Articles
Guides for parents, grandparents, and teachers. Start with a guide, or scroll down for every article.
Guides
Classical composers for kids: a guide by era, from Vivaldi to Britten
A parent's guide to 24 classical composers in four eras: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern. Who to start with, what to play, and pages to print.
Classical music listening guides for kids: famous pieces, one at a time
Listening guides to famous classical pieces for kids, including Peter and the Wolf, The Nutcracker, and Carnival of the Animals. What to hear and how to listen.
Music teaching methods for kids compared: Suzuki, Kodály, Orff, Dalcroze, and traditional lessons
Suzuki, Kodály, Orff, Dalcroze, and traditional lessons explained side by side for parents: how each works, who it suits, and how to choose.
Music theory for parents: what your child is learning and how to help
Music theory explained for parents who do not read music: the staff, note names, rhythm, time signatures, tempo, dynamics, keys, and scales, with pages to print.
Music exams for kids: how RCM, ABRSM, and other graded exams work
A parent's guide to graded music exams: what RCM levels and ABRSM grades are, what happens in the exam room, how marks work, and whether your child needs them.
Instruments of the orchestra for kids: the four families and how they sound
A simple guide to the four instrument families in an orchestra for kids: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. What each one sounds like, with listening games to play at home.
How to introduce kids to classical music
A simple way to start classical music with kids: begin with pieces that tell stories, keep listening short, and add movement. Five pieces to try first.
First orchestra concert with kids: what to expect and how to prepare
How to take a child to a first orchestra concert. Pick the right show, prepare with listening at home, learn the clapping rules, choose seats, and handle wiggles.
All articles
What does a conductor do? An answer for kids and parents
What an orchestra conductor does, why the conductor makes no sound, what the baton and the left hand mean, and how to play conductor at home with your child.
ABRSM grades explained for parents: from Initial Grade to Grade 8
How ABRSM music exams work: the Prep Test, Initial Grade, Grades 1 to 8, Practical and Performance Grades, the marks, and the Grade 5 theory rule.
Bach for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Johann Sebastian Bach explained for parents and kids: a short life story, what his music sounds like, five pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Beethoven for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Ludwig van Beethoven explained for parents and kids: a short life story, his hearing loss, five pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 for kids: a listening guide
A parent's listening guide to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony: the famous four notes, what happens in each of the four movements, and games to play with kids.
Brahms for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Johannes Brahms explained for parents and kids: a short life story, the famous lullaby, four pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Brass instruments for kids: what they are and how each one sounds
The brass family explained for parents and kids: how the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and tuba make sound, how to tell them apart, and pieces to hear.
Britten for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Benjamin Britten explained for parents and kids: a short life story, the music he wrote for children to play and sing, and a fact sheet to print.
Chopin for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Frédéric Chopin explained for parents and kids: a short life story, why he wrote for piano, five pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Christmas classical music for kids: 12 pieces to play in December
Twelve pieces of Christmas and winter classical music for kids, with one thing to listen for in each and a plan to play one piece a day in December.
Clara Schumann for kids: her life, her music, and what to play first
Clara Schumann explained for parents and kids: a short life story, her 60 years on the concert stage, three pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Classical composers for kids: a guide by era, from Vivaldi to Britten
A parent's guide to 24 classical composers in four eras: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern. Who to start with, what to play, and pages to print.
Classical music for toddlers: 8 short pieces and how to play them
Eight classical pieces for toddlers ages 1 to 3, with one simple way to use each one. Includes tunes to sing, pieces to move to, and quiet music for winding down.
Classical music listening guides for kids: famous pieces, one at a time
Listening guides to famous classical pieces for kids, including Peter and the Wolf, The Nutcracker, and Carnival of the Animals. What to hear and how to listen.
Composer study for homeschool: how to plan a year in ten minutes a week
A simple plan for homeschool composer study: how many composers to cover, what to do each week, a sample 36-week year, and free pages to print.
Copland for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Aaron Copland explained for parents and kids: a short life story, his cowboy ballets, four pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Dalcroze eurhythmics explained for parents: learning music by moving
What Dalcroze eurhythmics is, what happens in a class, the three parts of the method, who it suits, and movement games to try at home.
Debussy for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Claude Debussy explained for parents and kids: a short life story, Clair de lune, the pieces he wrote for his daughter, and a fact sheet to print.
Dvořák for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Antonín Dvořák explained for parents and kids: a short life story, his love of trains, four pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Dynamics in music explained for kids: from piano to forte
Dynamics in music explained for parents and kids: what p, f, mp, mf, pp, and ff mean, how crescendo works, pieces that show each one, and games to play.
Fanny Mendelssohn for kids: her life, her music, and what to play first
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel explained for parents and kids: a short life story, why her music stayed hidden, three pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Florence Price for kids: her life, her music, and what to play first
Florence Price explained for parents and kids: a short life story, her symphony in Chicago in 1933, three pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Grieg for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Edvard Grieg explained for parents and kids: a short life story, the trolls of Peer Gynt, four pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Handel for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
George Frideric Handel explained for parents and kids: a short life story, the Hallelujah chorus and Water Music, five pieces to play first, and a fact sheet.
Haydn for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Joseph Haydn explained for parents and kids: a short life story, the musical jokes in his symphonies, five pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Holst for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Gustav Holst explained for parents and kids: a short life story, The Planets, the music he wrote for his students, and a fact sheet to print.
The Kodály method explained for parents: singing first, then reading music
What the Kodály method is, how a class works, what solfège hand signs and rhythm names are, and how to use its ideas at home with a young child.
Mendelssohn for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Felix Mendelssohn explained for parents and kids: a short life story, the fairy music he wrote at 17, four pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Mozart for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart explained for parents and kids: a short life story, what his music sounds like, five pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Music exams for kids: how RCM, ABRSM, and other graded exams work
A parent's guide to graded music exams: what RCM levels and ABRSM grades are, what happens in the exam room, how marks work, and whether your child needs them.
Music lessons for kids: a parent's guide to starting, choosing, and practicing
A parent's guide to music lessons for kids: when to start, how to pick an instrument and a teacher, what to ask, and how to set up practice at home.
Music teaching methods for kids compared: Suzuki, Kodály, Orff, Dalcroze, and traditional lessons
Suzuki, Kodály, Orff, Dalcroze, and traditional lessons explained side by side for parents: how each works, who it suits, and how to choose.
Music theory for parents: what your child is learning and how to help
Music theory explained for parents who do not read music: the staff, note names, rhythm, time signatures, tempo, dynamics, keys, and scales, with pages to print.
Note values explained for parents and kids: whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes
Note values explained in plain words: how long whole, half, quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes last, how rests and dots work, and clapping games to try.
Orff Schulwerk explained for parents: music through speech, movement, and play
What Orff Schulwerk is, what happens in an Orff class, which instruments children play, and how to use its ideas at home with pots, rhymes, and a beat.
Peer Gynt Suite by Grieg: a listening guide for kids
A parent's listening guide to Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 1: Morning Mood, In the Hall of the Mountain King, and the two pieces between, with games to play.
Percussion instruments for kids: what they are and how each one sounds
The percussion family explained for parents and kids: drums, cymbals, xylophone, timpani, and more, how each one makes sound, and pieces to hear.
Pictures at an Exhibition: a listening guide for kids
A parent's listening guide to Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky: the ten pictures, the walking tune between them, and drawing games to play with kids.
Prokofiev for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Sergei Prokofiev explained for parents and kids: a short life story, Peter and the Wolf, four pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Ravel for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Maurice Ravel explained for parents and kids: a short life story, Boléro, the Mother Goose pieces he wrote for two children, and a fact sheet to print.
RCM exam marks explained: pass, honors, and first class honors with distinction
What RCM exam marks mean: 60 to pass, 70 for Honors, 80 for First Class Honors, and 90 for Distinction. How to read the report and what to say to your child.
RCM levels explained: from Preparatory to ARCT
The Royal Conservatory of Music levels in plain words: Preparatory A and B, Levels 1 to 10, and the ARCT. What each stage asks for and how the exams work.
RCM theory requirements by level: which written exams go with each certificate
Which RCM theory exams a student needs at each level, from Level 5 Theory to the ARCT. A plain chart for parents, checked against RCM in November 2026.
Saint-Saëns for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Camille Saint-Saëns explained for parents and kids: a short life story, The Carnival of the Animals, four pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Schubert for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Franz Schubert explained for parents and kids: a short life story, how his songs tell stories, four pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Stravinsky for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Igor Stravinsky explained for parents and kids: a short life story, The Firebird, the night an audience shouted down a ballet, and a fact sheet to print.
String instruments for kids: violin, viola, cello, double bass, and harp
The string family explained for parents and kids: how a string makes sound, how to tell the violin, viola, cello, double bass, and harp apart, and what to hear.
The Suzuki method explained for parents: how it works and what it asks of you
What the Suzuki method is, how a Suzuki week works, what the parent does, when reading music starts, and what to weigh before you sign up.
Suzuki vs traditional music lessons: how to choose for your child
Suzuki and traditional music lessons compared for parents: how each starts, when reading begins, what the parent does, and which child each one suits.
Swan Lake music for kids: a listening guide to Tchaikovsky's ballet
A parent's listening guide to Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky: the story of Odette and the prince, five pieces to play first, and things to do with kids.
Taking kids to The Nutcracker ballet: what to expect and how to prepare
What happens in The Nutcracker ballet, how long it runs, which parts can scare a small child, and how to get kids ready at home before the show.
Tchaikovsky for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky explained for parents and kids: a short life story, his three ballets, five pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Tempo words in music: what largo, andante, allegro, and presto mean
The Italian tempo words explained for parents and kids, from largo to presto, with a piece to hear for each speed, a metronome to try, and cards to print.
The Four Seasons by Vivaldi: a listening guide for kids
A parent's listening guide to Vivaldi's Four Seasons: what happens in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, what to listen for, and games to play with kids.
The Planets by Holst: a listening guide for kids
A parent's listening guide to The Planets by Gustav Holst: the seven movements from Mars to Neptune, what to listen for in each, and things to do with kids.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice: a listening guide for kids
A parent's listening guide to The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas: the story of the broom, what each part of the music shows, and games to play with kids.
Time signatures explained for parents and kids: what the two numbers mean
Time signatures explained in plain words: what the top and bottom numbers mean, how 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, and 6/8 feel, and pieces to count along with.
Treble clef and bass clef note names explained for parents
How to read the notes on the treble clef and the bass clef: the lines, the spaces, middle C, memory phrases, and simple ways to practice with a child.
Vivaldi for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first
Antonio Vivaldi explained for parents and kids: a short life story, The Four Seasons in plain words, five pieces to play first, and a fact sheet to print.
Woodwind instruments for kids: what they are and how each one sounds
The woodwind family explained for parents and kids: how the flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon make sound, how to tell them apart, and pieces to hear.
The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra: a listening guide for kids
A listening guide to Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra: the order of the instruments, what each one plays, and a chart to print and fill in.
Famous classical composers for kids: 8 to know and one piece to start with
Eight famous classical composers explained for kids, with one fact about each person and one short piece to play first. Easy to find on any streaming service.
Classical music for kids to dance to: 8 pieces and simple movement games
Eight classical pieces that get kids moving, with what each one sounds like and a simple movement game to match. No dance training needed.
Calm classical music for kids at bedtime: 8 pieces to play and how to use them
Eight calm classical pieces for a kids' bedtime routine, with what each one sounds like, which pieces to skip, and how to set volume and order.
First orchestra concert with kids: what to expect and how to prepare
How to take a child to a first orchestra concert. Pick the right show, prepare with listening at home, learn the clapping rules, choose seats, and handle wiggles.
Instruments of the orchestra for kids: the four families and how they sound
A simple guide to the four instrument families in an orchestra for kids: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. What each one sounds like, with listening games to play at home.
Nutcracker Suite for kids: a dance-by-dance listening guide
A listening guide to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite for kids. Which instruments play the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Russian dance, and more, with simple ways to listen together.
Carnival of the Animals for kids: a movement-by-movement listening guide
A listening guide to Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns. Which instruments play the lion, the elephant, the swan, and more, with tips for listening with kids.
Peter and the Wolf instruments: which instrument plays each character
Which instrument plays the bird, the duck, the cat, the grandfather, and the wolf in Peter and the Wolf. A listening guide with games for kids.
How to introduce kids to classical music
A simple way to start classical music with kids: begin with pieces that tell stories, keep listening short, and add movement. Five pieces to try first.