Looking for a Christmas show or concert to take your children to in 2022? These events in and around Birmingham still have tickets available.
What’s On For Kids In Birmingham this Christmas?
Usborne Musical Books’ The Planets Illustrated by Morgan Huff & Written by Fiona Watt
A review of the sound book The Planets from Usborne Musical Books
Bluey Season 3 on Disney +
Bluey Season 3 starts on Disney+ on 10 August. It’s full of brilliant music, as well as being a generally great cartoon for children. Read more about why Bluey is the perfect cartoon for introducing your children to Classical music, and helping them develop a love of music.
Facts About the Bassoon
In this post I turn the spotlight onto the bassoon, one of the lowest pitched and largest members of the woodwind family of instruments. What do you know about this unique and fabulous instrument? A lot more than before, if you read this post!
Facts About the Oboe
This month’s featured instrument of the orchestra is a member of the woodwind family: the oboe.
Facts about the flute
How much do you know about the flute? Some interesting facts about my favourite wind instrument (the one I play myself).
Facts about the Trombone
How much do you know about the trombone? Here are some trombone facts to increase your musical general knowledge on this brass instrument.
Music Book Review: Once Upon a Tune Stories from the Orchestra
Ever wonder what inspired some of the most famous pieces of music? Well in this wonderful book, Once Upon A Tune: Stories From The Orchestra by James Mayhew, the stories behind many brilliant pieces of music, including The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Flight of the Bumblebee and The William Tell Overture, are told.
Music Book Review: The Story Orchestra – Swan Lake
This Music Book Review tells the story behind Swan Lake with excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s music for the ballet.
An Introduction to Classical Music – Playlist
An introduction to music from the Classical period in music history. This playlist includes music from Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, CPE Bach and Gluck to give you a flavour of the music from this time.
Academy Tots from the Royal Academy of Music
A review of an online music class for 2-4 year olds from the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Classical Music For Christmas
Are you looking for some ideas for music to listen to with your children? Perhaps you want to do some festive activities and have some background music on? Here is a curated festive playlist full of Christmas-themed classical music. Grab a drink and a snack, put the playlist on and settle down for some beautiful Christmas music.
Spotlight on Sensory Scarves
What are sensory scarves and why should you get some to use in musical play?
Classical Music for Halloween
Photo by Gabby K on Pexels.com I made some suggestions of songs that could feature on a Halloween playlist in a previous blog post, but it is not just pop songs/soundtracks that are appropriate for the spooky season. While we may or may not play these works at our Halloween party I will certainly be... Continue Reading →
Learning to Listen to Music: What Does This Music Make You Think Of?
Introducing a new series of blog posts: children’s (my children’s) responses to music. Imaginative responses to music
Music Book Review: Welcome to the Symphony
My Music Book Review for today is the sound book Welcome to the Symphony by Carolyn Sloan and illustrated by James Williamson. It is an exploration of both the instruments that play in a Symphony Orchestra, and also the 5th Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven. You almost certainly have heard this symphony before as it... Continue Reading →
Spotlight on Mini Tambourines
Mini tambourines are a good instrument choice for smaller children. They are easier for small children to hold onto, and therefore play independently; and for very small children who mouth objects, enclosed mini tambourines are available, which are much safer for them to use on their own. What Is a Tambourine? Tambourine means little drum,... Continue Reading →
Animals in classical music
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com I have previously put together a playlist of children's songs that have animals as their subject matter. Animals are not only a good subject for children's songs, but also provide great subject matter for composers of classical music. Here are some classical music pieces that feature animals as their subject.... Continue Reading →
Classical Music for Autumn/Fall Playlist
Playlist: classical music written about and for Autumn or Fall
Live Music!!
Live music has returned, albeit with smaller ensembles. But how wonderful to have live music outside our front door.
Lullabies I Have Sung To My Children
Babies love the sound of their parents’ voices more than any one else’s voice. Singing babies to sleep is such a lovely way to end the day. Here are some songs I sang to my children to try to get them to sleep.
Spotlight on tambourine
Spotlight on tambourine, a great first percussion instrument. What is a tambourine and how to play it
Music Book Review: Usborne Listen and Learn Musical Instruments
Today’s Music Book Review is Listen and Learn Musical Instruments from Usborne Books. We do have quite a lot of Usborne books at home. They are quite fantastic for young children - and that is my experience so far as my eldest is 6 years old as I write this. My recommendations may change as... Continue Reading →
Music Book Review: Baby’s Bedtime Music Book
A review of Usborne’s Baby’s Bedtime Book of Music. This week’s review of a book about music for children.
Music to burn off some energy
A playlist of songs to help children burn off some energy. Great songs for children to dance to at home.
Concert Review: B’Opera Relaxed Concert, Teddy Bear’s Picnic
A review of a Relaxed Concert from the Birmingham based children’s music company B’Opera
8 Happy Songs
For this week’s playlist, we have a selection of very happy songs, or pieces of music. These are all fun, bubbly, joyful works that will have you up and dancing and maybe even singing or humming along to them. If you ever need a pick me up, these would all be ideal to listen to.... Continue Reading →
Music Book Review: First Book about the Orchestra
A review of the book First book about the Orchestra published by Usborne Books.
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Notelets series concert review: Crash Bang Wallop!
A review of a children’s classical music concert: Crash, Bang, Wallop! From the CBSO’s Notets series.
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