See my page on Kids and Classical Music.

The Question: But what if I know nothing about Classical music?

The Answer
Well, just start listening. Slowly. Play it in the background. With your kid(s).

I don't claim to be a classical music expert -- I have just learned over the years by listening.

I was lucky. My parents listened to classical music a lot. My dad's taste was Rimsky-Korsakov and Berlioz.

My mom preferred Opera. Some of my favorite memories (though I didn't know it at the the time), were reading or drawing or doing weekend homework while my mom listened to The Met on a Saturday afternoon.

So... I'm going to start posting some pieces from my collection that will start you on your road to learning about classical music. Download the pieces, play them in the background for a few days or weeks and then read the background notes -- they will make much more sense to you once you are familiar with the main themes.

Let's begin with Beethoven.

Background info

Ludwig van Beethoven 1770-1827

Symphony #3 in E# major - Eroica (written in 1804-1805)

From the 2008 CBC Series, Bill Richardson talking with conductor Bramwell Tovey, about the 3rd Symphony. (The whole series used to be available on CBC but doesn't seem to be there now.)

• Symphony #3 - First Movement - Allegro con brio
• Symphony #3 - Second Movement - Marcia funebre: Adagio assai
• Symphony #3 - Third Movement - Scherzo: Allegro vivace
• Symphony #3 - Fourth Movement - Finale: Allegro molto