How soon is too soon?

[Kevster]

How soon is too soon to start introducing your little one to the classics? (you know: Tchaikovsky, Holst, Bach, Beethoven, Frampton, etc)

I like to have the classics playing while I'm working or playing with little Annarchy, heck I even got her this little dude to help her musical skills (though I seem to be the one playing the tunes on it right now - I can play over 10 tunes on it's C-Major octave). At 3 months old, little Annarchy likes looking at him right now and watching me play something.

Mrs. Kevster is not much a fan for the classics and she and I have had several small battles about them on the CD player already. Any ideas, comments or opinions?

[renovation]

the classics they say are great for young ones .now me i run and hide when there played! so i understand were the wifes coming from. i bet she is into music your not fond of to.

[Kevster]

i bet she is into music your not fond of to.

Actually, she and I have similar musical tastes, but I have a much wider range than she does. She generally likes listening to the local Jack FM station, if that gives you any clue as to her musical tastes. When we lived in LA she and I loved KROQ too.

[Thesifer]

The younger the better I say. If kids start at a very young age listening to what their parents like, as long as they like their parents, it usually tends to rub off on them and they will listen to some of the same things later on.

My dad had a very wide range of musical tastes, and I have carried that on also.

[oblongmelon]

WOW! I'm impressed!...what you should do (as not to aggravate Mrs. Kevster) is to set aside one day for nothing but classics..When my grandparents were alive, NO ONE was allowed to speak English on Sundays when we were all at their house and the only music allowed was my grandpa's mandolin or Enrico Caruso playing on their record player. It was kind of a bitch because in our house, the only Italian we used was when we didn't want the neighbor kids to know what we were saying...otherwise it was English. However, On Sundays, we kept the tradition of Italian classics playing on the record player. When I grew up, in my own house, with my own kids, we did the same thing..big family dinner, only Italian or Classical music playing..absolutely NO TV..it was the one day tha my kids hated because they couldn't listen to black sabbath, etc...but now that they are grown..they do the same thing in their own places..
It's a good tradition to keep. While the Italian has slipped away and is only brought out when my brothers or aunts and uncles are over..it's still a tradition to have the one day a week for the "special music" that meant so much to my Grandparents and Parents. So the answer to your question is..it's NEVER too soon!

[Maarchk]

I was going to say it, but obby was on top of it. Just pick a time or a day and go with one, and then go with the other. If she goes shopping on saturdays or some how is away for a long period of time, thats probably the best time to go with stuff she doesn't like.

Classics are supposed to be good for pre-born children, so you are already late! hehe but i think playing that music at any age can be beneficial. Those songs actually have a flow of more than 30 seconds. good for curing the ADD we all have as young people.. And when i say we, i mean i.

[ArkiStan]

I don't believe it's ever too early. But I'd be cautious of producing a musical snob. It will be priceless for a child to appreciate the expressive depth of classical music, but make sure to teach her to be open-minded and that there are many other wonderful genres of music out there, even if they don't immediately seem to be as sophisticated as Beethoven. I personally believe there is no inherently good/bad music. There is only music that you enjoy/don't enjoy.

[The Happy Squirrel]

its never too soon. PUt headphones on the wifes tummy while shes pregnant if you can. the music is wonderful for all ages.

[uncledaddy]

its never too soon. PUt headphones on the wifes tummy while shes pregnant if you can. the music is wonderful for all ages.

Was gonna say the same. Wasn't there a study done where Classical was played while mother was still pregnant showing "improved" taste in the arts?

[Memo]

I would not set aside a time or anything to force feed her classical listening. I think the best route would be to just listen to classical music while you're at home and just enjoy it yourself. If she is inclined to liking that sort of music she will pick up on it and even if she isn't, everyone has some classical piece they enjoy. At worst, she'll associate some happy moments with certain pieces. Force feeding a child classical music is a good way to make them hate it.

[brainsmile]

My 6 year old knows all the composers but then he's been a violinist for 2 years now

[Nija]

As soon as the doctor says it's ok for you guys to bump uglies I say go for it.

Wut?

[The Happy Squirrel]

Was gonna say the same. Wasn't there a study done where Classical was played while mother was still pregnant showing "improved" taste in the arts?

yes ther was.
it was shown to improve overall development in all areas language, mtor skills, and fine arts taste. <except all the kids came out with a predisposition to liza minelli, an unfortunate side effect >

[Maarchk]

I keep waiting for this tread to read "How soon is now" by the smiths...

Start that music already, why are we still in discussions... This should be action time.

[uncledaddy]

yes ther was.
i was shown to improve overall development in all areas language, mtor skills, and fine arts taste. <except all the kids came out with a predisposition to liza minelli, an unfortunate side effect >

[ray]

Disney's Fantasia. That is all.

[yippiekiyeh]

It is never too soon to share culture with your kids. They may not understand it too much when they're young. But when they are older, they will appreciate it.

[WhiskeyPapa]

I introduce my kids to the classics as soon as they can hold the Atari 2600 joystick.

Super Breakout, Pong, Yar's Revenge. The classics.

[Kevster]

I introduce my kids to the classics as soon as they can hold the Atari 2600 joystick.

Super Breakout, Pong, Yar's Revenge. The classics.

You know, I was thinking about this too. I was wondering how old she'd have to be to start her first classic RTS (C&C, Starcraft), since I'd probably start her on analog turn-based strategy games (checkers and/or chess) or maybe even an analog multi-player turn-based strategy game (monopoly). So many possibilities....

[Freelance Superhero]

Disney's Fantasia. That is all.

Speaking of which, my first introduction to many classical masterpieces were the old Disney and Warner Bros. cartoons. Maybe that would be a good way to introduce them to your little one, Kevster.

EDIT:
Here's an interesting site that lists several classic cartoons and the musical pieces featured in them:

http://www.thomasvillecentral.com/musWB.htm

[Markel]

Infants should be introduced to classical music no more than 9 months before they are born.

[thresher]

By the age of 3 I was a HUGE Beethoven fan. Still am some 30-something years later. Cat Stevens was the first "Classic" I introduced to my neices/nephew. Now, at ages 6/5/4 they know all the words to all his songs. My folks (who are raising them) are thrilled that the kids like one of "the classics". Next: the Beatles. It's gonna be a while before they get some Pink Floyd. Like maybe 10 more years.

But, I agree with Markel 100%!