Classical concerts come in several kinds. A recital has one or two players. A chamber concert has a small group. A symphony concert has a full orchestra, and a pops concert has that same orchestra playing film music and show tunes. For a first concert with a child, a family concert or a pops concert is the easiest place to start.
The kinds at a glance
| Kind | Who plays | How long | Good with children? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family concert | An orchestra, with a host who talks | 45 minutes to an hour, with no break | Yes. It is made for them. |
| Pops concert | An orchestra, often with singers | About two hours, with a break | Yes, when they know the tunes |
| Film with live orchestra | An orchestra, under a movie screen | The length of the film, with a break | Yes, for a child who can sit through the film |
| Symphony concert | A full orchestra | About two hours, with a break | For older children who have practiced listening |
| Recital | One or two players | One to two hours | For a child who plays that instrument |
| Chamber concert | Two to eight players | One to two hours | For older children |
| Choral concert | A choir, with or without an orchestra | One to three hours | Depends on the piece |
| Student recital | Children who take lessons | About an hour | Yes. Children like to watch other children. |
Family concerts
A family concert is built for young listeners. It is short, a host explains the music, and no one minds a wiggle or a whisper. Many orchestras hold a few each season, often on weekend afternoons. Some open the lobby early so that children can try the instruments.
Read first orchestra concert with kids.
Pops concerts
“Pops” is short for “popular.” The orchestra plays film scores, songs from musicals, and light classical pieces. The mood is relaxed. Many pops concerts happen in summer, outdoors, and around holidays.
Read film music for kids and outdoor orchestra concerts with kids.
Symphony concerts
This is the classic evening at the concert hall. A regular program has three parts.
- A short opening piece, often an overture
- A concerto, with a soloist at the front of the stage
- A break, and then one large piece, often a symphony
The audience sits still and claps at the end of each whole piece.
Read symphony, concerto, and sonata explained and when to clap.
Recitals
A recital is a concert by one player, or by one player with a pianist. A piano recital has a pianist alone on the stage. A violin recital or a song recital has a pianist too.
Recitals are held in smaller halls, and the audience sits close. For a child who plays the same instrument, a recital is a chance to see what the instrument can do.
A student recital is a different thing. It is a concert where a teacher’s students each play a piece. Read first music recital.
Chamber music
Chamber music is written for a small group, with one player on each part and no conductor. The best-known group is the string quartet: two violins, a viola, and a cello. The players lead each other with a nod or a breath.
Choral concerts
A choir may sing alone, with a piano or an organ, or with a full orchestra. Some of the best-loved pieces in classical music are for choir and orchestra together. In December, many towns hold a performance of Handel’s Messiah, and at some of them the audience sings along.
Read the Hallelujah chorus explained and children’s choirs.
Opera and ballet
Opera and ballet are theater. Both have an orchestra, and it sits out of sight in a pit in front of the stage. An opera tells its story in song. A ballet tells its story in dance.
Read opera for kids and ballet for kids.
Other kinds to look for
- Open rehearsals. Some orchestras let the public watch a rehearsal. It often costs less, people come and go, and a child sees how the work is done.
- Lunchtime concerts. Short concerts in churches and halls in the middle of the day.
- Youth orchestra concerts. The players are teenagers, and tickets are easy to get. Read youth orchestras.
- Sensory-friendly concerts. The lights stay up, the sound is softer, and movement is welcome. Read sensory-friendly concerts.
- Concerts for babies and toddlers. Short, often with floor seating. Read taking a toddler to a concert.
Which to try first
| Age | A good first choice |
|---|---|
| Under 5 | A concert for babies and toddlers, or an outdoor concert |
| 5 to 8 | A family concert, The Nutcracker, or a film with live orchestra |
| 9 to 12 | A pops concert, or a regular concert with one piece the child knows |
| 13 and up | Any of them. Let the teen pick. |
These are starting points, not rules.
Things to do together
Read the program. Before you go, find out what kind of concert it is and how long it lasts.
Match the kind. Look at your local orchestra’s season. Label each concert: family, pops, or symphony.
Count the players. At the concert, count how many people are on stage. One is a recital. Four is a quartet. Eighty is an orchestra.
Go to two kinds. In one season, try one large concert and one small one. Ask which your child liked more.
Print and play
Bring the concert scavenger hunt. Read how long an orchestra concert lasts and concert etiquette for kids.
More from this guide
This article is part of First orchestra concert with kids: what to expect and how to prepare.
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Use it with your kids
Print a listening page, a practice chart, or a composer fact sheet. Or try a tool, such as the composer timeline or the piece picker.