Music Lover

Little A has long been an aficionado of classical music. Baby Einstein remains one of his favourites - he and a select group of young tween and teen boys comprise an online fandom, apparently, collecting toys, puppets, dvds, and other items featured on the shows. I always figured his YouTube favourites were also on the spectrum, though verbal, and maybe they are. They are older than he is and still obsessed, so I need not stress too much about the age-appropriate aspect of it all. 

Apart from the characters, Little A has learnt much about the music. Unlike the rest of the family who simply appreciate that it sounds good and took an incredibly gifted composer to make up, he actually knows composer, piece, movement, and chord for the music he loves. 

Whenever possible, we go to concerts. Since many happen to be on school nights, we sit in on rehearsals, where he is thrilled to listen, wave his hands, and "watch with glittering eyes" (thank you, Roald Dahl) the wonderful musical instruments he would love to touch.

Many of the orchestras do mall concerts, which is fantastic for the non-paying public in that it raises awareness and hopefully gets the musical bodies some sponsors for future shows. But one special event happens every Halloween since Little A was one - a children's concert at our nation's only proper theatre, where normally kids below 7 are not permitted. My mum organised this with some friends in the orchestra world, and we are so glad the tradition has continued even after her 3 year run. 

Each year, the weekend closest to Halloween, there is a "petting zoo" of orchestral instruments that allows kids to get up close and see how they work, trick or treating by sponsors, maybe a storytelling event by a local publishing house to promote their newest children's book, and the main event, the concert. Events are themed every year, and the music and "story" is woven in to match. 

Even if Little A is already of age to sit in the audience at any time, he still loves the children's concert, and we make it a tradition to go every year. He still has some anxiety about what might come and be scary, so we go through the programme and list of pieces before the show starts, so he can anticipate any scary bits and put on headphones or step outside the auditorium if he needs to. Once the concert is over, he usually looks for YouTube footage or videos taken (if permitted) of the same concert, or others. One day, we have promised to take him to Sydney Opera House and Wien Volksoper. And my dream is just for him to hang around Covent Garden watching the buskers. One day.