Last week, one of my student's mums said to me: "Each night, before bedtime, my son asks for the music...the music that Madame West plays in class - the classical music." My heart rejoiced! I smiled humbly but inside was wanting to jump for joy. These students are enjoying the music that I play for them!
Not all of the 8 and 9 year olds I teach love it. However, some who started by being unsure of it now enjoy it and react appropriately to it. (Read: they no longer make bizarre facial gestures.)
Here are some of our calming favourites for the classroom. I've put them in order of how I would introduce them to the class
All children LOVE animals...so yes, Saints-Saens comes first!
Camille Saints-Saens: Carnaval des Animaux
I definitely recommend getting the students to construct interpretive dances to go with each animal or scene. Ask students to point out specific musical features of each animal. As a child, I was enchanted by the Aquarium section of this piece.
Beethoven: Symphony no. 3, Eroica
Every child comes to school with a different life story. Some of the most courageous and heroic people that I have ever known are my students. Like Beethoven, they have faced adversity and overcome many obstacles. My class simply adored the big, rich symphonic sound of this piece. (Who can blame them?) I chose a complete recording: Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic - phenomenal.
Vivaldi: Null in mundo pax sincero, RV. 630
This lovely piece of Baroque choral music is absolutely exquisite. (Emma Kirkby's singing - of course it is!) For children, operatic/classical voices are often a new experience. Be patient with their reactions. The melody is slow and soothing.
Beethoven: Piano Trio in B-flat Major (opus 97) - 2nd movement
It has been my honour and privilege to share classical music with my eight and nine year old students. Their openness to this journey has been appreciated and I hope that this will inspire a lifelong love that they have for this great art form.
