December listening calendar

A free December listening calendar to print: one short piece of classical music for each day from December 1 to 24, with one thing to listen for.

Ages 3 and up1 pageFree to print for home and classroom use

One piece of music for each day from December 1 to December 24. Most are under four minutes long. Each box names the piece, the composer, and one thing to listen for or do. The calendar has no year on it, so it works every December.

Where the pieces come from

Thirteen of the days come from Christmas classical music for kids. The calendar also covers all eight pieces of the Nutcracker Suite and all three parts of "Winter" by Vivaldi. The last three are "The Snow Is Dancing" by Debussy, the "Waltz of the Snowflakes" from The Nutcracker, and "Ode to Joy" on December 17, the day Beethoven was baptized.

How to use it

Tape the page to the fridge. Each day, search a streaming service or YouTube for the title and the composer's name. Play the piece once with no talking. Then read the line in the box and play it again. Your child ticks the box.

A missed day is no trouble. Play two the next day, or skip ahead. A child who likes to draw can fill in a listening journal page for a favorite piece.

Only the sheet below prints. It fits letter and A4 paper. For a clean page, turn off headers and footers in the print window.

December listening calendar

One piece a day, from December 1 to December 24. Tick the box when you have heard it.

1
"Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"
Tchaikovsky
Tiptoe on the bell notes of the celesta.
2
"Sleigh Ride"
Leroy Anderson
At the end, a trumpet makes the sound of a horse.
3
"March" from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky
March around the room. Stop when the music stops.
4
"Troika" from Lieutenant Kijé
Prokofiev
Sleigh bells start a fast ride over the snow.
5
"Winter" from The Four Seasons, first part
Vivaldi
Shivering notes, stamping feet, and chattering teeth.
6
"The Skaters' Waltz"
Waldteufel
Put on socks and slide in time with the music.
7
Miniature Overture from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky
No cellos or basses play. Does it sound big or tiny?
8
"The Snow Is Dancing"
Debussy
Light, quick notes fall like snowflakes.
9
"Sleigh Ride"
Mozart
The sleigh bells play different notes. Shake a ring of keys.
10
Russian Dance (Trepak) from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky
Fast and loud, and it gets faster. Jump on the strong beats.
11
Opening chorus of the Christmas Oratorio
Bach
It begins with five strokes on a drum. Tap them on a table.
12
Arabian Dance from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky
Slow and swaying over a steady beat.
13
"A Christmas Festival"
Leroy Anderson
Who can name each carol first?
14
Chinese Dance from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky
A high flute plays quick notes over low, plucked sounds.
15
"Winter" from The Four Seasons, second part
Vivaldi
A warm fire inside. The plucked strings are the rain.
16
"This Little Babe"
Britten
The voices chase each other with the same tune.
17
"Ode to Joy"
Beethoven
Beethoven was baptized on this day in 1770. Sing along.
18
Dance of the Reed Flutes from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky
Flutes play a gentle, rolling tune.
19
"Hallelujah" chorus from Messiah
Handel
Stand up together when it starts.
20
"Waltz of the Snowflakes" from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky
A choir sings with no words.
21
"Winter" from The Four Seasons, third part
Vivaldi
Slow steps on the ice. Then a slip and a tumble.
22
"Waltz of the Flowers"
Tchaikovsky
A harp begins. Count ONE two three.
23
"Evening Prayer" from Hansel and Gretel
Humperdinck
The opera was first performed on this day in 1893.
24
"Pastorale" from the Christmas Concerto
Corelli
Made for the night of Christmas. Dim the lights and sway.

December listening calendarkidsclassicalmusic.com

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