I took my 7-year-old to his first symphony last month and he loved it. So did I.
Our first was the Santa Cruz Symphony’s pop concert, which was devoted to music from the movies. I was worried he wouldn’t have the patience to sit through long, complicated classical pieces.
You can tell by the smile on Parker’s face in the picture–this music lit up both of our hearts. Keep in mind, the program was kid friendly, consisting of music from Up, The Pink Panther, James Bond, Mission Impossible, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars, Batman and more.
Conductor Danny Stewart brought the songs to life in his explanations, but the thing that really did it for us was hearing music played live by 72 extraordinary musicians. This was nothing like hearing songs at a movie theater, the radio or even a very good stereo. There were so many intricate details brought to life, from the tingle of a triangle to the thundering kettle drums and gongs.
“The violins bring out the light and the drums bring out the darkness,” said Parker. He got it. He really got it. He even got up and danced. He was the only one in the crowd in a city known for people who will dance to anything.
The bad thing about this Saturday night show was that the Civic Auditorium was only about three fourths full and there were only a few kids there. There should have been hundreds of children learning the joys of real music played on real instruments.
My message here is that I implore you: bring your kids to the next family-friendly symphony concert. I promise you all will love it.
Also, I suggest the symphony add videos to the showcase. They did have one, an old Charlie Chaplin clip from Modern Times, but if you want to entice a generation brought up on videos and movies, give them something to use their other senses.
They are kids, after all, and hearing great music will change their lives forever. We are so lucky to have a symphony like this. I read somewhere that many local symphonies are an inch away from sounding like the best ones in the world. I’ll say this with enthusiasm – and as a former music critic for the San Jose Mercury News who has heard some of the best in London and New York–this was as good as anything I’ve ever heard.
I would also suggest they do a kids’ version of the same show. Let’s face it, kids are not your normal white-haired symphony audience. Mine kept asking questions and managed to spill his popcorn all over the floor.I know it upset people who like quiet, as do I, and a woman in front of me asked him to only talk between songs, which he eventually did.
Maybe I’m a bad parent, but when he had observations or questions during a piece of music, I couldn’t resist letting him whisper them to me.
That’s why they should do separate shows for adults. That being said, I’ll ask you to support children’s symphony shows. Nothing will breed more of them than selling out the ones they do.
We will feature the symphony’s next series in our September issue and interview a great maestro.
And, preview: the next pops concert is June 8, 2024 with music from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, ET, Jurassic Park and more!
I’m buying my tickets now.
On a totally different subject. We have no fireworks show this July 4 in the county? That’s sad. Scotts Valley didn’t have the money for it, apparently, after doing a great one the past years. That just seems wrong to me.
Thanks for reading.
Brad Kava,
Editor and Publisher
