza
- George Gershwin by Mike Venezia
- Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull
- Summertime : From Porgy and Bess by Dubose Heyward
Music Suggestions
- An American in Paris
- I Got Rhythm
- Lullaby for String Quartet
- Rhapsody in Blue
- Summertime
George Frideric Handel
Book Suggestions
- George Handel by Mike Venezia
- Hallelujah Handel by Classical Kids (Audio CD)
- Handel by Ann Rachlin (OOP)
- Handel at the Court of Kings by Opal Wheeler
Music Suggestions
- Messiah, especially Hallelujah Chorus
- Music for the Royal Fireworks
- Organ Concerto in F
- Water Music
Joseph Haydn
Book Suggestions
- The Farewell Symphony by Anna Harwell Celenza
- Joseph Haydn, The Merry Little Peasant by Opal Wheeler
Music Suggestions
- Symphony No. 45
- Symphony No. 100
- Symphony No. 101
- Symphony No. 94
Scott Joplin
Book Suggestions
- Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull
- Raggin’ by Barbara Mitchell (OOP)
Music Suggestions
- Bethena Joplin
- Maple Leaf Rag Joplin
- The Entertainer Joplin
Felix Mendelssohn
Book Suggestions
- The Gift of Music by Jane Stuart Smith
- Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers by Patrick Kavanaugh
Music Suggestions
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream (5 movements)
- Symphony No. 4
- Sonata No. 4 In B-Flat Major For Organ
- Concerto in E Minor for Violin
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Book Suggestions
- Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull
- Mozart, The Wonder Boy by Opal Wheeler
- Mozart’s Magic Fantasy by Classical Kids (Audio CD)
- Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage by Classical Kids (Audio CD)
- The Magic Flute adapted by Anne Gatti and illustrated by Peter Malone
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by Mike Venezia
Music Suggestions
- iTunes has an album of 99 Must Have Mozart Masterpieces. At the time of this posting, it was $4.99.
- Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
- Piano Sonata in A Major (especially the Turkish March—movement 3)
- Symphony #1
- Symphony #40 in g minor
- Symphony # 41 “Jupiter”
- The Magic Flute
- The Marriage of Figaro (Dovo Sono)
- Violin Concerto #3 in G
- Piano Concerto #20 in d minor
Franz Schubert
Book Suggestions
- Franz Schubert and His Merry Friends by Opal Wheeler
Music Suggestions
- Ave Maria
- Quintet in C Major (#3 & 4)
- Symphony #8 (Unfinished)
Robert Schumann
Book Suggestions
- Robert Schumann and Mascot Ziff by Opal Wheeler
Music Suggestions
- Album for the Young
- Carnaval
- Scenes from Childhood
Peter Tchaikovsky
Book Suggestions
- Peter Tchaikovsky and the Nutcracker Ballet by Opal Wheeler
- The Story of Peter Tchaikovsky by Opal Wheeler
- Tchaikovsky Discovers America by Classical Kids (Audio CD)
Music Suggestions
- Nutcracker Ballet
- Swan Lake Ballet
Antonio Vivaldi
Book Suggestions
- I, Vivaldi by Janice Shefelman
- Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull
- The Orphan Singer by Emily Arnold McCully (OOP)
- Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by Anna Harwell Celenza
- Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery by Classical Kids (Audio CD)
Music Suggestions
- Concerto in B Minor
- Concerti for Violin (from Vivaldi: Famous Concerti)
- Concerti for Guitar (from Vivaldi: Famous Concerti)
- Concerti for Oboe (from Vivaldi: Famous Concerti)
- The Four Seasons
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