Review of Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Family Concert

Around the World with Music

by Sarah Lephart

Our family was pleased to attend the Ann Arbor Symphony’s Around the World with Music Family Concert on Sunday, March 17, 2013.

This was a first for our family. We left our littlest at home with a babysitter (she is 2), and my husband and I brought our two older children, ages 5 and 8. I think they were the perfect age to attend this event. Ann Arbor Symphony's family concerts are held at the historic Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor. My oldest was especially in awe of the beautiful surroundings in and around the theater.

Pre-concert activities

A key component of the Ann Arbor Symphony concerts are their pre-concert activities, so we made a point of arriving early. In the lobby of the theater, the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum had set up an area where kids could make a parachute out of a hairnet and straws. My kids had fun making this (and, later, dropping it from the second story of the parking garage for my husband to catch).  There were some other fun activities for the kids to do, but their favorite activity was the Instrument Petting Zoo where kids are given a hands-on experience with either a violin or a cello. I think we may have a couple of future symphony members in our future!

Concert preparations

We went in to the theater a little early to listen as the orchestra warmed up. My children really enjoyed trying to identify the different instruments they heard.

Before the concert began, one of the orchestra members provided some clever advice to help all the young people get the most out of the concert. His advice was to listen, and the best way to do that was to close your mouths (amen! said all the parents) and to maybe even close your eyes so you could really hear the music.

Once the concert began, it was pretty amazing to see my kids’ reactions. My 5-year-old was amazed and excited to hear all the different instruments. He danced and moved in his seat to many of the songs. My 8-year-old took the advice from the announcer as she closed her mouth and eyes to dream and listen to the music from around the world.

The music was phenomenal! We were treated to a wide variety of music. We “traveled” to five different continents with music from Russia, China, Nigeria, Great Britain, Finland, Argentina, and the U.S.! There was also an amazing 15-year-old violinist, Adé Williams, who blew us all away with her amazing rendition of Tschaikovsky's Violin Concerto Third Movement.

This was a great experience for my family.   My little ones, who when I first told them we would be going to the symphony said “No thanks,” came out of the Michigan Theater talking about when we can all go again.

© 2013, KidsOutAndAbout.com

Sarah Lephart is editor of KidsOutAndAbout for the Ann Arbor-Detroit area.

The following are the upcoming concerts that the Symphony has posted to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar: