DS6 wants to hear orchestral music/Star Wars

[ChelseaTilly]

DS6 is completely obsessed with Star Wars and he absolutely loves the orchestral scores of the films as well.

DH and I thought that we should take him to hear a performance of the orchestral score of John Williams' Star Wars.

Can anyone recommend ways to encourage young children to become interested in orchestral music generally?

I know that the LSO/Barbican organises "Family Concerts". Are there any other similar such concerts/events?

I would love it if DS6 could hear some orchestral concerts in order to determine what instrument he would first like to learn (aside from the Piano).

I just have a play list on youtube that I play on TV . Then they hear it at home . I like the violin but sometimes like the harp . Someone else with more experience will come along .

Lots of orchestras do family events and film screenings, maybe have a Google or follow some on social media. Children's classic concerts do some near us. Several of them have YouTube channels or learning resources on their websites. Live music is great some of the classical radio stations have film mixes too or just get the sound track on apple music. It's great to be able to see the players too though to connect what the instruments are, then he might start to think about brass or strings, etc. If you have a music hub or similar nearby he might be able to try a few different ones out. You may not hit on the right instrument straight away but no learning is wasted.

Not orchestral as such but we’ve been to a couple of the candlelight concerts this year where a string quartet plays eg Taylor Swift or film scores. They’re quite short concerts and pretty relaxed in small venues so might not be too overwhelming for little ones.

Quick google found this one in Manchester not Star Wars, but similar sci-fi movie music, but it does say age 8 and over. Hopefully you find something he’ll enjoy.

Whereabouts do you live? I took my son to a Star Wars orchestral concert in our local concert hall.
Regional orchestras such as the CBSO & the Halle do them fairly regularly.

It has come full circle now as he was asked to play in a film score concert but had another commitment!

Festival Hall in london has a wide variety of accessible family events including play-alongs where they play the score along to a well known film!

Just take them to concerts, mix it up with a bit of ballet and opera. Play orchestral music at home.

It isn't rocket science

This is what you want, OP, if you are anywhere near Birmingham:

visitbirmingham.com/whats-on/may-the-fourth-a-star-wars-celebration-with-the-cbso-p1540121

It looks like there are several concerts happening this year, all over the place, of John Williams music. I'm sure some of them will be family friendly.

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/classical-music/music-zimmer-vs-williams-matinee

It will be an amazing experience for him.

Then get him some trumpet lessons, join a school band or local band and he will be able to play Star Wars for himself!

My sons really liked the Beethoven’s Wig album at that age - classics with funny lyrics to sing along to.

Proms 2023 - Fantasy Music - might be something to watch. The John Williams performance might be lurking around on YouTube if he hasn't seen it; also check on Classic FM and BBC3 players to see if there's anything there.

Peter and the Wolf would be my choice for introduction to orchestral instruments for that age group - a few performances coming up on Google depending where you live. The candlelight type concerts may be less accessible to a 6 year old depending on timing, but again plenty of them about - look on fever or eventbrite apps or good old Google.
Am sure there will be plenty of amateur (or youth) regional orchestras that would be a good intro to instruments, be fairly accessible and inexpensive and it's a pretty typical repertoire so check out some listing in your town too if you're not near London or other big city.

There’s also this (saw an ad for it today!) https://www.warwick-castle.com/explore/events/concerts/the-music-of-zimmer-vs-williams/

You tube the proms summer 2923. They did a myths and legends night with music from film and tv. It was very good.

You might like to get him ear defenders if you are going to a live concert. Live orchestras can be extremely loud. We cured DS of his love of music rather abruptly by going to a family concert.

We watch on youtube, which has a lovely volume knob.

Having said that, I think most big orchestras do family concerts. You can just google for them. If you don't have sensitive ears, they can be great.

The Southbank Centre has regular family concerts and also see this screenshot which includes a concert of film and TV themes

I heard these guys rehearsing for a concert in our local cathedral - pretty spectacular.

https://www.londonfilmmusicorchestra.com/

Not sure about London specifically, but look out for family and try out concerts/ workshops. My youth orchestra used to do a family concert with a local professional orchestra, and beforehand there was a workshop with lots of different instruments for little kids to see up close and try out.
Also, National Youth Orchestra concerts are free for under 19s - the advert is "free for teens" but I don't think there's any lower limit. I expect they have some concerts in London coming up.

We are off to see Star Wars: A New Hope with a live orchestra later this year.

www.rsno.org.uk/liveevent/star-wars-a-new-hope-in-concert/

This is absolute bollocks.

The Proms usually have some concerts aimed at younger audiences that he may enjoy.

Otherwise, maybe try playing him some of the music that John Williams nicked borrowed from for his scores. Stravinsky's Rite of Spring is a constant. Walton is obviously used at the end. There's Tchaikovsky, Holst, Korngold, maybe Wagner, Prokofiev etc...

Try listening to Classic fm or the Irish equivalent Lyric fm, better to have the radio on than TV.

If you are on social media, search for your local Youth Orchestra and follow them. They won't have video clips but you'll be aware of concert dates.

I'm in Ireland so things may be a little different, galleries and museums often have lunchtime concerts to enjoy.

We saw them play in Birmingham in December. Absolutely fantastic plus they had Darth Vader and a few storm troupers come out for the occasion. Would highly recommend. I only went for the Jurassic park tune as we are a huge dino fan family 😂

Sorry, you're right, I should have qualified that. My DS is ASD and we didn't know at the time. The family concert was one of the moment when we realised things are not quite right.

Why haven’t you said where you are?!

You can take your son to any local concert hall, @ChelseaTilly. Lunchtime concerts are great for children, but I also used to take small children to evening concerts and didn’t mind if they fell asleep halfway through.

Do you have a conservatoire in your nearest city? That should have a full timetable of orchestral music performed by students or visiting ensembles. Usually a bit cheaper than other performance venues.

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group runs these absolutely wonderful workshops for children of your son’s age. I highly recommend them, children don’t need to be practised instrumentalists at all. Very relaxed and fun. If you sign up to their mailing list you’ll always know in advance what’s available to book. They’re worth travelling for.

Sorry, you said he’s 6. Just get yourself organised to be able to start as soon as he’s the right age.

NRFT but check out local universities. They often have orchestral societies that do performances a couple of times a year.

As they are made up of students, there is often a focus on a few fun pieces as well as more classical ones.

Plus side is that they are usually quite inexpensive events compared to professional ones, but the music is still a really high standard.