These reviews by Fred Koch appeared in the Feb, 1998 issue of “Chicago Parent Magazine.” Reviewed in this column:
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Parents often pull me aside and ask my advice on getting their children interested in classical music. I think they hope for a quick and easy answer to this simple-sounding request. But I throw them off when I start asking questions. "Why do you want them to express an interest in classical music?" I ask. "Do you mean 'classical' music or do you mean 'orchestral' music?" "Do you play classical music at home or in the car?" "How many times have you taken your children to a symphony event?" The big question of course, is whether we parents show, by our conduct, that we value this type of music. Kids are quick to detect a sell job when they hear one. We cannot simply mandate that our children appreciate classical music and expect it to happen. We must invest ourselves in this goal. This takes effort. Classical music is an acquired taste that needs to be nurtured and developed in order to blossom. Audio recordings alone are not enough to foster music appreciation. Children need a variety of classical music experiences to pique their interest and unleash their curiosity. Time-honored works, such as Prokofiev's Peter and The Wolf, that weave orchestral music into a narrative continue to be successful at bringing symphonic music into children's world. Many versions of this beloved children's classic are available in audio and video formats, but my favorite is the CD-Rom Chuck Jones' Peter and The Wolf (Time Warner Interactive, 1995). This very interactive program, which also includes a bonus audio CD, is loaded with great, user-driven musical experiences and features the genius of animation legend Chuck Jones, who is best known for his thirty years of creating Warner Bros. cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd and Wile E. Coyote. With the CD-Rom you can choose to see and hear the story from beginning to end, explore the various instruments of the orchestra, or play an arcade-style game with Peter and his friends. As a music educator, I particularly like the program's "The Symphony Orchestra" feature, where you can choose to hear musical themes like the Bird, originally written for the flute, played on a variety of other instruments. You also can click on the camera icon to view a video performance of the theme by a young student musician. Go Back to Top Speaking of those vintage Warner Bros. cartoons, they're filled with classical and orchestral music excerpts and arrangements. You and your kids may enjoy Bugs Bunny on Broadway (Merrie Melodies/Warner Bros., 1991). It is an audio recording of the touring show that coupled a live symphony orchestra with giant video screen projections of twelve classic Bugs Bunny cartoons including "What's Up Doc?" and "The Rabbit Of Seville." What a fun way to get classical music in kids' ears. The music works surprisingly well, even without the video. Even though it includes the characters' voices, the music shines, maybe because there are no visuals. Go Back to Top My favorite new compilation of classical music is The Mozart Effect--Music for Children (The Children's Group, 1997). In the wake of all of the exciting new research establishing the positive effects of music on children's intellect and creativity, I have been just waiting for someone to seize the opportunity to capitalize on these findings with the release of a related audio product. Here it is. This is a wonderful three-volume boxed set featuring a collection of some of Mozart's most powerful, playful and affecting compositions. It's not just Mozart's Greatest Hits, aimlessly thrown together. The selections have been carefully compiled by Don Campbell, an experienced music educator and author of Introduction to the Musical Brain and Rhythms of Learning. The Mozart Effect is marketed by the Children's Group, a Canadian company long recognized as a leader in presenting classical music for children. (You may know of their award-winning Classical Kids video and audio titles such as Mr. Bach Comes To Call, Tchaikovsky Discovers America, and my favorite, Beethoven Lives Upstairs.) Volume 1 of The Mozart Effect, subtitled "Tune Up Your Mind," immediately won me over by starting off with The Cambridge Buskers' version of "Rondo" from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Another favorite of mine is a solo piano performance of "Five Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." The opportunity to hear a chamber orchestra, a solo piano performance and The Cambridge Buskers on a single recording makes the listening experience even more pleasurable, especially for children. "Relax, Daydream & Draw," Volume 2, is designed to inspire creativity and follows a similar format, featuring tastefully chosen selections from a variety of performers, including the playful Cambridge Buskers performing "Voi che sapete" from "The Marriage of Figaro!" The third volume, "Mozart In Motion," creates a setting for movement exploration. Listening to The Mozart Effect won't necessarily increase your child's IQ or strengthen her thinking skills, but this is a marvelous collection of remarkable music from one of the most gifted composers this world has ever known. In his short life of nearly thirty six years, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote more that 600 major compositions, ranging from operas, symphonies and concertos to great works for choir. Do yourself and your kids a favor by sampling the thirty outstanding performances of this great music collected on The Mozart Effect--Music for Children. Go Back to Top
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