These reviews by Fred Koch appeared in the May, 1999 issue of “Chicago Parent Magazine.” Reviewed in this column:
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I'm sure you've noticed the increased marketing of classical music to parents of young children. No doubt this is in response to recent studies suggesting that music can enhance brain development, increase IQ and expand learning capabilities. The not-so-subtle message to parents is that you'd better surround your child with musical brain stimulation or you'll miss out on an important window of opportunity. Guilt: It certainly can be an effective marketing tool, can't it? I'm no authority on the effects of music on brain development, but I do know good music when I hear it. I have reviewed many of these new classical titles aimed at very young listeners. To help you sort through the onslaught, I'll share some of my favorites. My first two recommendations come from prize-winning classical pianist and new mom Heidi Brende. SmartSleep with Classical (Wee Are Young, 1997), her first album, is a quiet-time title containing many familiar pieces beautifully performed on solo piano. Brende noticed that when she played certain pieces with slow, beautiful melodies and repetitive rhythms, her son would almost magically calm down. Ah, the power of music. This collection of soothing, child-tested pieces includes classics by Mozart, Chopin, Schumann, Beethoven, Debussy and Bach, including Bach's "Aria In G Major" from the "Goldberg Variations," which he composed in the 1700s to cure Count Kayserling's insomnia. I am impressed with Brende's choice of material and her high degree of musicianship, along with the fact that she performs all of these selections in their original versions. Go Back to Top SmartPlay with Classical (Wee Are Young, 1999) is another collection of exquisitely played, great pieces. Brende begins with Mozart's 12 playful variations on "Twinkle, Twinkle." Unlike many other recordings, each of the variations is on a separate track, so you can pick and choose which variations you want to listen to. Other selections include four of Mozart's "Little Pieces from the London Musical Notebook," which he composed when he was only 8; three sonatas by Scarlatti; several pieces from Schumann's "Scenes of Childhood"; and works by Prokofiev, Bach and Beethoven. The "Notes For Older Children" in the liner notes suggest listening activities and ideas parents can use to help their children enjoy the music. "Sometimes Mozart hides 'Twinkle, Twinkle' so well that almost no one can hear it," they point out. "In one variation (#9) he makes it sound sad instead of happy. In a different one (#12) he makes it sound like someone is dreaming about it." Go Back to Top Two other CDs you may want to add to your classical music collection are Baby Needs Baroque and Baby Needs Mozart (Delos International, 1998). Delos is a respected classical music recording company. These collections come directly from their vast library of existing recordings. The Baroque CD, for instance, includes the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra playing Vivaldi's "Largo" from "The Four Seasons," the Brazilian Guitar Quartet with "Pachelbel's Canon In D," a Bach violin concerto played on a 8-string guitar, and Jean-Pierre Rampal in a Telemann flute duet. You get a similar mix of performances on the Mozart CD: a string quartet ("Eine Kleine Nachtmusik--Andante"), a beautiful piano sonata, a clarinet quintet, a flute, oboe and piano trio and more. When you think of how many recordings you would need to buy to collect such an array of performances on your own, you can appreciate the value of Delos' Baby Needs series. The liner notes offer interesting background information and help shed light on Mozart's genius. For instance, the fact that Mozart composed the joyful "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" during a most unhappy part of his life, and had completed 29 symphonies by the time he was 18. Go Back to Top The Mozart Effect: Music for Babies (The Children's Group, 1998) comes from Don Campbell, who gained recognition for his book The Mozart Effect and a three-CD series of the same name. Campbell excels at selecting material, and Music for Babies is no exception. On this recording, we're treated to the "Toy Symphony," composed by Wolfgang Mozart's father, Leopold. There's also another version of the Twinkle variations, performed on organ. The pieces are organized by theme, including "Playtime Mozart," "Transition Mozart" and "Sleepytime Mozart." The CD is targeted for children 3 months to 3 years old. Even though these collections are aimed at kids, parents should be sure to take time to enjoy and appreciate music with your little ones. It's not just babies who need Mozart and the music of the Baroque. The Mozart Effect and the Baby Needs series can be found wherever children's music or classical music is sold. You can contact Wee Are Young at 800-970-7801 for information about the SmartSleep series. And remember to drop me a line either by mail in care of Chicago Parent or by e-mail at fkoch@lfelem.lfc.edu. I enjoy hearing from you! Fred Koch is an award-winning music educator and a nationally recognized children's musician. He lives in Lake Bluff with his wife and young son. Go Back to Top |
