Kid Friendly Instrumental Music: The Best of the Best

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

Offering the best of the best in kid friendly instrumental music, this blog has everything you need to get your little ones moving and grooving!

Introduction

Whether you’re a parent looking for something to calm your kids down, or a teacher seeking music for your classroom that won’t distract from lesson plans, instrumental music is a great option. We’ve rounded up some of the best options out there, from funk and classical to jazz and beyond.

The Best of the Best

If you’re looking for the best of the best when it comes to kid friendly instrumental music, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the best music for kids to help them focus and relax. We’ll also provide a few tips on how to choose the right music for your child.

Mozart

Mozart is one of the most well-known and respected composers of all time. His music has stood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed by people all over the world.

Mozart wrote a large number of pieces for various instruments and voices, but his work for solo piano is some of the most beloved. His piano sonatas and concertos are among the most popular works in the classical repertoire.

If you’re looking for some great Mozart music to listen to with your kids, here are some of the best pieces to try:

-Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major, K. 331: This beautifully melody sonata is one of Mozart’s most famous piano works. It’s perfect for young listeners, as it’s relatively short and simple, but still has plenty of charm.

-Concerto for Piano No. 21 in C Major, K. 467: Another one of Mozart’s most well-known piano concertos, this piece is full of energy and excitement. It’s a great choice if you want your kids to experience a lively classical work.

-The Magic Flute, K. 620: This delightful opera features some of Mozart’s most memorable tunes. It’s perfect for kids who are interested in both singing and instrumental music.

Beethoven

Beethoven is one of the most well-known and respected composers of all time. His music is enjoyed by people of all ages, and his work has had a profound impact on the world of classical music. Beethoven’s compositions are some of the most popular and frequently performed pieces in the entire repertoire.

Beethoven’s best known work is probably his Symphony No. 9, often referred to as the “Ode to Joy.” This inspiring and uplifting work has been used in many movies and television shows over the years, and it remains one of the most popular pieces of classical music ever written.

Other well-known works by Beethoven include his Piano Concerto No. 5, often called the “Emperor Concerto,” and his Violin Concerto. Beethoven also wrote a number of popular songs, including “Für Elise” and “Ode to Joy.”

If you’re looking for some great kid-friendly instrumental music, Beethoven should definitely be at the top of your list!

Bach

Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist of the Baroque period. He is revered as one of the greatest composers in history. Bach’s music is known for its technical precision, complex melodies, and innovative harmonies. His works include the Brandenburg Concertos, the Goldberg Variations, the Mass in B minor, and over 200 cantatas.

The Rest of the Best

There are a lot of great kid friendly instrumental songs out there. We’ve already talked about some of the best of the best. Now, it’s time to talk about the rest of the best. These are great songs that didn’t quite make the top 10, but are still great kid friendly instrumental songs.

Haydn

One of the most prolific and important composers of the Classical period, Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809) was nicknamed “Papa Haydn” by Mozart and Beethoven, in recognition of his pivotal role as their teacher and mentor. A prolific composer of 106 symphonies (a genre he perfected), 83 string quartets (the first ever written), 62 piano sonatas, and dozens of other works, Haydn was hugely popular in his own time and his music continues to be performed and recorded today. While many composers are known for just a few “hits,” Haydn’s instrumental music is so consistently wonderful that it’s hard to choose just a few great pieces to recommend – but here are some personal favorites.

Keyboard Concerto in D Major – This concerto for keyboard and orchestra is one of Haydn’s most popular works, and with good reason. It’s full of catchy melodies, interesting harmonies, and is just plain fun to listen to.

String Quartet in C Major Op.76 No. 3 “Emperor” – Another one of Haydn’s most popular works, this string quartet gets its nickname from the fact that it was written to celebrate the Austrian Emperor’s visit to Eszterháza Palace, where Haydn was working at the time. It’s a beautiful work, with a memorable main theme that will stay with you long after you hear it.

Symphony No. 94 in G Major “Surprise” – One of Haydn’s most famous symphonies, this work gets its nickname from the sudden fortissimo chord that interrupts the quiet second movement. It’s a delightful work full of energy and humor, and is one of Haydn’s best-known symphonies.

Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert (January 31, 1797 – November 19, 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast oeuvre of work, much of which was unfinished. His output consists of over 600 secular vocal works (mainly Lieder), seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music and a large body of piano and chamber music. His major works include the Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 (Trout Quintet),String Quintet in C major, D. 956, Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759 (Unfinished Symphony), and masses No. 2 and 3.

Born to impoverished parents in the Himmelpfortgrund suburb of Vienna, Schubert’s exceptional talent was recognised to a limited degree by his family and a local piano teacher, who helped to finance hubs new compositions. Financial difficulties forced him to withdraw from school at age 11; he subsequently came under the tutelage of composer Ignaz von Bodya-Steiglitz on recommendation by Antonio Salieri –Vienna’s leading musician at the time– with whom he studied counterpoint and harmony until 1813; however his body- contemporaries consider him self-taught as he never formally completed any technical study beyond elementary piano instruction. At 13 he gained admission for bassoon performance lessons at the Imperial Court Orchestra School where he became acquainted with Joseph Haydn after singing in a chorus there during performances of one of his oratorios;Haydn immediately took notice of Schubert’s potential as both a composer and performer after hearing one improvised piano demonstration during their first meeting.[5] He then began studying voice under Antonio Salieri–now better known for being Mozart’s chief rival in opera composition–at Vienna’s Imperial Court Theater Chorus School from 1814 until 1815 before gaining entry into Polytechnik Institute where he pursued studies in Jurisprudence from 1815 – 1816 on scholarship before abandoning those for composition(despite academic success)and devoting his full attention to music after admitting that career path would be more difficult.[6][7]

Schubert composed about 1500 works in his short life span including six hundred secular vocal pieces ( mainly lieder) as well seven symphonies(most unfinished).He also achieved moderate success with stage worksoperas including “Die Zwillingsbrüder”, “Das Heimgeheilt Kranke Mädchen”,”Der trauernde Bengel” ,Alfonso und Estrella among others but none lasting due did not have much operatic output because publishers discouraged new works during that period fearing high costs associated with mounting expensive productions.[8][9]

Chopin

Frédéric François Chopin (1 March 1810 – 17 October 1849), born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era who wrote primarily for solo piano. He is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic period. All of his works include the piano.

Chopin was born in Żelazowa Wola, 46 km (29 mi) west of Warsaw in what was then the Duchy of Warsaw, a Polish state established by Napoleon. He was baptized on Easter Sunday, 16 April 1810, in the Catholic Church of St. Roch in Brochów, Płock County (now part of Warsaw-West County), his godfather being Julian Fontana, a famous Polish composer and Chopin’s maternal uncle.[1][2] His father, Mikołaj Chopin (1771–1844), was a Frenchman from Lorraine who had emigrated to Poland in 1787.[3] A landowner and experienced soldier, Mikołaj served in various capacities under Commandant Stanisław Małachowski following Poland’s third partition; he eventually attained the rank of major and fought in Napoleon’s disastrous invasion of Russia.[4] Fryderyk’s mother Tekla Justyna Krzyżanowska (c. 1782 – 1830) was believed to be related to Prince Józef Poniatowski; however this is uncertain as chopinologists have not been able to confirm her parents’ identity definitively due to incomplete records from that period.[5][6][7]

At age two Chopin developed a form of scurvy known as “Hepatic steatosis”, which led to swelling of his limbs and abdomen.[8] This required him receiving frequent lancing of his boils throughout childhood.[9] He also suffered from bronchitis and asthma.[10][11][12] These illnesses kept him at home for much of his childhood and often forced him to play alone since physical activity could aggravate his conditions; however he maintained an optimistic attitude even when bedridden by noting that he could still listen to music and play it in his head.[13][14][15]

Conclusion

Phew! There you have it – a ton of great kid friendly instrumental music to get you started. Keep in mind, this is just a sampling of what’s out there. With a little exploration, you’re sure to find even more treasures to fill your family’s musical needs.

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