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"Peter and the Wolf"
Photo:
BELTZ & Gelberg
I have selected five titles from the sea of music books for children who want to explain a ballet, a musician, a composer or the world of orchestras.
It took me some time to get this collection together, because many titles are just as old-fashioned as many imagine classics to be.
Coming up with a children's non-fiction book about something as abstract as music - and art in general - is obviously not easy.
But: If you know more, you also hear more.
These books are mostly about classical music, because that is the starting point for many great musicians, no matter what genre of music they turn to over time.
How diverse music touches us all is fantastic, some call it »the queen of the arts«.
If you want to give a toddler just the slightest idea of music, you can start with »My Good Night Piano Book« (arsEdition).
With a battery-operated »keyboard«, it points the way to an instrument.
For older children and teenagers, I recommend stories about orchestral life on and behind the scenes, the exciting story about a duck that was eaten by a wolf and an all-encompassing reference book on music.
Musicians are only human
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Photo: Hanser
Phew, how nice that this book is still available.
And as a small gift book edition.
Very useful when you have a child on your lap.
It was published in English in 1986, and then by Hanser in 2008. Did anyone really still wear suspenders back then?
Anyway, it's funny to see how people turn into musicians before they become a musical voice.
What's going on here?
Friday evening - closing time.
But not for everyone.
As the sun goes down, we watch 105 people peel themselves out of the tub or into dresses and pants.
An atmospheric text up to the last page, which finds its perfection through funny illustrations.
Great gift, even for adults.
Best time to read:
before the lullaby.
Recommended age:
from 4 years.
Daaa-da-dada da da
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Photo: Peter / BELTZ & Gelberg
What do Romy Schneider, Loriot and David Bowie have in common?
They all voiced "Peter and the Wolf."
But not only her.
There are dozens of versions of the 1936 composition on YouTube. But my favorite is the Staatskapelle Dresden CD from 1972 with narrator Rolf Ludwig, on the back of which you can hear Benjamin Britten's »Orchestra Guide for Young People«.
Also a masterpiece.
But what would Prokofiev's music be without the fantastic illustrations by graphic artist Frans Haacken?
The music is even more vividly remembered, I think.
Luckily, the original 1958 edition is being republished.
This version is by far the best book accompaniment to the music - or vice versa.
When the child leafs through it while listening, the experience is only complete.
Not only are the illustrations impressive, the typography and the square format of the bound edition also told me as a child that this is a very special book.
What's going on here?
Prokofiev wrote and composed »Peter and the Wolf« in 1936. The fairy tale is about a cheeky boy who puts himself in danger to catch a wolf.
Each of the characters is assigned an instrument and a melody.
Alternately, the story is told and sounds as music.
It gets really dramatic when the wolf ... well, I won't tell you anything.
Best reading time:
catchy tune?
Recommended age:
from 4 years.
sing with me
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Photo: Magellan
Many publishers have songbooks in their programmes, because singing often moves into the family with children.
But then people like to ask: What was the name of the song again and who knows the lyrics?
In any case, I was happy about a lullaby book that I got for the birth of my daughter.
I liked it so much because it's not such a fat ham, has cheerful illustrations by Günther Jakobs and comes with a CD.
What's going on here?
Cute song book with everything there is to sing about throughout the year: spring, animals, Christmas, sleeping and - logically - birthdays.
For 30 of the more than 60 songs, the enclosed CD offers instrumental support or memory aids.
With guitar chords and notation in a sing-friendly pitch.
Best reading time:
for a sense of community.
Recommended age:
from 3 years.
A flourish!
A bang!
A trill!
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Photo: Coppenrath
Experiencing music live is the greatest thing.
Many music houses offer concerts for children to encourage them to enjoy classical music.
Admission is often cheap because you don't just want to appeal to the income elite.
This book makes it even easier – or even as preparation.
I am a spontaneous connoisseur and not very well versed in classical music.
While listening and leafing through this book, I had a few aha moments about the different composers.
I like listening to the CD in the car.
What's going on here?
Simple: Simon is looking for people for his band... er, his orchestra.
It is allowed to play one after the other, from the violin to the harp.
Exciting!
All around, the instruments are explained and Simon tells what music means to him and what different feelings it can express.
Great service: You can download the music or listen to it from the included CDs.
Best reading time:
Which instrument suits me?
Recommended age:
from 5 years.
feel it
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Photo: DK
British musician and music teacher Charlie Morland has packed much of what he knows about music into this book - plus all the questions his students ask him.
It surprises with a great variety of topics.
This may lead to a certain superficiality, but that's exactly what I like.
It gives children an idea of the many varieties and themes associated with music - and may thus arouse their interest.
What's going on here?
Sheet music, hip hop, recorder, the ear, timbres and African drum music are just a few of the keywords in this colorful music encyclopedia.
There are also themed playlists, i.e. references to pieces of music that you can listen to (on the Internet).
Morland explains how to compose a piece yourself, what's going on behind the scenes in the music industry and how to get rid of a catchy tune!
Best time to read:
in music class.
Recommended age:
from 8 years.
