THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MAN BEHIND THE PERENNIAL FAVORITE, THE NUTCRACKER, PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY

Piotr Illyich Tchaikovsky grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia and while he was a gifted musician early on, that was not considered a proper career so his parent’s make him study law. Eventually he gave that up to study music full time and became one of the most well known composers not only in Europe but even the U.S. In 1891, he came to New York to conduct his work at Carnegie Hall.

The shows in December include:

1. About Piotr Illyich Tchaikovsky
2. Ballet
3. The Nutcracker
4. Traditional Christmas Classical Music

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CLASSICS FOR KIDS NOW AVAILABLE IN PODCAST FORM
Does your child seem forever attached to his/her iPod or Mp3 player? Then infuse it with some great music! Download the Classics for Kids™ radio show in podcast form right to their player, and give them a blast of Bach or a touch of Tchaikovsky. Podcast information is available here.

Franz Joseph Haydn helped change classical music. He helped create new musical forms like the symphony and string quartets. While he struggled initially as a composer, his writing and composing for the Esterhazy family of Austria brought him great fame, even outside the country. He also realized early on that publishing music would allow him great financial freedom.

The shows in January include:

1. About Franz Joseph Haydn
2. Father of the Symphony
3. The Farewell Symphony
4. Minuets
5. Patriotic Music by Classical Composers

Hear Classics for Kids host Naomi Lewin tell the story that inspired Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. What a great way to spend a few minutes with your child during the holiday season!

When your students return after holiday break, how about getting them moving again? Check out music for dancing and find programs about music your students can dance to…all for free…all available any time. Help them shake off those winter blah’s with some danceable classical music!

Parents and teachers, you know Classics for Kids™ loves to hear from you about the program, the website, and how it can be improved and more relevant to you in making classical music part of your child’s life.

Just fill out the feedback form here. We also want to hear from your kids, so have them check out our Bulletin Board section here to see what other kids have sent and how to send in their own artwork or letter.

"The business of music should in some measure lead us to love of the beautiful."

Plato