Bernstein for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first

Leonard Bernstein was an American conductor, composer, pianist, and teacher who lived from 1918 to 1990. He led the New York Philharmonic, wrote the music for West Side Story, and explained music to millions of children on television. The best first piece for a child is the overture to Candide, four minutes of fizz and speed.

Quick facts

• Born: 1918, in Lawrence, Massachusetts
• Died: 1990, in New York City
• Era: Modern
• Played: piano
• Known for: West Side Story, the overture to Candide, and the Young People’s Concerts

The life in short

Bernstein’s parents had come to the United States from Ukraine. There was no piano in the house until he was ten. Then an aunt sent her old piano to the family for storage. He touched the keys and would not leave it alone.

His father wanted him to join the family business. Leonard paid for his own lessons by teaching younger children. He went on to study at Harvard and at the Curtis Institute of Music.

At 25, he was the assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic. On November 14, 1943, the guest conductor fell ill. Bernstein got the call that morning. He walked on stage at Carnegie Hall with no rehearsal and led a concert that was broadcast on radio across the country. The next day, the story was on the front page of The New York Times.

In 1958, he became the orchestra’s music director. He was the first conductor born and trained in the United States to hold that post.

He never chose one job. He conducted, composed symphonies and Broadway shows, played the piano, and taught.

From 1958 to 1972, he led the Young People’s Concerts on television. He stood in front of the orchestra and asked questions such as “What does music mean?” and “What is a melody?” Then he and the players showed the answers.

On Christmas Day in 1989, weeks after the Berlin Wall came down, he conducted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Berlin with players from East Germany, West Germany, and four other countries.

What the music sounds like

Bernstein’s music is restless and full of rhythm. He mixed jazz, Latin dance beats, and Broadway tunes with the sound of a symphony orchestra. His beats often shift between groups of two and three.

Four pieces to play first

Overture to Candide. A fanfare, a dash, and a tune that keeps tripping over itself. It ends with a race to the finish.

“Mambo,” from West Side Story. A loud Latin dance with bongos and trumpets. The players shout “Mambo!” twice. Shout along.

“America,” from West Side Story. The beat switches back and forth between two patterns: one-two-three, one-two-three, then one-two, one-two, one-two.

“Times Square,” from On the Town. Three sailors have one day to see New York. The music is brash and jazzy, with a tune that became the song “New York, New York.”

West Side Story

West Side Story is a musical from 1957. It moves the story of Romeo and Juliet to the streets of New York, with two rival gangs in place of two families. Bernstein later made a concert piece from its dances. The story is for older children, and the dances suit any age.

Things to do together

Shout “Mambo!” Play the “Mambo.” Listen for the two spots where the orchestra shouts and join in.

Count in six. Play “America.” Count “one-two-three, four-five-six” out loud. Clap on one and four. Then clap on one, three, and five. Bernstein switches between the two.

Be the conductor. Watch a video of Bernstein conducting. He jumps, sways, and uses his whole face. Then conduct the Candide overture your own way.

Ask his questions. Play any piece and ask, “What does this music mean to you?”

Watch him teach

Recordings of the Young People’s Concerts are still available. They suit children of about eight and up. See how to watch an orchestra concert at home with kids and what a conductor does.

Print and play

Fill in a composer study notebook page for Bernstein. His friend and mentor Copland has a page too. For the composers of his century, see modern classical music for kids.

For more composers by era, see classical composers for kids.