Review of Maestro Classics Classical Music CD Stories

Ballet. Classical music. Two loves of my life! How thankful I was when the girls were little and donned their ballet shoes to took lessons. Katie Beth continues to choreograph worship dances for church celebrations that are beautiful. The girls have also enjoyed attending opera and ballet. My son, however, is less interested in classical music and ballet lessons don't seem to be the way to introduce him to classical music.

The Tortoise and the Hare arrived in a small white package to be review and I was blessed. I couldn't wait to investigate the classical music story CD from Maestro Classics.

This CD, The Tortoise and the Hare, comes in a bright cheery cover that immediately gets a positive response from everyone I showed it to, especially young children. The Tortoise and the Hare is a delightful piece of music played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by Stephen Simon.

Stephen Simon is a conductor, composer, and expert in the music of George Frederic Handel. He has delighted audiences, young and old alike, for years with his insightful explanations of the music he is conducting during his concerts. His warmth and humor shine through in this CD. I couldn't help but think about how much fun it would be to take the children and their friends to see Stephen Smith conduct an orchestra in our own town!

His wife, Bonnie Ward Simon, is an art director, music educator, and writer. She and her husband, Stephen, have teamed up to bring this wonderful series, Maestro Classics, to children all over the world. Capturing the feel of a live concert, Stephen narrates the story while the music plays in the background for the first twenty minutes of the CD.

Stephen is a good story teller and children will enjoy his rendition of this classic fable from Aesop. This short story has been expanded in an amusing way with a very cute personality given to the tortoise. He is "slow and steady" in all he does with an almost Eeyore personality. The story is set in France with bits of French music thrown in here and there. I only wish the music was a little bit louder compared to the talking. The next track features Bonnie teaching children about the story itself, fables, and other interesting facts. Younger children may be a little lost during this section.

Track 3 is the Pretzel Vendor of Paris song, written by Stephen Smith. This is a fun, catchy tune that children will love! It also has that "French sound" to it, making it quite amusing and captivating. Track 4 features Stephen teaching children about the music, why instruments were chosen, and how music can convey emotion. This teaching is excellent and easy to follow for children. Much insight is given into how a musician chooses sounds and instruments to convey feelings during a musical piece when composing or arranging. Stephen is a great teacher! Once we have learned so much about the composition, he suggests we listen to it again. So, Track 5 is The Tortoise and the Hare again!  At this point, I was wishing that I could have listened to the music without the story to see if I could "hear" the story through the music. I was disappointed that there was not a single track with only the long musical piece alone.

Track 6 is a very short track where Bonnie simply encourages children to have some fun and sing along with the Pretzel Vendor of Paris song. Track 7 is a karaoke track of that very song! I can just picture young children having a blast singing along with this fun tune!

All in all, I liked the CD very much! It was fun, educational, and interesting. The musical piece was a great choice for children! The other CDs they offer are wonderful for children too!

• The Story of Swan Lake
• Juanita, the Spanish Lobster
• Casey at Bat
• Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel
• Sorcerer's Apprentice
• Peter and the Wolf

Each CD is available for $16.98 each or three CDs for $45.00. You can also purchase gift sets for $24.99 that include the CD and matching storybook.

This series of stories set to music is a great way to introduce your children to the wonderful world of the symphony orchestra with all of its instruments and delightful music. The stories are all classic folk tales or children's literature that have delighted children the world over. Once children know the "story," it is easier to follow the music. It also trains children to enjoy opera and ballet, both which tell stories through music (and dance for ballet!). Adults enjoy the beauty of these presentations, but following the story makes it truly a delightful experience. So prepare your child for a lifetime of fine art appreciation with these little CDs. They would make a great quiet thing to do after a hectic morning and chaotic lunch (oops, you probably never have those in YOUR homeshool!). You and the children could sit down and listen together, learning while you snuggle and cuddle!

Whatever way you do it, introduce your child to the wonderful world of classical music. Music is a lovely gift from God to men that we can richly enjoy!