Music Resources for Children & Parents
Sejong Symphonic Wind Orchestra -
The Whistler and His Dog
The Sejong Symphonic Wind Orchestra presents “The Whistler and His Dog” composed by Arthur Pryor. Performed in 2017, this specific performance is complete with an extra special character. Watch as the costumed orchestra member mischievously interacts with both the orchestra members and the audience!
George Meets the Orchestra
The Sydney Opera House presents George Meets the Orchestra. Learn alongside George as he meets the different members of the orchestra, their instruments, and what families they belong to. In this video, George asks questions such as “How do you play your instrument” and gets an up close look at some of the orchestra's best instruments. Strings, brass, woodwind, and percussion... which family do you want to learn?
KAIA Kids Around the World -
The Music of México
Learn about Mexico’s musical history in “The Music of Mexico” presented by KAIA KIDS Around the World. You will discover some of the most influential music makers and composers from Mexico including Chuchu Monge and Jorge Negrete. Learn the mariachi song “México lindo y querido” and sing along with Victoria, Naomi, and the kids!
KAIA Kids Around the World -
The Music of Uruguay
Discover Uruguay’s musical history in “The Music of Uruguay” presented by KAIA KIDS Around the World. You will learn about candomble, a style of music that uses precaution, the three most common drums of the area, and the rhythm called the clave. Naomi and Victoria even teach us about Carnival, a yearly musical festival and the KAIA String Quartet play a song to dance to as common Carnival characters.
Sesame Street: People In Your Neighborhood - Opera Singer
What is an opera? Sesame Street characters Murray Monster and Ovejita visit Lincoln Center to learn from Isabel Leonard, a Metropolitan Opera singer who sings mezzo-soprano! She performs Rosina's aria from Rossini's Barber of Seville and even has some special help from the newest opera singers!
Houston Symphony’s #MusiciansAtHome
The Houston Symphony Presents #MusicAtHome performing Mozart’s Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter” IV Molto Allegro. In 2020, the Houston Symphony Orchestra members gather virtually via video call, each playing their respective parts separately but together. Can you name the different parts of the Orchestra as they appear on the screen?
Sesame Street: Drumming School
Sesame Street presents Drumming School with Murray Monster and Ovejita the Little Lamb! The two characters learn alongside Don, a professional percussionist while he teaches a class of kids to drum and sing along! Discover where the drums originate from and learn some simple rhythms. Anyone can play the drums!
Instruments of the Orchestra
Want to get to know the instruments and families even more? Check out the San Francisco Symphony website! They have curated a page complete with fourteen videos introducing you to the orchestra’s members who play instruments ranging from the violin, to the tambourine, to the marimba! The page also includes downloadable visual resources for reviewing the instruments and printable coloring sheets.
KAIA Kids Around the World -
The Music of Argentina
Learn about Argentina’s musical history in “The Music of Argentina” presented by KAIA KIDS Around the World. You will discover the instruments, customs, dances, and songs from the history of Argentina. Naomi and Victoria even teach the tango! Dance while you listen to the KAIA String Quartet.
Meet the Man With the World’s Fastest Fingers: Mohammad Reza Mortazavi
Mohammad Reza Mortazavi is known as the man with the world's fastest fingers! The Sydney Opera House Archive documents this musician’s process while playing the Persian instruments, “tombak” and “daf”. “Relying upon nothing more than a drum and his own dexterity, Mortazavi creates trance-like polyrhythmic soundscapes, complete with melodies and exquisite phrasing.”
Pet Duet with Ian Mayton and Billy
This short video will make your heart howl! Ian Mayton, member of the Houston Symphony practices Bordogni’s Vocalise for Trumpet No.3. with the help of his furry friend, Billy. Watch until the end to see Billy practicing, too!
Sesame Street: People In Your Neighborhood - Conductor
What does a conductor do? Learn with Sesame Street characters Murray Monster and Ovejita, as they meet the Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, Alan Gilbert. He leads Juliard Students in Lincoln Center through a few musical pieces and even has his furry friends join in Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik!
Stray Dog Casually Walks On Stage During A Live Orchestra Performance
Anything can happen in a live performance! In 2017, “A Stray Dog Casually Walks On Stage During A Live Orchestra Performance And Steals The Show”. Time Magazine highlights this in the footage of a performance from the Vienna Chamber Orchestra.
A Brief History of Ludwig Van Beethoven
For a slightly longer, more in depth video about Beethoven life and music, watch “pianoTV”’s youtube video “A Brief History of Ludwig Van Beethoven”. If you like this style of video, check out the other ones she has made about Mozart, Chopin, and more!
KAIA Kids Around the World -
The Music of Brazil
Discover Brazil’s musical history in “The Music of Brazil” presented by KAIA KIDS Around the World. You will learn about choro and maxixe, two types of Brazilian music, the Amazon rainforest, and songs from the history of Brazil. Naomi and Victoria even teach us how to make rainforest sounds to accompany the KAIA String Quartet.
Families of Instruments LF
What actually makes the instrument families different from each other? How do they produce sound? Where in the orchestra do these families rexide? These questions and more are answered in the video “Families of Instruments LF”, uploaded by youtuber Luis Francisco Martinez.
Black Musicians Throughout History
Most of the classical composers we hear about in our daily life are white Europeans, but why? What other kinds of people were influential in the classical movement whom we might not talk about? Presented by The Listeners Guide, this video is an insightful look into the untold history of black composers. The lack of representation of black musicians in the music industry is something we can all do our part to transform. Look in the comment section of the video for artist recommendations!
Percussion Sound Scape - Wind, Rain, Birds, & More
When does noise become music? Kalani from the WORLD DRUM CLUB presents “Percussion Sound Scape - Wind, Rain, Birds, & More”. He shows us his impressive collection of percussion instruments from all around the world and describes the types of sounds each makes. Listen to the song and see if you can tell which instruments are which… there are some surprises!
Five Biggest Conspiracy Theories in Classical Music
This video is a casual conversation between youtubers from the channel “TwoSetViolin”, in which they discuss some of their favorite mysteries in classical music history. Learn about the told and untold history of some of your favorite composers including Mozart and Tchaikovsky as well as some events that seem just a bit too coincidental...
Two Set Violin
TwoSetViolin is a musical youtube duo bringing you all things violin and classical music related. The channel is one of the more accessible ways older kids and teenagers can dip their toes into classical music and its history through a comedic lens. The two friends, Brett Yang and Eddy Chen, are extraordinarily innovative with their content and have charismatic personalities. They shine a genuine light into the world of the young adult, music student, and the working musician.
TED-Ed How To Read Music
Before you learn how to play a song, you have to learn how to learn that song! This is called reading notes; much like reading a book, we have to identify what the symbols mean on their own before we can put them all together. Tim Hansen of “TED-Ed” brings us “How to read music” and explains in this short animated video all the components of music that a musician must learn to create a song
DIY Musical Instruments
Don't have a musical instrument of your own? Make one yourself! Here are a few short videos of different instruments you can make with basic household items.
Notes, Tempos, and Beats, Oh My!
The first step to learning any instrument or song is learning rhythm! Before playing music, we must know about Musical Notation. The Youtube channel “Smile and Learn” brings us this short animated video entitled “Musical Notation - The quarter, the eighth and the sixteenth note - Music for Kids” as a beginning approach to rhythm in song. Learn about the metronome and how it can help you understand different musical figures and rests!
