The Carnival of the Animals (Le carnaval des animaux) is an instrumental suite of fourteen movements by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Most of the movements depict a different animal or set of animals with a variety of instruments. A very accessible instrumental piece for children, it lends itself to creative movement and discovery of different instruments and their sounds. (It is 25 minutes long.) Here is the descriptions of all of the movements and more about

It's amazing how many classical pieces I heard as a child while watching cartoons. I may be wrong, but it seems there are fewer children's shows today that incorporate classical masterworks. Do you remember any classical masterworks that you learned as a child through cartoons or t.v. shows? Do you think hearing classical music in the context of advertising and television shows/movies is a positive or negative way for children to hear classical music for the first time?

One of my family's favorite meals is pizza. As of late, whenever we have pizza we improvise verses to the old hand-clapping rhyme "Pizza-Pizza Daddy-o"... Daddy's got the pizza, pizza-pizza daddy-o, How do you know it, pizza-pizza daddy-o, cause he told me, pizza-pizza daddy-o..etc. It's funny because it's always a little different, sometimes I'm the star with "pizza-pizza mommy-o." Growing up, I have fond memories of doing a few hand clapping games on the playground suc

My son loves to play the drums! I am looking forward to the day when he really understands how to keep a steady beat and play more sensitively (quiet). For now, I know his enthusiastic banging is part of the process of experimenting with sound. I love this episode from Reading Rainbow because it shows children how different objects can create sounds and rhythms. Furthermore, it demonstrates that making music with rhythms is a team effort. Per request of my son, I am incl

A rainy day and the song that keeps coming to mind? Singing in the Rain. I love seeing Gene Kelly dance and sing to this classic and undeniably happy song.

A wonderful reminder to not take yourself too seriously!

Fascinating look at what can be done with a simple balloon...