Musical Activities at Home

We know many families are stuck at home right now and looking for a range of educational activities. Let us help! Here are five fun and creative ways to stay musical at home, as well as a list of online resources for more ideas.

  1.  Make your own instrument! From a simple shaker to a coat-hanger violin, creating your own noise-makers can be a rewarding and engaging activity. More information and instructions.
  2. Be a conductor! While being a conductor is one of the more complex jobs in classical music, it doesn’t take much for a child to make their own ‘baton’ and move to the music. We suggest grabbing the perfect stick from outside, putting on a popular video like Bizet’s Carmen Suite, and letting your kids do their thing.
  3. Draw what you hear! This can be an interesting and relaxing activity for parents and kids alike. Choose an evocative piece of music, like Debussy’s La Mer, and ask your children to draw while they listen. Some prompt questions can include:
    1. What does this music remind you of?
    2. What colors go well with this music?
    3. Is the music making any shapes?
  4. Read a music-inspired book! There are a number of great classical-music themed picture books for kids of varying ages.
    1. Because by Mo Willems, illustrated by Amber Ren
    2. The Philharmonic Gets Dressed by Karla Kuskin, illustrated by Marc Simont
    3. Opera Cat by Tess Weaver, illustrated by Amber Wesson
    4. When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Brian Selznick
    5. When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky by Lauren Stringer
    6. Who Was…Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? by Yona Zeldis McDonough
  5. Ballet in your living room! YouTube is a treasure trove of live performances. Instead of a family movie night, why not pick a ballet? If the kids get antsy, they can stand up and dance along! The Nutcracker is a personal BSO favorite and great place to start.

There are a few great websites for kids with specific musical activities, crafts, coloring, listening games, and composer bios to dive into. We recommend the following