Ask Bonnie Simon at Maestro Classics, Award-Winning CDs for Kids

"What 'The Soldier's Tale' teaches us about Temptation"

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

The storyof “The Soldier’s Tale” is based on the age-old Faustian legend of a man whosells his soul to the devil. While the hundreds of tales that havebeen written deal mainly with adults, I find that it is a cautionary tale thatcan lead to very important discussions with children.

Oftenchildren deeply desire something that they cannot have, and this leaves themvulnerable. Temptation. Will they simply take it and be forced to live with theguilt that follows, or will they be tempted by someone else who agrees to getthem the desired item in exchange for something else.

In“The Soldier’s Tale” the Soldier is tempted by the offer of a book that tells the future and canmake him rich. What makes this story even more tragic is that the Soldier had not reallythought about being rich and as he sat by the roadside, he was dreaming of hisgirlfriend, his mother, his home, and his 10 days leave. But when the prospectof wealth raised its head, he was tempted.

Inthe beginning, these deals never seem like they will be so bad. After all, theSoldier’s violin was old and not of great value. In time, however, he discovers thatit is the symbol of all happiness for him. He discovers that he has lost hisfinancée, his family, in short, his life. In this tale, he is given theopportunity to recover his happiness. The Soldier cures the Princess and marries her.But the Devil is not so easily defeated, and says while he has let him off thehook this time, there is one condition: he must never leave the Princess’kingdom.

TheSoldier and the Princess live in happiness, but the Soldier is tempted again.He wants to see his mother once more and hopes that he can slip out of the kingdom, thinking that no one will ever know.

Howoften in life does one hope that no one will ever know?! (Cookies from thecookie jar – how did mother know? Wet the toothbrush instead of brushing – howdid father know?) As the Soldier crosses the frontier, of course, the Devil does see him and turns him intostone.

“TheSoldier’s Tale” is a morality piece, a cautionary tale that appeals to allchildren because they have a visceral sense of wanting something that they occasionally cannot have. The lessons to be discussed with children after listening to "The Soldier's Tale" aremany: Don’t make deals that you know are wrong. Don’t hope that you won’t get caught. Discuss offers and trades that youhave been offered with parents so that you can understand all the implications.And finally, if it looks too good to be true, it probably isn’t.

Stravinsky's magnificent music will make this morality lesson both pleasurable and memorable.

Music Library No. 11: A Wonderful Guitar Concerto

2012-01-26T20:50:00.000-08:00

"The Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999), blind from the age of three, enriched Spanish music in particular through his concertos for guitar, compositions for which he is best known abroad. Rodrigo studied for a time in Paris, where he spent the turbulent years of the Spanish Civil War, his subsequent career largely centered on Madrid." Naxos

The Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra is his most famous piece. I heard it performed with Ben Verdery last week in New York City with L'Orchestre des Portes Rouges. It exudes Spanish style and is one of those works that I give to teenagers and young men in their 20s. It never fails to please, but it really is a work for all ages.

The program note read:

"On the banks of the Tajo River outside Madrid, the 300-acre Gardens of Aranjuez are part of an 18th century summer palace of the Bourbon kings of Spain. Infected by diphtheria at the age of three, Rodrigo, was nearly blind for almost all of his life. It was this event, Rodrigo said, that turned him towards a life in music. A talented pianist who showed a flair towards the concerto form, Rodrigo wrote works for such soloists as the guitarist Andres Segovia, flautist James Galway, harpist Nicanor Zabaleta, and cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. The Concerto is meant to capture "the fragrance of the magnolias, the singing of birds and the gushing of fountains" – in short, all the beauties that a blind man, such as himself, could appreciate. Rodrigo's gift for melody is brilliantly infused with Spanish style dances in the baroque form that matches the formality of the old palace, while the dances of the first and last movement and the plaintive melody of the second, have their roots in older, more primal folk Spanish forms."

The complete concerto can be purchased for less than $4 as a download:

http://www.amazon.com/Rodrigo-Concierto-Aranjuez-Fantasia-gentilhombre/dp/B0013DABYS/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327639594&sr=301-1

If you have a moment, listen to samples of some other performances. John Williams is a famous guitarist, so less expensive does not mean less good. Beware: there are 4 movements to the concerto; make sure you get all of them when you purchase.

Music Library No. 10: Bernstein's Overture to Candide

2012-01-17T07:02:00.000-08:00

Leonard Bernstein was one of America's most charismatic musicians. Composer, conductor, educator - Bernstein excelled in every one. Many American's know Bernstein as the composer for West Side Story; others know him for his televised educational concerts at Carnegie Hall, a truly pioneering endeavor both from the standpoint of television and of music education. Bernstein was a young man in his 20s when the conductor of the New York Philharmonic got sick and Bernstein was called upon to stand in. The reviews the next morning were raves and the rest is history. Eventually, he became music director of the NY Philharmonic.

Bernstein composed the operetta Candide in the 1950s. It was based on Voltaire's novella of the same name. Many thought that it was too sophisticated for Broadway, but I encourage you to go see it live if you ever have the opportunity.

The overture is such a wonderful work, that it stands alone as a brilliant piece of musical composition.

A great biography of Bernstein was written by Meryl Siecrest.

Kennedy Center Performance of The Merry Pranks of Master Til (Til Eulenspiegel)

2012-01-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

Maestro Stephen Simon and I just listened to our Kennedy Center performance with Yadu narrating of The Merry Pranks of Master Til, our narrated story version of Richard Strauss' brilliant tone poem "Til Eulenspiegel." WOW! is all I can say.

"Til," as we call it for short here at the Maestro Classics office, is up on deck for recording with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in March and will be part of the Stories in Music series. This is rousing music that children and parents will never forget. I think that there will be room on the CD to include a performance without narration, as it was originally written, as well as the performance with narration.

I had forgotten how fabulous it is!

Music Library No 9: Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings in C Major

2012-01-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

Maestro Classics' recorded the music of Tchaikovsky's great ballet, Swan Lake with narration and you now can purchase the music from that CD without the narration (or get it FREE for the next few weeks if you purchase The Story of Swan Lake CD or MP3.

Another wonderful Tchaikovsky work is his Serenade for Strings in C Major. If I could request one work to be played at my funeral it would be this one. The lushness of the sound and exquisiteness of the harmonies just melts your heart.

This would be a great piece of music to ask your children how it makes them feel.

Unfortunately, to get all the great parts you need to purchase the full album download, but you also get another great Tchaikovsky work, Souvenir of Florence. Download special on Amazon now.

Hilltown Family Variety Show on WXOJ

2012-01-10T05:29:00.000-08:00

I am really excited to be DJing a show for Hilltown Family Variety Show on WXOJ (Valley Free Radio). The station broadcasts out of Amherst, MA, home of Amherst College, UMass Amherst, Hampshire College, Mt. Holyoke College, and Smith College. It is a great part of the world with many, many wonderful families. The station has a public radio format and is a Pacifica Radio Network affiliate.

Show will air Sat., Mar. 3, 2012. Podcasts are available if you live out of their area.

They have folk singers, Chinese performers, and so many others, but our show will be on great music that young and old can enjoy. Psst.... many classical composers had senses of humor.

Abbey Road Studios in London

2012-01-07T04:49:00.000-08:00

The street actually look like this!

We are on our way back to The Abbey Road Studios in London, where the Beatles made all their famous recordings. All the Maestro Classics' CDs are recorded there in the big Studio No. 1. The first time I went to the studio, I was really surprised (and delighted) to find the crosswalk still there, just as it is in the photo on the Beatles Abbey Road vinyl album.

New Maestro Classics' Stories in Music CDs are on their way! It is a long road from this moment until the final CD wrapped in shrink wrap ends up in our offices, but the process has begun. The first draft budget, repertoire list, hiring of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, reserving the Abbey Road Studio big studio, and hiring the engineers has begun. Three new works will get the Maestro Classics Stephen Simon's conductor touch, and I will start writing scripts and finding children's book illustrators whose work reflects the quality of the music.

2012 will be a busy year!

The titles of the new CDs???

Try to guess! Hint: one of them has been requested many, many times by everyone who loves The Story of Swan Lake.

May I Brag a Little????

2012-01-04T19:37:00.000-08:00

Great English Website

Very high praise when an English reviewer LOVES an American CD of their beloved Handel!

"My Name Is Handel

I have always believed that no composer is a better role model for aspiring musicians than Handel and that no music makes the introduction to classics more smooth and enjoyable than his Water Music. Whether you are a complete novice to the classical world or a professional musician, a truck driver or a philosopher, Handel’s music will find its way to your heart. Personally I feel certain that you must not judge classical music until you have heard Handel’s Alla Hornpipe, the piece known to spread beauty, happiness and energy of youth whenever it is performed.

Bonnie and Stephen Simon, the creators of My Name Is Handel CD, would probably second that statement, as their latest addition to the “Stories in Music” series devoted to Handel’s Water Music is centered around that particular piece.

Featuring popular selections from Handel’s greatest works performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Simon, this CD offers a multi-level and highly entertaining insight of the composer’s life, reviving the golden hour of his career: the 1717 premiere of the Water Music.

Even though originally this CD was created for ages 7 and up, it is just perfect for family listening with no age limits in either direction. Thanks to an enchanting and very expressive narrative by Yadu, listeners will get carried away by the feature story of the Water Music creation and its glorious Thames performance. Moreover, they will even have a chance to sneak inside the royal barge and overhear a very special conversation between the great English composer and his most powerful fan, King George I.

Older audiences will find Maestro Simon’s brief follow-up discussion unimposing, yet most helpful in understanding the main music genres of Handel’s days. Not only does this discussion open a door into the world of Baroque music, but also it inspires the listeners to explore the subject further on as they turn to the colorful booklet that comes with the CD.

Boasting a variety of ink-and-watercolor illustrations, this elegant booklet takes us on a brief tour of Handel’s London, as we embrace its music and architecture, and even take a look at its peculiar “chair” carriages. However, it is not until the middle of the booklet that we discover its real treasure: a simplified score of the glorious Alla Hornpipe, turned into a hit sing-along, called My Name Is Handel. Consisting of only four simple lines, this catchy song is sure to win the heart of any listener, including the youngest one. In fact, my three-year-old demonstrated a truly Handelian persistence as he asked to listen to it over and over again, until he was ready to sing it. We had a real blast “playing theater” while singing and accompanying on the piano at the same time.

Needless to say, My Name Is Handel will make a perfect gift for every music lover, no matter what age they may be or what level of musical preparation they may have. However, most importantly, this CD clearly proves that classical family listening does not have to be boring. Apparently, with the right CD, it can be a lot of fun!"

Raisa Massuda
29th December 2011

The Soldier's Tale: The Amazing Baz

2011-12-27T12:00:00.000-08:00

The Amazing Baz who composed the dance-mix for Track 4 of The Soldier's Tale opened his copy of the newest CD in the Maestro Classics' series. I think he is pleased....

Best Christmas Gift Ever: The Soldier's Tale HAS ARRIVED!

2011-12-24T06:58:00.000-08:00

Midst the gift wrapping, potato peeling, turkey stuffing preparations, THE SOLDIER'S TALE

The first copies arrived on Thursday at 7 PM. The artwork is gorgeous, a veritable storybook inside the program booklet, and the sound is stunning. The conductor, Stephen Simon, thinks that it may be the best in the entire Maestro Classics' Stories in Music series. It is certainly sophisticated - perfect for junior high school age, but also will be enjoyed by younger children who love to read and love music.

The Amazing Baz's dance-mix is a real winner. Great fun and continues to bounce around in your head.

There is no doubt when you listen to this that Stravinsky was the greatest composer of the 20th century.

Music Library No. 8: Great Christmas Carol CD

2011-12-20T16:09:00.001-08:00

One of the great American choral conductors of all time was Robert Shaw (1916-1999). Robert was famous for his work with the Cleveland Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony. Fortunately, his unique choral sound is still available on CD. His Songs of Angels CD continues to be one of my very favorite holiday CDs. I recommend listening to samples even if you do not decide to purchase, but I think that you will find at least one carol that you cannot resist downloading. My favorite is "The Holly and the Ivy."

All Great Things Must Come to An End

2011-12-18T04:31:00.000-08:00

The Grand Elevator at Claridge's Hotel

Sweet Potato Risotto with Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

After the LPO concert at Festival Hall, we treated ourselves to a glass of champagne and dinner at Chez Girard, smiling one last time before we went back to the hotel to pack for the early morning flight.

What a week!

Royal Festival Hall - LPO Christmas Concert

2011-12-17T04:22:00.000-08:00

Christmas Concert 2011 - Royal Festival Hall
with London Philharmonic Orchestra
the orchestra that with whom we record all the Maestro Classics CDs

Our last evening was a business trip to hear theLondon Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus at Royal Festival Hall. The new very hotpop opera singer, Russell Watson, was their star attraction for this benefitconcert for The Prince's Trust, Prince Charles' Trust that is devoted toproviding education and training for disadvantaged youth. A quick trip toHarrod's provided a comb with magnificent feathers that enabled me to attendthis fancy event. This sell-out event with stage filled with orchestra, chorus,backup singers, Russell himself, plus flood lights, decorations, Christmastrees, and (to my astonishment) HUGE flame throwers to add a bit of drama (Icould feel the heat of these 30-foot high shots of fire on my face in the 2ndrow - I confess that I did check for the location of the emergency exits asthey began), was quite a spectacle.

Food

2011-12-17T04:19:00.000-08:00

Mince pies and mulled wine seem to accompanyevery Christmas concert in London. A very nice touch provided by the ladies ofthe choral society. I love mince pie, so I had to try each of these adorabletartlettes. But then I found a complete turkey dinner in a tart and could notresist a photo.

More Music in London... and a Little Theater

2011-12-16T03:47:00.000-08:00

Two More Evenings of Music

And a little theater... very amusing.

The Whitehall Choir pre-concert rehearsal

I love the theater in London (and in New York and in Washington, DC and...) and it would not be a trip to the UK if there were not at least one night at the theater. As I travel around London, I am always surprised when I realize that the rather plain, unattractive post-war buildings that are in the midst of these beautiful Victorian (and older) buildings were all constructed to fill the holes made by the bombs that fell on this beautiful city during WWII. And, when I go into London theaters where the stalls (i.e. orchestra seats) are 3 levels below street level, I always think about the fact that this was a place that was safe during the bombing. If you have not seen "Mrs. Henderson Presents," the 2005 movie with Judi Dench, I highly recommend it. (Probably not for children.)

Handel's Church: St. George's at Hannover Square, London

2011-12-16T02:21:00.000-08:00

The newly installed organ at St. George's Hannover Square, London

The nave in noonday sun.

Back in London, we are again popping into churches. St. George's at Hannover Square in Mayfair has been under renovation for almost a year, with doors locked and covered with scaffolding. What a delight to pass by and discover that it was again open. We missed the noon concert, but that just means an excuse to return.

You can see a beautiful watercolor painting of the church in the My Name is Handel: The Story of Water Music CD by Maestro Classics, Number 8 in the Stories in Music series. No. 9, The Story of a Soldier (Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat) was due on Dec. 6. Still has not arrived at the office but its arrival will be the best Christmas gift ever!

Maestro Classics Continues to Enrich Our Lives

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

I probably never would have come to Huddersfield were it not for the new CD project. I can now only wonder how many times we will return as we have met so many delightful, friendly people here. From dinner with the Lord Mayor to the thoughtful lady who knocked on our door slightly after midnight and returned the umbrella that we had left at the reception. As with playing a video game with the doors that open to unexpected places, we have opened the door to Huddersfield and now it is a place that brings with it a host of mental pictures and the word Huddersfield will never be the same.

York is coming up next. Better put away the computer and see whether we will be able to see the cathedral. I am tempted to jump off the train and catch the following train to London, but think that York may have to wait until the next trip. I am beginning to get my geography straight, I think.

I understand that the York Cathedral has an up and coming boy choir. It will have to wait for the next trip, though now that I know that it is just two hours on the high speed train, there will be no excuse for not at least making a day trip out of it.

Like the Huddersfield hat???

Capturing the Sunlight

2011-12-12T15:12:00.000-08:00

The English conservatory that we see advertisements for in Architectural Digest and such magazines, abound here, not just on the fancy houses, but also on the more modest ones. With their white supports and lovely shapes, one can understand why in a country with so much rain capturing every bit of sunlight when it appears is a priority for people. It makes me miss ours from our old house in Washington, DC. More lush green fields, horses, hedgerows, even in December there is green all about.

More Musical Surprises... Sloane Square

2011-12-12T10:08:00.000-08:00

Stephen Simon can never pass a church without reading the music schedule and trying the door. With an hour before meeting a good friend at Peter Jones at Sloane Square we spotted the church. The door was open. Tables at the rear of the main were filled with cards from many, many charities, from cancer research to autism to animal rights. Beautiful cards! To add to the delight, however, the choral society was rehearsing for their evening concert. Or, so I thought, when the first thing that I heard was...

But, the surprises continued....

It was a bit incongruous, but the churches in Europe always have doubled as concert halls which means that music is everywhere.

Finally... Here They Are!

2011-12-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

Oxford Street Brass Players

Music and More Music - Holiday Shopping on Oxford St.

2011-12-12T05:53:00.000-08:00

Oxford Street and Regent Streets were closed to vehicular traffic and throngs of pedestrians flooded the streets for blocks and blocks. Was there piped in music? No! Bands and caroler groups played at almost every cross street. London is a very good music city in so many ways. (Apologies: my video clip of the brass players on Oxford Street will not load. Nevertheless, the Christmas decorations are EVERYWHERE!)

Oh…the Bookstores

2011-12-11T15:01:00.000-08:00

People of all ages are still reading widely here in the UK. I remember the years when our sons were 6 and 7 and looking for easy chapter books with pictures. We would return from London with a suitcase full of these books, as they were almost impossible to find in the USA.

Again, in ducking into Waterstone’s (the UK version of Barnes & Noble, I think), the vast array of books, classics interspersed with new fiction, shelves and shelves for young adults, extensive collections of graphic novels (current favorites with our now 20-something sons), all left our suitcases heavier than when we arrived in the north of England.

I confess, I do buy on Amazon, but I love bookstores so much that I always make a point of buying something when I go in to browse. My current favorite, as I have owned every Mac since the Apple 2e.

Three Cheers for Train Travel

2011-12-11T03:11:00.000-08:00

Transferring at York Train Station

Just as I was astounded that the bullet trains in Japan ran every half hour, the high speed trains to London run every half hour. We are now going to York where we change for the train to Kings Cross London. The beautiful horses are out with their blankets and occasional rider. I think that we are in a tunnel going under the Pennines, but I will have to check my map. Meanwhile, I have taken out my iPhone to check our speed. I eagerly await the day when we have great trains again in the USA.

The grass is so green and looks even greener against the red brick houses. The sheep who have made England famous for its wool dot the countryside. We actually saw someone on the way in playing golf in the rain, but then the rain is the reason that the courses are so beautiful here. And suddenly we are coming into Leeds; city that looks enormous after Huddersfield. New construction surrounds the old centers, with the sandstone buildings popping through the modern buildings in unexpected places. Just saw the Leeds Cathedral through a slit in the buildings.

Huddersfield Town Hall (with concert hall)

2011-12-10T13:28:00.000-08:00

At last the sun came out and I could take a photo of this magnificent building.

The Musical Tradition Lives On

2011-12-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

A Little Christmas Music from Huddersfield Shopping Street

The musical tradition is strong here in Yorkshire and one can only hope that there will always be brass bands and choral groups that include both the very young and the very old. Last evening the conductor of the Black Dyke Band introduced their youngest member, a percussionist aged 14. “He is not here because he is 14; he is here because he is very, very good. He was a member of the national youth orchestra last year.” This year he will rehearse twice a week and perform in 50 concerts! The average distance that members of Black Dyke travel to rehearsals is 250 miles. (With gasoline at $6-7 a gallon, you know why all the cars are so small.) The Huddersfield Choral Society has a junior choir and is deeply committed to creating the next generation.

If you play the clip above, you will hear four young musicians (I suspect from the university here) that were busking on this Saturday morning in front of the shops.

Christmas Concert at Huddersfield - Dinner with Lord Mayor

2011-12-09T16:15:00.000-08:00

The Huddlesfield Choral Society and The Black Dyke Band - 2 of England's Finest!

Despite the signs that said "No Photographs" I could not resist pulling out my camera. I thought that perhaps I would not have another time before Christmas next year and if we are to do something with them for a new CD, I would be devastated if I did not have a picture of this magnificent sight. The Black Dyke Band, one of the 4 great brass bands in England, was founded in 1816! Huddersfield Choral Society was founded in 1830. The Town Hall, above, was built in the 1860s.

The concert included carols that we don't know in the US, plus old favorites, some pieces just for the brass band (the two soloists on flugel horn and baritone horn were both females - the only ones in the band!), and some audience sing-alongs. The two and a half hour flew by and then we were sitting having dinner with the Lord Mayor with his massive medal on a ribbon around his neck. He could have come from Central Casting, but was appropriately charming.

This definitely is a place to return to in the summer months.

Wonderful Hall in Huddersfield, UK

2011-12-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

Huddersfield Town Hall - built 1860

In the pouring rain, I discovered that the Town Hall was much closer to the hotel than I had thought.

Across the highway (being careful to look in BOTH directions - cars always coming from the "wrong" direction), past the Snooker Club (a game I have never understood), over the tiny canal bridge, then up the hill past the University where there is a spectacular costume designing shop with huge plate glass windows so that you can look in (I have always loved to sew historical costumes), up the stairs and there sat the sandstone huge Town Hall fully illuminated against the dark sky.

If we thought that we would be unnoticed, we were wrong. Our English manager had called ahead and, as we sat listening to the rehearsal, the secretary, the treasurer, and many other choir officials stopped by to whisper their welcomes. Then at the end of the rehearsal the president stood up and announced "Maestro Stephen Simon and Bonnie Simon have come all the way from New York specifically to hear our Christmas Concert," and great applause broke out. The sound of the chorus is this huge beautifully blended ensemble with the impeccable English choirboy pitch. The organist sitting at the console high above the choir was the arranger for some of the carols. The Black Dyke brass band is one of northern England's best in this area where there once were many coal mines and where there has always been a rich brass band tradition. The choir claimed that they were "marking" last night; if that is so, they will blow the roof off tonight.

We have been invited to the pre-concert cocktail party, drinks at intermission with the choir, and dinner afterwards. It should be a jolly affair!

Time for a nap so that jetlag does not catch up with me before the post-concert supper.

Arrived in Northern England...to Hurricane Force Winds!

2011-12-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

HUDDLESFIELD IN THE RAIN TODAY

The flight from New York to London, then the high speed train + local train north to Huddersfield went smoothly, but as stepped out of the station to tremendous winds and rain. Very dramatic. Have located the beautiful Town Hall with its concert hall and are on our way to the rehearsal of the famous Huddlesfield Choral Society this evening. It seems that there also will be a wind band called The Black Dyke... fitting as there is a canal with adorable canal boats moored just outside our hotel window. More to follow, but for now, back out into the wind and rain.

Colorado Parent – My Name is Handel Recommended Gift

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Great to get the word out to Colorado. I ski at Snowmass and always enjoy talking to folks on the lift about Maestro Classics.
Now it is great to have Colorado Parent magazine select My Name is Handel for their gift guide. I wonder if I will meet anyone who has seen us there...

YADU receives Nepali Students' Award and 2011 Excellence in Teaching Award at MSU-Moorhead

2011-12-06T07:29:00.000-08:00

Congratulations, Yadu!

Maestro Classics' narrator for our "Stories in Music" series, Yadu, aka Dr. Konrad Czynski, was awarded both an award by the Nepali Students' Association as "Advisor of the Month." Of far greater note, however, is that last spring he was awarded the "2011 Excellene in Teaching" Award - only awarded to one professor a year. He truly is a "beloved professor" at his university!

Scholastic Parent & Child – We Were Selected as Best Gifts

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

December/January issue SCHOLASTIC PARENT & CHILD

My fairy godmother keeps reminding me that things take time,but also says that she thinks that we have turned the corner at Maestro Classics and have beendiscovered.

Proof:

Just heard that we have been selected by Scholastic (themagazine reaches Millions of readers)for their recommended holiday gift guide. My Nameis Handel has a nice write-up and a picture.

How Can I Get My Children to Learn the Christmas Songs I Sang Growing Up?

2011-12-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

If it were 2012, the answer would be easy. I would tell youto purchase the new Maestro Classics Holiday Sing-Along Album. But it is not2012, it is 2011, so here are a few suggestions.

Play the piano (or used to)?

Go to thelocal music store and buy a very easy Christmas Carol book that has the wordsin it. Practice one or two and then have your children sing with you. They willalways remember it. If you are having fun, continue to make your way throughthe book.

Does your child play an instrument?

Find a veryeasy Christmas Carol book for their instrument. Teach the words to the othermembers of the family and then sing it with them.

Plan a Christmas caroling event in your neighborhood.

Print someword sheets with 6-10 carols that you know and like. Call a couple of families.Invite them to come caroling with you and come to your home for cider andcookies afterwards. There only need to be 8 or 10 of you; you only need tovisit a couple of houses; bring along extra word sheets so you can invite folks tojoin you along the way. You may start a tradition.

Music Library No. 7: Overture to The Nutcracker

2011-12-01T05:13:00.000-08:00

Many families have holiday traditions that bind them together. When I was a child, my father organized us into the "Family Orchestra" and the day after Thanksgiving, he would pull out his Christmas Carol orchestra parts and we would all set after dinner and play for half an hour. My sister on piano, I on violin, one brother on percussion and the other on clarinet with my father on violin and my mother on cello. Then on Christmas Day when friends came to visit, we would play for them. There was always a good amount of complaining but the moment we began we had a very good time. It does not feel like Christmas if I don't play some carols on my flute.

When my own children were growing up, we had a set ritual of performances that we attended. The Nutcracker ballet, Dicken's Christmas Carol at Ford's Theater in DC, and the Washington Chamber Symphony's Holiday Sing-Along at the Kennedy Center conducted by my husband were all "musts."

The overture to Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker" is perhaps the best-known piece of classical music for the holidays, so it being December, I thought that it was perfect to start out the month.

I like this recording very much.

I also highly recommend watching the American Ballet Theater video of The Nutcracker, especially if you plan to go to a performance. The great thing about watching the video together is that you can stop it and explain the story, if you need to. Also, it is a good indication of whether this is the right time for your child to fall in love with this Christmas classic.

Note the great bargain if you have a VHS player! Click on the VHS image below.

Holiday Bagpipes

2011-11-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

En route to the Caribbean for Thanksgiving. Stephen islistening to archival recordings of 10 years of holiday concerts at the KennedyCenter as we have promised each other that during this vacation we will work on laying out the upcoming Holiday CD. He just handed me his headset…. Bagpipes playing "Scotland the Brave" as a quodlibet with "O Come All Ye Faithful" (you need to listen to our Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel CD if you don’tknow what a quodlibet is J). I had totally forgotten this concert, but in 5 seconds, I wasback at the Kennedy Center with 80 pipers coming down the aisle, playing,joining the orchestra on stage. I do not know how we will record that, but how could it be left off the CD???

Music Library No. 6 - Erik Satie "Gymnopédies" - Teenage Favorite

2011-11-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

The 3 Gymnopedies by Satie were some of the first classical music pieces that my teenage son actually put on his iPod and listened to while doing homework. Many years later they continue to be a favorite that he goes back to. I still remember the pink cover of the LP of Satie works that I purchased with my own money in my early twenties. There are 3 of them (each 99-cents). After you listen to samples you may want to spring for all three of them.

Biography

by All Music Guide

"Erik Satie was an important French composer from the generation of Debussy. Best remembered for several groups of piano pieces, including Trois Gymnopédies (1888), Trois Sarabandes (1887) and Trois Gnossiennes (1890), he was championed by Jean Cocteau and helped create the famous group of French composers, Les Six, which was fashioned after his artistic ideal of simplicity in the extreme. Some have viewed certain of his stylistic traits as components of Impressionism, but his harmonies and melodies have relatively little in common with the characteristics of that school. Much of his music has a subdued character, and its charm comes through in its directness and its lack of allegiance to any one aesthetic. Often his melodies are melancholy and hesitant, his moods exotic or humorous, and his compositions as a whole, or their several constituent episodes, short. He was a musical maverick who probably influenced Debussy and did influence Ravel, who freely acknowledged as much." Source

Ciccolini is a well-known pianist who is known for his Satie interpretations.

New Projects on Deck

2011-11-22T10:27:00.001-08:00

One door closes, another door opens. With The Soldier's Tale off my desk, I am already putting my arms around the music director and saying, "What's next?" I have desperately wanted to record a Christmas album. For years at the Kennedy Center, we hosted the Annual Washington Chamber Symphony Holiday Sing-Along which The Wall Street Journal wrote was "the hottest ticket in Washington" for the holiday season. We were often totally sold out by Labor Day! Stephen Simon, my husband the music director, wrote musical arrangements for orchestra and chorus of 2,700 (the audience plus professional vocal groups on the stage) and we all sang everything from Jingle Bells to Silent Night to Hannukah, O Hannukah, to the Hallelujah Chorus. These arrangements that everybody loved, have never been recorded, so we may be off to London before Christmas to talk to Abbey Road and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Final Proofs for The Soldier's Tale Are HERE!

2011-11-21T08:44:00.001-08:00

I am so excited! The proofs for The Soldier's Tale arrive in New York City on Saturday and I examined every inch of them. With my very large magnifying glass, I looked at very fold line, every cut line, every photograph and illustration. Check! Check! Check! ALL PERFECT AND APPROVED! When the proofs arrive and are approved, I finally believe that the CD will actually be born. Wow! The beginning of the end of almost a year of work. I must say, the illustrations by Icelandic illustrator Birgitta Sif are unusual and beautiful. The graphic design by our wonderful graphic designer Lou Barnicle continues to surprise and impress me. She is brilliant. Now I try to think of other things while I wait for the boxes finished CDs to arrive in Washington, New York, and Massachusetts.

They really will be here for Christmas!

Music Library No. 5 - Bernstein's "Overture to Candide"

2011-11-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

After Beethoven, I thought something more contemporary would be good. Leonard Bernstein, the legendary American conductor whose televised Young People's Concerts at Carnegie Hall introduced tens of thousands of families to classical music, composed the operetta Candide in 1953. Candide was based on Voltaire's satiric novella by the same name.

More info at History of Candide.

The overture to Candide is infectious and is brilliant Bernstein at this best. Bernstein was said always to be composing - whether waiting for a plane or out late at a restaurant, the pen and the music paper were with him. His Broadway hit, West Side Story, was turned into a blockbuster movie and continues to be performed.

There is a great recording with Bernstein himself conducting the New York Philharmonic, where he began conducting at the age on 25 and eventually became its most famous music director.

The line in Candide that is often used in our family is from Dr. Pangloss who believes that everything that happens in this world is for the best, regardless of how terrible it seems. The musical refrain that gets sung over and over is "This is the best of all possible worlds, the best of all possible, possible worlds" which you will not hear in the overture (which has no words) but may someday if you go to a performance of Candide.

You can have the entire overture for 99-cents! Do you find the Amazon "BUY" links helpful?

Music Library No. 4

2011-11-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

As I was flying to Turkey for a week of sailing and a week exploring Istanbul, I put on my noise-cancelling headset and started my iPod for a bit of random listening. Suddenly, I started to listen more and read less and thought, "This is VERY nice. I wonder what it is?" only to look and discover that I was listening to the Beethoven Piano Concertos conducted by the man sitting next to me! So, I decided that I should recommend a track from one of these CDs. They are performed on original instruments with Anthony "fingers faster than God" Newman as the soloist.

However, when I went to find them on Amazon, I discovered that they were not available as a download. That is the bad news. The good news, however, is that the CDs are available at an incredible price at the moment. The CD with Beethoven Piano Concertos 2 and 4 is $10.45 and the CD with Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 and The Choral Fantasy is only $4.89!

Have you seen our new ad on a blog?

2011-10-15T06:31:00.000-07:00

We have decided that the best way to reach many parents is via the blogs that they follow, so we are trying this ad above out. Have you seen it?

Building Your Family's Classical Music Library - No.3

2011-10-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy and continued to be a musical marvel for the rest of his life. Mozart's Eine Kleine Nacht Musik ("eye-neh kline-ne nahkt moo-zeek") or "A Little Night Music" is one of his most charming and popular works. If someone wants to know what quintessential Mozart sounds like, this is it. I recommend the St. Martins in the Field's recording conducted by Sir Neville Mariner. Buy just Tr. 1 for the Allegro or first movement for 99-cents. But I also recommend listening to all the samples of the other tracks. Perhaps there will be another that you also like, and if you like all of them, you might want to spring for the entire album. If you have a good stereo system at home or are a real audiophile, if you want the entire album, I always advise purchasing the CD, as the sound quality is always better. But if you are like me sometimes, I want it now, so I order the MP3 download. HAPPY LISTENING!

Happy Birthday from Leonard Bernstein & Igor Stravinsky

2011-09-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

I have just listened to the finished version of the new Maestro Classics' CD/MP3 download: The Soldier's Tale ("L'Histoire du Soldat") by Stravinsky, so it seemed very fitting that I was sent this video as a birthday card. I also encourage you to listen to the Aaron Copland "Happy Birthday" link that you can find there. Two American composers, each applying their very different styles to a tune we all know and love.

Building Your Family's Classical Music Library - No.2

2011-09-19T06:35:00.000-07:00

Aaron Copland's FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN

In writing about sports and music, I again listened to Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man. Copland is such an accessible composer that his music almost unfailingly appeals to young people as well as their parents. was an American composer who lived from 1900-1990. Many people think that he has captured the quintessential American sound.

The recording by the Atlanta Symphony has many of Copland's well-known works, so if you listen to the sample of Fanfare for the Common Man, Copland: Appalachian Spring; Rodeo; Fanfare for the Common Man you might also want to listen to the samples of the other short works on the program. As with many of my posts, you will find that you can either select the 99-cent version for your library, or purchase the entire album. The CD has exceptional sound quality; the MP3 is very good, and you can have instant gratification!

If you think your children will enjoy classical music with stories, visit Maestro Classics' website.

Building a Classical Music Library - Where to Begin

2011-09-16T06:16:00.000-07:00

BEETHOVEN'S PASTORAL SYMPHONY, NO. 6
Greetings!
I am going to try to recommend one piece of music each week to help the many people who ask me, "What classical should I have my children listen to?" Sometimes it is music to put in the background while they are doing homework; sometimes it is to ensure that they will not the only people in the room not recognize Beethoven's Fifth Symphony; sometimes it is to share their own love of classical music. So here goes....

This week's recommendation is Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, often called "The Pastorale." I particularly like the recording with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Wiener Philharmoniker, in German), conducted by Karl Böhm Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, Schubert: Symphony No. 5 / Böhm, Vienna Philharmonic Orch.

Listen to the samples. Perhaps you only want to buy the 3rd movement for 99-cents and then decide if you want to purchase the entire album. It also has Schubert's Symphony No. 5. If you have a little patience, the sound quality is always better on the CD, but if you are impatient, as I sometimes am, buy the download.

Happy Listening!

Sports and Classical Music?

2011-09-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

The TV is now tuned to baseball in our house. The maestro always says that if he had not become a conductor, he would have wanted to be a sports announcer. This often surprises people who think that people in the arts should not be interested in sports. So I thought that I would write something about music and sports.

Can sports and classical mix?

Even I am surprised occasionally when I hear that a major sports figure loves classical music. Somehow, our society seems to separate physical prowess from aesthetic interests, but often this is not the case. Your baseball player or soccer star can enjoy classical music… if you can find the right music to capture their imagination, you and your child may be surprised.

Carl Orff’s “O Fortuna,” the introduction to his great work for chorus and orchestra, Carmina Burana, has often been heard a sporting events and is perhaps the most popular of all works among teenagers. The Atlanta Symphony with Robert Shaw conducting has a lively recording and I recommend Track One for 99-cents. Chinese athletes say that the most common "music prescriptions" for relaxation before an event include Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 and Debussy's Nocturnes. Frankly, I would only recommend the excellent recording of the Beethoven conducted by Karl Bohm (see link above). But if you want to feel heroic, try Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man.

People are beginning to notice that when classical music is played in venues other than the concert hall, it has widespread audience appeal. An NBA game began with this introduction. And, an interesting article by a Greek doctor notes the positive effects of classical music on athletes, saying the music might work better than steroids.

When Maestro Classics’ Casey at the Bat CD was released a friend sent it to George Steinbrenner, the legendary Yankee owner. George was a great opera fan and I was thrilled when he wrote me a letter saying that he loved our Casey at the Bat. For any boy (or girl) who loves baseball and needs to memorize a poem for school, there is nothing as good as “Casey at the Bat,” and when you hear it with music, it is unforgettable.

Interview with Jeff Giles at Dadnabbit.com

2011-09-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

Maestro Stephen Simon and I had a great hour on the telephone talking with Jeff Giles of Dadnabbit.com. His 5-year-old daughter loves classical music and he was delighted that she enjoyed "My Name is Handel" as much as he did. So was I! You can read here.

ANY CD - $9 • Why?

2011-08-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

Many, many people come to our website at Maestro Classics and then purchase CDs at Amazon or other websites. While we are not the cheapest place to shop on the web for the Maestro Classics' Stories in Music CDs, we do think that we are offering services - homeschool curriculums, music teacher lesson plans, articles, and fun home projects - that are of value. We decided to have our first ever sale - any CD for $9 plus free shipping (for the entire order) as a thank you to all of our visitors who decide to support our website by purchasing CDs there.

TWO DAYS ONLY! Begins Monday at 2:30pm and ends Wednesday at midnight.

PROMO CODE: BACKTOSCHOOL

Limit one CD per customer

Back to School? Music to Calm New School Year Jitters

2011-08-15T19:36:00.000-07:00

Whether a homeschool parent or a parent who carpools to school, sports, and social activities, most parents spend a lot of time in their cars driving their children from place to place.

The car is an excellent place to have a one-on-one conversation with your child. Somehow the fact that you are looking at the road and that no one else is around often lends itself to discussions and disclosures that do not come up at the dinner table. But it is also a great time to share music together. When you cannot watch a video or look at a YouTube video with your child, you can listen to music and audiobooks and share the experience.

At Maestro Classics, having had kids who loved both audiobooks and music ourselves, we loved the idea of combining them. Classical music with stories for children is such a natural idea, and yet people continue to come up to our booth a tradeshows and ask, "What are these CDs? Are the stories? Are they music?" And, we say, "Both," as we hand them a headset to listen... and watch their smiles as they are transported to a different world through stories in music.

TAKE AWAY: Treat yourself to a Maestro Classics' CD or MP3 to start off your school year. If you have 5-7 year olds, start with Peter and the Wolf or Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. If your children are older, stay tuned for more advice.

Which Maestro Classics CD Would My 11-Year-Old Granddaughter Enjoy?

2011-08-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

Do you have a daughter or granddaughter who is taking ballet lessons? Would you like to introduce her to some of the world's greatest ballet music?

I recommend The Story of Swan Lake for any girl who likes to dance. It has 42 minutes some of Tchaikovsky's greatest symphonic music and she will learn about the composer and the story.

Sometimes it feels like you are too old to know what a young girl would like, but I guarantee that this is a great way to introduce her to classical music.... and you will enjoy listening as well.

Psst... it is also a great CD or MP3 download to get before you go and see the ballet. This September if you are in New York City, the New York City Ballet is performing "Swan Lake" and it is not to be missed!

A Dance ReMix for Maestro Classics Classical Music CDs for Children????

2011-08-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is true. The Soldier's Tale ("L'Histoire du Soldat) by Igor Stravinsky will be the latest CD and MP3 download by Maestro Classics, and because Stravinsky was always on the cutting edge, especially when it came to dance music, we thought that we would have a prominent DJ and electronic music composer (who studied and play a great deal of classical music growing up) create a dance remix for track 3, our "fun" track on the new CD. Wait til you hear it!

Stravinsky's "The Soldier's Tale" -Recording in Baltimore, MD for Maestro Classics

2011-08-11T07:50:00.001-07:00

The Newest Maestro Classics CD for Children (and their parents!): Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale ("L'Histoire du Soldat" in the original French)
Just returned from recording "About the Music" with conductor Stephen Simon and my biography of Stravinsky with our wonderful recording engineer Alan Wonneberger at the studio at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. We laugh a lot, but also spend much time talking about phrasing and breathing, just as you do if you are a singer or a wind or brass instrument player. Many people do not understand the need for breath control if you are an actor or public speaker, and I find that all of my flute playing certain feeds into my performances on the CDs.

Many new families are finding Maestro Classics Stories in Music series and discovering how easy it can be to get their children to listen to classical music...and ask for more! :-)

Southeast Homeschool Conference 2011

2011-08-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

What adorable children stopped by our Maestro Classics Classical Music CDs for Families booth in Atlanta!

Most of all, however, I love to watch the faces of the parents as they discover how to introduce their children to great classical music through stories. Suddenly they are transported to from the din of the convention floor to the concert hall with the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing just for them.

They smile as Juanita the Spanish Lobster complains about her life under the sea. The look anxious as the evil sorcerer turns the beautiful princess into a swan in The Story of Swan Lake. They remember when they were young and read Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, but now it is with full symphony orchestra and the Irish bagpipes. Sharing the joy of great music with families is a delight.

Recording Sessions for Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale

2011-08-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

THE SOLDIER' S TALE (L'HISTOIRE DU SOLDAT) BY STRAVINSKY - MAESTRO CLASSICS NEW CD

Spent a sweltering day at the University of Maryland Baltimore County campus recording tracks 2 and 4 for Maestro Classics' next CD, The Soldier's Tale (L'Histoire du Soldat) by Stravinsky. L'Histoire du Soldat was the most challenging one we ever put on the Kennedy Center classical music for children series, I always thought. The music is modern; the story is the old Faustian myth about selling your soul to the devil. However, much to my surprise, the audience of both parents and children who came for classical music, loved The Soldier's Tale more than any other work we ever did.

My own son has always said that Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat is his favorite piece of classical music. Now, Basil Simon (The Amazing Baz) is creating a dance mix of it for track 3 on the CD. We thought that we needed something "edgy" for our "fun track," namely the track where we feature a different musical genre based on a theme from the musical story on track one. About the Composer and About the Music are now finished. The artwork by award-winning children's book illustrator Birgitta Sif is now complete and has gone to the graphic designer, Lou Barnicle. Release date for the CD: October 2011. Stay tuned!

Southeast Homeschool Expo in Atlanta, July 28-29

2011-07-17T19:22:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward to my two talks at the Southeast Homeschool Expo. It is always great to see old friends. If you are going to be there, I am speaking on Friday at 12:30 PM on "Beautiful Music, Great Stories - Discovering Maestro Classics CDs" and on Saturday at 11:15 AM on "Maestro Classics' Free Homeschool Curriculums." We have been working with Journey Through Learning to create lapbooks as well this year. There is more info on this at our Maestro Classics website Hope to see you there!

What Age is the Best to Start Studying Music?

2011-06-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

The easy answer is that it is never too soon to begin introducing your child to music. You begin by singing to them and then with them. You listen to music when you are playing together. You put on music when you are making dinner. I love the story of the great American opera star, Beverly Sills, who said that every morning before her mother put on the coffee, she put on the opera records. When she went for her first voice lesson at the age of 7 she knew 40 arias!

If you are wondering what the right age is to start studying an instrument, like so many things, it depends. If you yourself are interested in studying the violin with your child and your child is interested, you can begin Suzuki violin lessons when they are as young as 3 years old. However, you must be willing to go to the lessons and practice with your child. This can be a lot of fun, but it is a commitment. Three is young, and four is often a better age to begin Suzuki. The six-year-old may be ready for piano lessons. The fourth grader may be ready to study a band instrument. Two things are vital: (1) your child needs to see and hear other children playing instruments, and (2) you have to find a teacher who is truly child-friendly.

If you decide that the time is right - meaning your child wants to do this - remember that the first instrument may not be the right fit (Rent the instrument!) and take some time looking for the right teacher. Remember, if you don't like the teacher, your child probably will not either.

All studies show that studying music helps brain development and improves many other learning skills, and it is fun as well.

My grandchild is coming to visit...

2011-06-24T02:34:00.001-07:00

"My five-year-old grandson will be visiting us next week and we'd love to take to some educational and fun music events - what types of events would you suggest and where might I find them?"

As it is summer time, my first suggestion is to see if there are any outdoor concerts in your area. This time of year is a perfect time to introduce your child or grandchild to classical music or band music or really any kind of live music because there are outdoor concerts. Whether you are fortunate enough to be in the Berkshires in Massachusetts with Tanglewood nearby or Ravinia outside of Chicago or a small town in Maine that has a band shell, you have the wonderful opportunity to enjoy music in an informal setting where a bit of squirming is acceptable. It is very difficult for many children to sit still, but out on a lawn where they can lie on a blanket and look at the stars or even play scrabble as they listen, will give them memories that will last for a lifetime.

Our summer community has had folksinging for children of all ages Tuesday evening for 40 years. Many parents who remember coming as children are now bringing their children. You do not need to know the songs to come; you just come and sing along and suddenly children know all the words. Ask around to see if one of these exists in your community.

Make it a project to teach your grandchildren at least one song that you learned as a child. My father taught my sons the Irish song "Nobody knows the trouble that was there, nobody know I do declare." It was a song that his grandfather taught him and I am certain that it is the song that they will teach their children - that will be a 5th generation song.

Be sure to ask your grandchildren to teach you a song they have learned in school this year.

Finally, put music on that you like as you are baking cookies or finger-painting. Part of getting to know you better is learning what music you as a grandparent likes.

LONDON

2011-06-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

Hampton Court

Tonight we have been invited to a private dinner party at Hampton Court where Handel's Water Music will be performed on period instruments by musicians of the English Concert. Having just released My Name is Handel: The Story of Water Music on Maestro Classics label, this should be quite exciting. For those of you who have not heard this new CD, Handel composed his Water Music for King George I's river cruise from London to Hampton Court, where the king had dinner and then returned to London with Handel's musical barge continuing to play.

More details tomorrow...

Salzburg

2011-06-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

Exciting discoveries.

As I am thinking about creating the Composers series for Maestro Classics CDs for kids, Mozart who is sitting in our files, comes to mind as the logical next CD after My Name is Handel.

Salzburg was, of course, the city of Mozart's birth. I visited the house where he was born and lived the first years of his life and also the house the family moved to as Leopold Mozart became more prosperous. I was delighted to discover, by chance, the grave of both Mozart's father's and his wife's graves in a cemetery on the other side of the river.

One surprising was that Leopold Mozart was the Suzuki of his time, in that he wrote a major new approach to violin teaching and music teaching in general. You can purchase it online.

Record Shops Still Exist in Europe!

2011-06-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

People are still buying CDs in Europe, big time! I also have just begun to see articles that talk about the difference in sound quality between a CD and even an MP4. There is a HUGE difference in the amount of sonic information that is on a CD. If you like to listen to good music on your stereo, you should probably purchase the CD, even if you download it to your iPod for travel.

Greetings from Vienna, the City of Music

2011-06-12T15:50:00.000-07:00

Maestro Classics in Wien

Vienna Street Musicians & Why to Wait to Take Your Kids to Some Concerts - perhaps just enjoy the street musicians (see video at bottom)

We went to a glorious performance of a Bruckner Mass with the Vienna Boychoir (Wiener Sängerknaben) at the Hofburg Imperial Palace chapel with members of the Vienna State Opera orchestra and chorus. The music raining down from the top rear balcony where none of the choristers or musicians could be seen truly gave the feeling that the music was coming from heaven. At a time when video cams are being used everywhere, it was a delicious experience to just take it all in with your ears.

I had to feel a little sorry for the group of Japanese school children who sat through and hour and a half of music in a language they did not understand accompanied by a mass spoken and sung totally in German. Once again I wondered if they would be turned off for life, having had an experience that was age-inappropriate.

TAKE AWAY. Be careful not to expect your children to enjoy everything that you do. There is a right time for everything and a performance where there is no escape if you discover that it is too long for your child will not engender a love of music.

Ahhh...the mysteries of Facebook...

2011-06-08T05:03:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last two evenings working with Facebook, trying to decipher how to create "Like" pages and understand how they are different from your home page or wall. With husband and music director Stephen Simon, now not only the music director for Maestro Classics CDs for kids, but also the music director for the Simon Sinfonietta in Falmouth, MA on Cape Cod and of L'Orchestre des Portes Rouges, the new orchestra at Church of the Resurrection at 119 East 74th St., in New York City -the man who is still resisting email - the task of bringing him into the 21st century seems to have fallen to me. Ruth Bleakley who works for us at Maestro Classics doing our social networking made it all seem so easy... but she is only 25, which explains a lot. HOWEVER, not to be daunted, I now have two new Facebook pages up on the web so that all those people who hip classical music-loving people who are on Facebook all the time will have an easy place to find info and each other. They can even LIKE us - a verb that has taken on a totally new meaning. Try it!

L'Orchestre des Portes Rouges in NYC
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/LOrchestre-des-Portes-Rouges/206155842752867)

Simon Sinfonietta in Cape Cod, MA
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Simon-Sinfonietta/177666612289629)

"LIKE" Simon Sinfonietta on Facebook

2011-06-06T19:54:00.001-07:00

Big Favor: would you click on Simon Sinfonietta facebook wall and "like" this wonderful orchestra?

Simon Sinfonietta's Marimba Soloist

2011-06-05T18:49:00.000-07:00

Pius Cheung, marimba

Pius Cheung, the Chinese/Canadian marimba virtuoso, stayed with us in Cape Cod for his performance with the Simon Sinfonietta under the baton of Maestro Stephen Simon, husband and music director of Simon Sinfonietta, L'Orchestre des Portes Rouge, and Maestro Classics. Pius brought Eriko Daimo, the Japanese marimbist. They both adored Woods Hole (who doesn't???) and Eriko delighted in our restored Japanese tea house. My sister Gretchen Warren, champion rose grower and floral designer, has been studying ikebana seriously for several years and when she and Eriko visited the tea house, Eriko said it was like a trip to Japan. Her mother is a master ikebana teacher in Japan.

Pius played the Creston Concerto for Marimba masterfully. It is an incredibly challenging work for both the marimba and the orchestra, but the audience marveled at the technical prowess and beauty of his playing. There was a standing ovation the moment the last notes were played.

My husband likes classical music, but...

2011-06-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

Last week when I was at the Florida Home School Conference in Orlando, FL at the beautiful Gaylord Palms resort, I had the pleasure of talking to hundreds of parents. One of the most interesting comments came from a mother who said, "My husband likes classical music, but I have always said to him, 'Would you just go into your study and listen to it?' But now that I have been listening to your Maestro Classics CDs, I am getting to understand and really am beginning to like some classical music."

In truth, this mother and daughter were at the Arlington, TX Homeschool Bookfair

I think that all parents who either homeschool or simply sit with their children as they do homework are always amazed at how much they themselves are learning. I remember once saying to my son, who was not particularly interested in Sub-Saharan African history, "I am going to stop complaining; I am getting an excellent education for your very expensive tuition." And over the years I have noted time and again as I was reading the newspaper, that understood an article because I had learned something while studying with one of my sons for a test.

This mother and daughter with our new yellow bags were at Arlington, TX Homeschool Bookfair

Everything that you do musically with your child will enrich your world. Whether you are sitting with your child as she practices the piano or just take the time to listen to a new piece that she has mastered, your own musical knowledge will increase.

When I first began to create concerts for families at the Kennedy Center, I stipulated that there would be no group sales. I wanted a parent, grandparent or family friend who loved classical music to bring a child to the concert hall to share their love of music. Consequently, it was necessary to create programs that challenged the intellects of adults as well as children. There was always parallel learning going on as well as high quality professional music-making on the stage. These concerts with the Washington Chamber Symphony were so successful that there were waiting lists for years!

It was in this spirit that we created the Maestro Classics CD series for kids, but really for families. I always know when a parent comes to our booth at shows and puts on the headset and listens - and the smile spreads across his or her face as they are transported to another place - I know that that they will listen with their children and spread the joy of music.

TAKE-AWAY: Listen to CDs with your kids. Don't just put them on the iPod and give them a headset. You will have lots to talk about with the Maestro Classics CDs. And, someday when they are teenagers, you will continue to talk about their music with them.

Can you find the yellow bags? Arlington, TX Homeschool Book Fair 2011 - they were EVERYWHERE!

2011-05-11T06:47:00.000-07:00

Facebook for Maestro Classics

2011-05-04T12:58:00.001-07:00

Many of us who are over 30 are just getting the hang of Facebook. Maestro Classics, being only 8 years old, definitely needed to be in the loop. The young and spunky Ruth Bleakley has joined our team as our coordinator of social media. We are having a lot of fun with her and cannot believe how many people she has already converted to visiting us there on Facebook. You can see her wonderful paper creations on her own website. Welcome, Ruth! We love you!

Gerald Schwartz's Conductor's Guide to Handel's Water Music

2011-05-03T05:40:00.001-07:00

Amazing what you find when you start to spring clean your Mac! There is a series called "Musically Speaking" where conductor Gerald Schwartz gives a "Conductor's Guide" to a number of well-know classical works, including Handel's Water Music. It is really very good and an excellent corollary to our Maestro Classics' The Story of Water Music" for older audiences. Schwartz, originally a very fine trumpeter from NYC, has been the very innovative music director of the Seattle Symphony since 1985. Listen to samples on iTunes or Amazon and see if you like him.

Amazing Swan Lake Video

2011-04-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

You have to visit our facebook page and click the link for the Chinese Circus' version of Swan Lake! Just unbelievable!

MP3 Downloads + Booklets Soon Available on MaestroClassics.com Website

2011-04-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

Meanwhile, Genuine Interactive is putting the final touches on the www.maestroclassics.com website so that we can sell MP3 downloads from our own site. This will be a major step into the new technological era. At the moment, you can purchase our Maestro Classics on iTunes and Amazon, but when that happens, we never know who is listening to our CDs, and we love to know who our fans are. Also, they are unable to offer the booklets that accompany every CD that we spend so much time on, with their world-class illustrations, fun activities, and additional information. The booklets are so good to have while you are listening and are great to have for kids to look at in the car.

Rehearsals for Beethoven's Ninth Symphony Begin

2011-04-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

The Falmouth Chorale had its first rehearsal with Maestro Simon. As usual, he was funny, demanding, helpful, encouraging, as they went through the "Ode to Joy" in German. Last night he had the first orchestra rehearsal and came home saying, "To have an orchestra like this on Cape Cod is really amazing!" The Simon Sinfonietta will obviously have another triumph on its hands on May 10th at Christ the King Church in Mashpee, MA. Tonight is the first Chatham Chorale rehearsal. I hope to take my Flip camera with me. It is so inspiring to listen to this symphony.

Maestro Classics Introduces Homeschool Curriculum Guides Introducing Classical Music to Kids

2011-04-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

For the first time, we announced that we are offering free homeschool curriculum guides. They include language arts, math, geography, history, arts, and music. Each curriculum guide can be accessed at the maestroclassics.com website. Because many parents know that classical music is important for kids, but often do not know how to introduce it into their homeschool curriculums, we asked a wonderful music educator-choral director-homeschool mom to help us create these homeschool curriculum guides to introduce kids to classical music. Now everyone who buys a CD from us will have a curriculum guide to enable them to not only enjoy listening in the car but also include it in their homeschool curriculum.

Have You Seen My Interview?

2011-04-20T20:44:00.000-07:00

If I ever give up creating classical music CDs for kids with Maestro Classics, I think I would like to be an interviewer! The Three Conductors
Photo credit: capenews.com

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony Concert - May 10, 2011

2011-04-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest symphonies ever composed. The Maestro was taken to Carnegie Hall to a live performance at the age of 10: Arturo Toscanini, one of the conducting giants of the 19th and 20th centuries, conducted the NBC Symphony Orchestra. You can see part of the performance on YouTube (click). Incredible to think that during those years, 1948-1952 NBC was presenting great concerts on TV regularly. He in turn took his sons when they were about the same age to a legendary performance of Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with Sir Georg Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony with four magnificent soloists, including a young, unknown tenor named Luciano Pavarotti! The maestro hopes that some kids who like classical music will come to his performance of Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in Mashpee, MA and remember it as well.

Not Just Classical Music CDs for Kids

2011-04-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

Our music director, Maestro Stephen Simon, does not just do classical music for kids. He also conducts music for adult concerts. He just finished conducting a concert with L'Orchestre des Portes Rouges in New York City with organist David Enlow (Juilliard faculty). The concert was a great success - the musicians and the audience loved it. We, of course, handed out a few My Name is Handel: The Story of Handel's Water Music CDs that are hot off the press. There were some kids in the audience - his two granddaughters who came from Boston to see their grandfather conduct live for the first time.

L'Orchestre des Portes Rouges concert in NYC with Stephen Simon, conductor

2011-04-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

Our Maestro Classics music director, Stephen Simon, conducted L'Orchestre des Portes Rouges on Friday, April 15, 2011 at Church of the Resurrection, 119 East 74th Street, NYC. David Enlow, organ faculty at Juilliard, was the soloist in a program of Mozart Church Sonatas and the Poulenc Organ Concerto, as well as a Mozart symphony. The acoustics in this beautiful Renwick-style church are glorious, and the newly installed organ with pipes nestled in all corners of the building was stunning. None of the musicians had ever performed in the space before and their delight promises to make it one of New York's special concert venues in the future.

On a personal note, it was wonderful to see so many old New York friends as well as friends and relatives from out-of-town welcoming us back to the musical scene in Manhattan.

Photos will follow

The Third Year at the Midwest Homeschool Conference

2011-04-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

Time to get back on the blog. I am embarrassed to see that I have not been on for 12 months, since just before our second venture into the homeschool world of the Midwest. Why? A beautiful new website www.maestroclassics.com has taken a year to build and a new CD has been born. But, on to today.

Quickly, the Midwest Homeschool Conference. I gave two talks and abandoned the Powerpoint presentation, explaining that Maestro Classics is all about listening. At the booth and after talks, it was great to meet all the folks who listen and love our CDs. Twice as many families purchased CDs in 2010 as in 2009, and this year in 2011 it seemed that the word is really out, and the number tripled. Maestro Classics has been discovered by the Midwest homeschool community!

Many parents approached our Maestro Classics booth saying,

"My friend told me that I absolutely have to come and listen to your CDs."

"I just want to tell everyone here that these are wonderful CDs. We purchased the entire set two years ago and my son has already worn out 2 of the CDs!"

Another memorable comment came from the family who said that their car was broken into and all their Maestro Classics CDs were stolen;they wanted to replace them all.

Classical music and kids. There are still some families who are skeptical. Do they know enough to introduce it to their children? Isn't it that deadly stuff you put on when you want your child to go to sleep, or perhaps help them concentrate on their homework, not too interesting so you don't really need to listen? Just come and listen to Maestro Classics CDs, I always say. The conductor explains the music. You can not only hear the London Philharmonic Orchestra, you may also head the Russian Trio Voronezh playing folk instruments, the Maestro Classics Dixieland Band, a jazz trio, or even Joe Stump, the head of the heavy metal department at Berklee College of music. Are these CDs classical music for kids? some people ask. I prefer to say "Good music for kids....and their parents." Plus, on every CD, the conductor talks about the music, you learn a little history of the composer and the times from me, and there is always the "Play/Sing/Dance-Along" track at the end, preceded by my famous, "Stand up and smile!"

Since I wrote a year ago, we have a new CD: My Name is Handel: The Story of Water Music. It is the most beautiful to date. More on that later.

At the moment, I need to get to Church of the Resurrection on East 74th St. in NYC where our music director and my husband, conductor Stephen Simon, is having a rehearsal for the April 15th concert for organ and orchestra and I want to go and listen to the fabulous organist, David Enlow.

News from Cincinnati

2010-05-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

As we decided to return to the Midwest Homeschool Conference in Cincinnati this year, I looked at my colleague Annie Dean and said, "Either we sold CDs to everyone who was interested in classical music last year and we will not sell another CD or everyone who purchased CDs last year will have told their friends and it will be wonderful. GREAT NEWS! It was the latter and we were flooded with families saying, "I bought one CD last year and am coming back to buy ALL the others," and "I heard about you from a friend who said I had to stop by the booth and listen."

For two and a half days, we had 3 and 4 headsets going with people waiting in line to listen to the London Philharmonic Orchestra with Yadu the narrator. Twice as many CDs went out the door as the year before, setting a new homeschool record for us.

I love going to the shows and meeting the actual people who will enjoy our CDs hour after hour. The smiles that come across faces as they put on the noise-canceling headsets and are transported to a different world are marvelous - peace and joy are the only way that I can describe them.

One new aspect to the booth were the new wireless headsets by Sennheiser. Wonderful sound and no wires! Many asked if we were selling them... no, but certainly recommending them.

BTW - The Tortoise and the Hare won a Parents' Choice GOLD, the most coveted award in the children's toy/media business. While all of our CDs have won Parents' Choice awards, this is our second GOLD. (4 SILVER as well.)

Museum Store Association Conference

2010-04-18T18:52:00.001-07:00

On the road again! My first trip to Austin, TX in 30 years; have not been here since husband/conductor Stephen Simon conducted the Austin Symphony years ago.

As always, fun to watch people's faces as they put on the wireless Sennheiser headphones and they are transported to a different world. Many big smiles!

While selling to retailers sends many more CDs out the door, I miss the homeschool parents who come and listen and talk and then gently take their new CDs and you know that they are going to entertain the whole family on the drive home.

Back to NYC tomorrow, to DC at the end of the week, and then off to Japan for 3 weeks.

Return to Midwest Homeschool Convention

2010-04-09T03:32:00.000-07:00

IF YOU ARE IN CINCINNATI, COME SEE ME AT OUR BOOTH 1222 and/or
COME TO ONE OF MY TALKS ON FRIDAY AT 2 pm OR SATURDAY AT 3 pm.

I left the 80+ degree heat of New York City yesterday to arrive in the cool weather of Cincinnati. Last year we came to the Midwest Homeschool Convention and were so captivated by the wonderful families that we met that we knew we would return again this year. The show opened last evening and I was delighted to meet so many parents and children who were interested in new listening experiences. From the 5-year-old boy who would have spent the entire evening with the headset on to the 14-year-old who knew Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake but had to admit that he had never heard a version played on electric guitar (a 4-minute version on track 3 of the same CD that has the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing the original score), once again we found that the parents here are in sync with our belief that the greatest education happens when parents and children can experience things together.

I have been busy with new technology at the booth, working with Sennheiser's new Bluetooth wireless headphones. People visiting the booth love them. Come try them out. (You may put them on your Christmas list for next year.)

Today, Friday at 2 PM at Millennium Pavilion, in my talk titled "A Musical Adventure: Creating Maestro Classics" I will talk about the creation of the Maestro Classics series - from the Kennedy Center to London's Abbey Road Studios to Carnegie Hall to orchestras nationally. Tomorrow, Saturday at 3 PM, I will be on my soapbox at the Millennium Pavilion talking about the importance of listening in an increasingly visual world - "You, Music, and Your Child: Ten Ways to Introduce Music into Your Children's Lives."

As the sun rises this AM, I trust that today will bring a host of new experiences that will continue to make this my favorite show.

Marvelous Simon Sinfonietta opening concert and now back to DC

2009-09-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

Being married to the Maestro brings many treats. Wonderful soloists sit at the breakfast table overlooking the sea, talking about concerts and travels far and wide. The delight of sitting in on rehearsals which always feels as if the orchestra is playing a concert just for me. Once again hearing the parts of the music before it is put back together into the whole at the performance. When the first downbeat arrives, I again realize how special the Maestro's brand of music making is. Pure joy flows from him to the musicians and out into the audience.

Breakfast at Pie in the Sky under clear skies brings friends congratulating him on another great evening and thanking us for bringing this kind of music to a very special scientific and artistic community in Cape Cod, MA. If you do not know Falmouth/Woods Hole for its Oceanographic Institution (Titanic exploration), the Marine Biological Laboratory (53 Nobel prize winners), or Sea Education Association (the best-know semester-at-sea program in the country), perhaps you know it for its award-winning children's book illustrators (Molly Bang, Salley Mavor) or writers (Daniel Robb). It is a very special place and now we have added great classical music to the mix (simonsinfonietta.org).

At what age should my child begin an instrument?

2009-08-10T13:13:00.000-07:00

This is never a simple question with a simple answer. For a very musical child in a musical family, Suzuki violin might be right for a 3-year-old. For most children the age may be 5 or 6 may be more appropriate.

Exposure is very important. If you have friends whose children play, ask if you can their child would be willing to play for your child. (Many a child has taken up an instrument because an older friend or relative plays it.)

Your local symphony orchestra may have a "Petting Zoo" with instruments that children can try before a children's concert. If a child has never heard a clarinet, how would they know that they might fall in love with it.

If you do not have a piano, you might consider putting an electronic keyboard in the child's room. Those with musical samples where the keys go down as the music plays are particularly appealing to children, and you will often see them trying to pick out the tunes themselves or with the sample.

Consider leaving a trumpet mouthpiece around for your child to try to make a sound on. Some can do it easily; for others, it may take longer, but it may give them a sense of accomplishment.

Join a Kindermusik or parent-child music class where your child may have the opportunity to play mallet instruments and drums.

Remember: finding the right teacher is not always easy. For some lucky parents, they know a warm, friendly teacher who loves children and wants to share their own love of music. For others, it may take some searching.

How do you know it is the right teacher? It reminds me of my dog guru who, when we were ready to get a puppy, said, "Go visit the breeders. If you don't like them, you won't like their dogs." If you visit the teacher and don't like him/her, your child probably will not either.

Rule #1: Ask if you can come and meet the teacher to determine whether your child will be a good fit for the teacher.

Rule #2: Request a trial lesson. If your child comes home unhappy, things will probably not get better over time. (If they will not agree to this, I probably is not the right teacher.)

Rule #3: Remember that the first teacher does not have to be a world-class virtuoso; they have to love children.

Rule #4: The teacher must have a sense of humor.

Rule #5: The teacher must love children.

Rule #6: The teacher must love children.

Rule #7: The teacher must love children.

You want your child to love music. Perhaps they will be part of the audience when they grow up or perhaps they will play string quartets with fellow scientists on Thursday nights. Perhaps they will play in the college orchestra. Perhaps they will play in the town band when they are teenagers. Perhaps they will play simple carols for family Christmas parties when they are 9. And for a very, very few, perhaps they will discover that music is a passion and want to make it their vocation. But that is the rare exception. Most will simply have discovered world of sound that is filled with beauty and will reconnect with it throughout the rest of their lives.

There will be times when your children do not feel like practicing. Many years ago, the great violinist Izhak Perlman, was asked by a radio interviewer whether his children all played instruments. When he said yes, she blithely quipped, "Well, they must like to practice." To which Perlman said with a twinkle, "No one likes to practice!" Every day of practice is like working on a long-term project: little by little great progress is made. It is never smooth sledding the whole way. So,

Rule #8-100: You are there to be the cheerleader, the appreciative audience, the warm pillow when a performance goes poorly, the one who says, "You are doing a great job. Stick with it."

No adult ever regrets having stuck with an instrument, but countless parents over the years have said to me, "I wish my parents had not let me quit."

Annie Crawford is the winner of new iPod!

2009-08-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

Of all of the many, many people who stopped by our booth at the Southeast Homeschooling Conference in Atlanta, GA last weekend and joined our raffle, ANNIE CRAWFORD was the WINNER. We have also sent her a signed copy of the final preview copy of The Tortoise and the Hare, our latest CD that is going to press TODAY... signed by the maestro himself.

Congratulations, Annie! Happy listening!

Glowing review from Mom

2009-08-05T08:31:00.001-07:00

"My mother has been playing Peter and the Wolf all the way to North Carolina...and she says it's incredible!" - Atlanta Homeschool Mom

The Questions Begin

2009-08-04T06:55:00.000-07:00

I would like to share some of the interesting questions that followed my talks at the Southeast Homeschool Conference in Atlanta last week.

QUESTION: Is it better for my child to study a little on a lot of different instruments or to focus on just one?

ANSWER: It may take more than one try on more than one instrument to find a good fit, namely one where the child likes to practice most of the time. (No one ever likes to practice all the time!). Once a child seems to have hit upon the right instrument, however, encourage him/herto stick with it. If you don't, you will deprive them of the satisfaction of becoming really good at something. The life lesson of working a little every day and gradually seeing the results as they pile up day after day, is a skill that will apply to everything in life from saving money to working on long college term papers. Encourage them when it is not going well, and cheer them on when it is.

NEXT: At what age should my child begin an instrument?

2009-08-02T15:55:00.000-07:00

Many interesting people at the Southeast Homeschooling Conference. This woman's grandfather was the first conductor of the Atlanta Symphony. She loved the CDs.

2009-08-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

This beautiful boy with his blue eyes was truly captivated as he listened to the orchestra and the piper. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel is always as big hit as Stephen Simon's music draws you into the story from the first chord played by the Irish piper and the London Philharmonic.

Back from Atlanta Homeschool Conference

2009-08-02T15:19:00.000-07:00

A beautiful morning greeted me as I finally opened my eyes. My 89-year-old mother appeared with rubber gloves in hand - they matched her green bathing suit - announcing that she was pulling out some poison ivy on our path on her way to the beach. The early morning family swim tradition continues and remains the best antidote for travel fatigue and the resetting of my mental gyroscope.

More conference lessons: read the entire list of speakers carefully, don't just check your own times and rooms. They scheduled me for a third lecture and never told me!

Everyone loves my Bose noise-canceling headphones. There is so much ambient noise in convention centers that you really cannot manage with anything else. And, after all, we are in the business of exquisite sound. The London Phil deserves a good headset!

Greetings from Southeastern Homeschooling Conference

2009-08-01T04:09:00.000-07:00

It is a delight to be at a conference where so many parents are looking for creative, educational materials for their children. Perhaps because they are "going to school" with their children everyday, they are more critical in their choices, or at least more interested.

Every time I come to one of these shows/conferences/exhibits I learn something new. Yesterday's lesson was, "Don't count on music in the conference room unless you plan to sing!" While they had a projector to hook my computer into, the only sound came via the microphone. Fortunately, I always have lots to say, so we managed without music, and I simply invited everyone down to our booth to listen on my good Bose noise-canceling headphones. For today's lecture, I will bring my own speakers. :-)

Many people now saying, "I have heard about you," purchasing the entire series after listening, and eagerly awaiting The Tortoise and the Hare that comes out this month.

Pictures to follow. (Another lesson: bring the camera card reader!)

The Beginning

2009-07-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

I have been asked to start a blog to give parents a place to ask questions about how to introduce music into their children's lives. I hope it will also be a place where parents will share their own experiences.

I have written many articles for parenting publications over the years, e.g. what to do when your child does not want to practice, what is the right age to begin taking kids to concerts, what do you need to know when buying a piano, etc.. I have created highly successful symphony concerts for young people and their families and now am producing my dream CDs, enabling children everywhere to experience the wonderfulness of all those sold-out concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. I hope that this blog will enjoy the success of all my previous musical endeavors.

A short biography would tell you that I have a BA from Vassar College in music, where I specialized in composition. I worked at Carnegie Hall when only 9 people ran the entire institution. I returned to school for an MA in music and music education, and went on to teach middle school music. After discovering that music was considered the poor cousin to English and math - in retrospect, I should have been grateful that it was even offered in almost every school in the US - I decided on a career change.

This bio is getting long... years at Cornell, Columbia, and the University of Tokyo and three degrees later (ancient Chinese and modern Japanese history), I found myself with a conductor husband and a son who was extremely musical. We went to every concert for children in NYC and Washington, DC and I found them either silly or dull. Being married to a conductor, Stephen Simon, who was giving Friday and Saturday concerts at the Kennedy Center, I thought we had a mission.

At the time, I was on the boards of Carnegie Hall and New York City Opera, I had taught music, I had been to all of these children's concerts, and I was worried about whether there would be an audience for classical music in the next generation. Reflecting upon the questions of how audiences were formed, I had an idea.

Have to substitute teach an exercise class in Woods Hole, MA. To be continued...