What music should children be exposed to?

[Wellthen]

'Music of the week' is something I've done for a while - we discuss the piece throughout the week with children adding facts about the piece or the artist as the week goes on. I try to play it every day so they get to know it quite well. Some they love, some they hate which makes for great conversation. With this year drawing to an end I'd like to look again at the tracks I use.

What pieces of music really stick with you/strike you as 'important'? Obviously the definition of this is different for different people.

Probably needless to say but I try to have something from most musical styles and overtly sexual or offensive is not appropriate!

Oh, also I teach Year 5/6 but have done it with Year 1 up. The only difference is I wouldnt expect the younger ones to discuss it with the same vocabulary or be able to explain their feelings quite so well.

My teacher used to do something like this too and for some reason Rhapsody in Blue still sticks with me now 26 years later!