AIBU to take my not-quite-five-year-old to a classical concert?

[designerbaby]

I've already bought the tickets but I could take DH instead.

She's been banging on about wanting to learn the violin. There's a performance of Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra within easy reach in a couple of months, where she'll get a good idea of all the different instruments and what they sound like.

I thought we could make it a 'big girl day out' and go out for something to eat together first. A compulsory lunchtime nap should ensure she's able to stay up without too much bother. She sits happily and quietly through a film in the cinema.

I'm hoping she'll rise to the occasion but have bought aisle seats in case we need to make a swift exit...

AIBU? Or AIB a bit nuts to even contemplate it?

Honestly?

db
xx

Take her, it is obvioulsy meant for children. I have taken my girls to the ballet for children and they have sat through without a problem.

As others have said, as long as you take her out at the first sign of restlessness it should be okay.

Do expect a couple of dismayed looks, though, from the adults around when you sit down with her.

We've been to a couple of specific children's classical concerts by the likes of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and also the LSO. They're usually excellent and are geared very well to the family and child audience. I think you'll be fine and you'll both enjoy it hugely!

I wish there was a performance near us. Hope you both have a great evening together. If it works out, she may well remember it for the rest of her life!

DD was about that age when she first went. But it was a concert for children. Was a great success but I was quite glad it was one where children were expected to make a noise at certain points! She and DS could let off steam.

It's not a concert specifically aimed at children... But it IS the young person's guide, so they ought to expect, er, a few young people I should have thought...

I'm bracing myself for some cats bum faces - you'll always get a few, but I hope she'll prove them wrong.

Idea of a book with the instruments in is great, thanks kaszmus!

Yes, I'm prepared for her not to make it through all of the Eroica in the second half, and am happy to go home in the interval...

And I showed her the video of last years last night of the proms when they performed it with Jenny Agutter narrating. She loved it and was absolutely transfixed.

Trouble is, she also wanted to dance to all the different instruments ? marching for the percussion, 'fairy dancing' for the flutes etc. Which was lovely ? today ? but maybe less so in a concert hall... But I guess we can go stand outside/at the back, still hear it and she can dance away?

Oh, and she decided she doesn't want to play the violin anymore.

Now, she wants to play the double bass.

Thinking about it, this could backfire horribly in a number of ways.

Ah well...

db
xx

p.s. Just thought, this might be in the running for the most 'middle-class' thread ever. I'll have to take her to MacDonalds beforehand and buy her a fruit shoot in the interval just to rectify the balance a bit...

YPG is aimed at kids, the narration breaks up the music and will help hold her concentration. Wouldn't think twice about taking her. Go and enjoy it.

Great idea. We took ours from really quite young- especially the youngest who sat pretty well through lots from about 6 but was taken selectively before that ( when daddys singing then you have to go support him of course!)

Suggest a colouring book and pencils as a good distraction with minimal trouble

Above all it's the young persons guide so there will be other smalls around, and even sniffy olds ducks will expect thr odd excited exclaimations etc so try to enjoy it yourself too!

Do it, my DD1 started playing violin at 5 after seeing someone on tv, she's very good now, and really enjoys her weekly lesson.

Explain it's important to be quiet and listen to the recital but if it's what she has expressed an interest in, she should be fine.

My DD1 also plays clarinet and sax in a Big Band type thing and loves that too!!

It depends on the child and the prep done possibly. I was taken to Handel's Messiah when I was 3 and I sat through it. My dad was a music teacher and passionate about orchestral/choral music. He played the record to me from birth and when I was 3 I was already learning the basics of the violin having got a 1/8 size instrument. Dad had the score for Messiah and we used to look at it during the record. I probably didn't really understand it but it was a ritual and a bond he formed with me. He took the score to the concert and we looked there as well so it matched with what I was used to. I think he also had a small bag of sweets to be given at key points in the work subject to behaviour! Dad was completely immune to catsbum faces which is just as well because he got plenty that night. Apparently the person at the door was unsure whether to let him bring me in but since there was no actual "no children" policy and in fact children's prices were advertised they ended up having to. I reckon if your DD is familiar with the work being performed and is really up for going she will have a great time and will love learning music. Would strategic sweet giving work if she gets fed up?

My son is 6. He LOVES musical concerts, he's the one with the major interest and HE drags ME there...tho sadly I'm the one paying!

As long as the concert is not too late, he manages just fine. It's a Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Then YOUNG people are just perfect to attend!

It's VITAL that we encourage our DC to appreciate classical music, to attend concerts, otherwise who will attend in 20 years time?

You can always talk to your DD and say that if she's tired etc you can leave in the interval. I reckon she will LOVE it though.

I took DS to see the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and I was worried that he would be the only child there and that they may be funny about him being there, but there were a few other DC about his age.

Go for it!

Double bass? You'll want to head that off! Tell her the cello is a small double bass and much nicer, I'm not biased, honestly

I know, flowery... One of my best muso friends at school was a double bass player. Her first car had to be a Volvo estate...

I like the cello a lot, but wonder if I should try and gently steer her towards an instrument that she can be taught by a friend in the initial stages ? I have french horn, bassoon, harp (although that has even worse logistical issues that the double bass), flute and trumpet covered without having to go outside close family friends. Recorder I can start her off on myself and thereafter have a friend who is a professional recorder player...

I'd like to start her on piano probably. Because I "fell" into music rather by accident, and didn't have musical parents, I never had piano, and I couldn't get through A'level music without it.

I'm also not sure how early is too early ? both for piano and a second instrument. I started recorder at about five, trumpet at eight (well, cornet, actually, in a brass band . I switched to trumpet at 12 when I went to 'posh' school - they had an orchestra, rather than a brass band, obviously), then flute at nine after seeing James Galway on TV.

I have been thinking about suzuki method. It was very much frowned upon when I was playing, but seems to have become a bit more mainstream/accepted now - probably in part because of the number of hugely successful concert violinists/pianists who started with suzuki. I know they start that as young as three... but that might just be a bit nuts.

Sweets will definitely be being used as bribery for good behaviour. As will the promise of ice-cream in the interval. She's also very excited about the prospect of a 'big girl's night out' in her best frock with "just mummy" ? no annoying little sisters or Daddies.

I'm determined that music will be a part of my DDs lives whatever happens. Even if they're not especially talented, I think an appreciation of classical music is really important, as is the discipline and commitment that learning an instrument provides.

Maybe I'm deluded. We'll find out...!

I shall wear my "impervious to cats bum faces" glasses á la your Dad, Coconut...

db
xx

I would let her go but I would be giving the other ticket to DH!!
It would be my idea of musical hell!! ( well that or a jazz concert!!)

No point upahill.
DH is a total philistine
db
xx

I took DS to a family classical concert when he was 4. He loved it. Happily sat through it all. Go and enjoy!

If she's got the concentration and isn't a wriggle-bottom then go for it.

I was sitting through all 3 acts of an opera by that age when my mother had childcare problems, and was going to full symphonic performances (overture, concerto, interval, and 4 movements of a symphony) by the time I was about 8 and enjoying them!

So it is possible.

I was obviously vairy advanced

at Db!!
My dh took me to a few classical concerts and after the 7th time I had to tell him no more for me, I am happier in a mosh pit!!
My poor ears couldn't take anymore!!

Go for it,you sound like you have considered the possibility that she might make a noise and have made the arrangements that you will need to deal with that if you need to.

We took ds1 to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on stage when he was 2.9. The age limit was three. But we knew he would love it and he did. He behaved well because he was engaged with what he was watching, whereas there were much older children who were well above the age limit that cried and got scared at the child catcher so had to leave.

It depends entirely on the child.

@Upahill:
DH will be the one taking DD2 to Björn again (see earlier post). It's amazing we're still married, really...

@Tatty:
Well obviously I'm only able to consider taking DD1 to this because she is CLEARLY gifted and talented and not just because she responds well to bribery and threats

Yes, I think starting with piano's a good idea. My 6 year old started this year and is loving it. He wants to learn trumpet too, but I think I'll wait a couple of years. Although, I might try to steer him towards violin or viola. With three children and me, we could end up with a string quartet!

Yes, we've taken our (eldest) when just five years old, and she was fine, after a little fidgeting at the start.
She had been to watch ballets at the theatre from age three though, but that captured, and kept, her attention more easily.