This Week —

Let’s get to know the boss man Ludwig van Beethoven

When somebody mentions Beethoven, does it make you think of this wild-eyed portrait or the movie starring the slobbering St. Bernard dog? Or maybe you assume his music is too stuffy and stale. Well, I’m here to debunk that myth with this glorious playlist. Give a listen, and I can promise that you’ll not only find yourself bobbing your head as his melodies hijack your brain—but it’ll also cause your kids to partake in some serious shimmying.

Listen To —

Get ready to listen to some of Beethoven’s violin concertos, piano concertos, and symphonies. This is a great playlist for doing homework or for accompanying dinnertime. For those of you with smaller tots, this can also be enjoyed during lazy afternoon slumps when both you and baby need a pick-me-up.

Hot Tip —

Here is the best way to hook kids on to new music: show them other kids playing the music.  It’s like an Alice in Wonderland trick; without simplifying the content, the house becomes smaller and they feel welcome in it. Of course, it would be ideal to watch live concerts, but if that’s not possible, you can start with some videos.  

To help you get you started, here are a few incredible, young musicians: a stunning 12-year-old pianist playing with a full orchestra, a fantastic pianist playing blindfolded, these insanely talented siblings playing a Beethoven trio.

For a screen-free option here is a fun book about Beethoven’s adventures.

Happy listening!

Don’t have Spotify? Listen on YouTube!