Interested in bringing children to a Concert? Wonderful! We’d love to have them and we want to help make the experience a positive one!
Below is a How-to Guide on preparing your children to attend an orchestral concert. The targeted age group for the guide is about 6-12 years of age, though feel free to adapt up or down as you see fit! (adapted from InsidetheArts.com)
And before we get started: No — There is no right age. Some kids can sit still for a couple hours at age 6, some have to wait until age 13, and sometimes grownups still struggle. Every child is different, so don’t try to force the issue. You will know when your child is ready. And, if you discover they are not there quite yet during a concert, have a system in place to allow for a graceful exit. It’s OK!
Laying the Groundwork:
If you are able, begin at least a month before the concert (even more is better!), sit with your child to listen to a short, three-minute piece of classical music. It is important that you convey that while listening they are not to talk but to listen fully — there will be time to talk afterward!
Before the piece starts, ask the child to listen for three things:
Is it a happy or sad piece?
Was it quiet or loud?
Was it fast or slow?
Be sure to listen to the piece together, modeling good listening skills.
After the piece, discuss what they thought. Perhaps it would be a nice tradition to discuss over cookies (or a healthy snack!)
A week later try a longer piece, perhaps 5—7 or more minutes, depending on age and if they are enjoying it.
Same questions, same discussion afterwards. Don’t forget the snack during the discussion!
Continue to increase their listening lengths each week. As they increase their ability to listen, ask them to use their imagination more.
What did the piece remind them of? Did the work make them think up a story?
Perhaps they could draw or paint a picture of the images that came to mind.
Painting, discussing, and the cookies are now a thing, your bonding tradition. You are sharing a very powerful experience that is fun and meaningful, helping instill a love of music & arts!
Bonus discussions may pop up, such as your child asking what instrument is making what sounds or when/why the music was written. Feel free to say, “Good Question — I don’t know!” Then seek out answers on Google or your favorite reference site — it’s great for kids to see adults learning — and you might learn something fun, too!
Ready for Tickets:
Once you feel your child can sit through some longer works thoughtfully, they may be ready for some live music.
Check out the schedule and see what concerts might be a good fit.
We recommend Sounds of the Season, our Holiday Pops concert as a great intro to the symphony — It features many songs youth are likely to know well and some that will be new to them as well. The highlight for many youth is the group sing-a-long with the Orchestra to some holiday favorites!
Have a listen yourself to recordings of works from the concerts you are considering. At this point you should be able to tell if the music is something that will engage your child or not.
Sit with your child and play a few portions of the works that will be performed on the concert program (YouTube often will have past performances by other orchestras). Ask the questions listed above and draw some pictures, tell some stories, and share some cookies.
Tell them you are proud of how they can sit quietly and you’d like to reward them by taking them to see this music in person!
Explain what will happen from picking the tickets up, to finding a seat and sitting quietly while a real orchestra plays the music they have come to know. (Not sure what will happen? Check out our FAQ’s)
Explain that there will be a time to talk during intermission and after the concert you will take them for a special treat so you can talk about the concert!
Try to buy tickets for a seat near an exit or in the back of the hall if you are even remotely concerned your child might not sit through the concert.
In our theater, this location would be anywhere in the 400-section, all the way to the right on the seating map.
At the Concert:
It’s important to set some expectations for your child. This is entirely new to them and they’ll be super excited! Here are some suggestions to consider before the music starts!
Dress kids for comfort. Nothing will undermine your efforts like adorable clothes that happen to be itchy and hot!
Have your child use the restroom before the concert as well as at intermission.
Try to take your seat at least 5 minutes before the concert starts. It can be fun for children to hear the musicians warm up and gives you some time to remind them of expectations and what to do.
Have an exit strategy —
Note the locations of the exits and have a plan to make your way there with as little disturbance as possible.
Ask your child to tap you on the leg if they are done. You could acknowledge the tap by holding their hand.
Let them know you will both wait to leave at the end of a movement or at intermission, if possible.
You may be disappointed to leave early — you’ve done so much to get here! But it is better to leave this first experience on a positive note than to fight through the last hour.
Tell your child you will place your hand on your child’s shoulder as a silent way to let them know if they are moving too much.
Remind them — Do not kick the seats in front and they must be quiet to take in the music — no talking, just like at home.
Let them know you will remove your child to the lobby if they make a fuss. Perhaps the will prefer to listen from there, where they can also be able to move and even dance!
Quiet flipping through the program book is OK. Making it into airplanes is not.
If anything falls, leave it on the ground.
No Food or Drinks in Concert Hall - this includes small treats with crinkly wrappers. Remind them that you will both go out for a treat afterwards if the behavior was good!
Post Concert Follow-up
Hopefully you and your child had a great time! Good preparation usually allows for that — Yes, even if you needed to leave early!
Ask your child what was the best part of the concert. Its okay to ask what wasn’t, too! Share your thoughts and make notes for future concerts you might consider. Perhaps season tickets are in your future soon!
Continue introducing a variety of music, keeping your tradition and special time going strong.