Children love stories and reading books together is one of the best things you can do for development.Stories can be launch pads for improvisation and exploration of sounds and rhythms. Therefore, using stories with Classical music and movement takes those benefits to another level.
The music helps to set the mood rather like a good film soundtrack. Most of all, it is wonderful for imagination and inspiring creativity.
How to use this Classical music and movement with stories post
The links below take you to suggested books and a paired piece of music. Most of the tracks are Classical but in some cases other genres have slipped in! My favourite resources for researching classical music and movement activities are YouTube and Spotify because they suggest similar alternatives within genres.
People often ask what equipment I use for playing musical excerpts in music lessons. Of course if you have the original CDs you can play them with a conventional music player using a remote control for stopping and starting.
But these days the easiest way is to play them straight from youtube by using your phone or ipad and some handy bluetooth speakers. Here are two really good choices; I’d recommend the Anker Soundcore for use in an average sized room, but these JBL Flip 4 speakers pack a bit more of punch if you’re in a bigger space.
Read the book together and then suggest that the children pretend to be one of the characters. You could ask them to imagine themselves in that different world. It’s a good idea to discuss the ideas together first to help them get started but they’ll soon catch on.
The Best Stories for Classical Music and Movement
Owl Moon. Owl Moon is a lovely story about a little girl and her father who go out into a wood to search for an owl at night. This would work really well with some night time music like the Harry Potter theme tune because of the mysterious mood.
If you’d like musical movement activities for the rest of the Carnival Of The Animals check out my Carnival of the Animals Teaching Bundle!
Story of the Orchestra : Listen While You Learn About the Instruments, the Music and the Composers Who Wrote the Music! This is a great resource for anyone wanting to introduce children to the world of Classical music. Composers and instruments brought to life in a kid friendly way.
For more ideas about getting creative with music and activities to encourage engagement with Classical music and movement, take a look at:
- Musical Movement and Creative Play
- Classical Music For Toddlers series
- Classical Music for Toddlers at Home
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This is an amazing idea! Do you start reading at the beginning of the piece or do you try to match the music to the words in the story, to the cadence of the words? I am loving listening to Hedwig’s Theme by John Williams right now as I ask this question 🙂
Hi Stacey, I find it depends on the age of the children, but it always helps to read the story through before so they are familiar with the characters and know what to expect. Then you can ask them to imagine themselves in that different world. It’s a good idea to discuss the ideas together first to help them get started but they’ll soon catch on.
I love the idea of trying to match the words to the music, but that doesn’t always work depending on the particular piece, but it’s well worth a try!
I always find that kids love experimenting, and much the same as any make believe play they never tire of setting a scene and re-telling stories.
This is a wonderful article! I love using books and music together in my classroom, and now as we shelter in place I am desperate to find activities that might work for my lessons online. You have so many wonderful resources that I haven’t used before, thank you! as a classical musician myself, I am familiar with all of the music, but many of the books are new to me. So great!!! :))
That’s great Julie! I’m so pleased that you’ve found Let’s Play Kids Music and that the resources are helping you with your online teaching ☺️
What a great article connecting classic children’s books to classical music.
I know my younger students would really enjoy these combinations.
I am puzzled. I was able to print all but pages 1-3.
What I doing wrong?
Thank you for your time and for sharing,
I’m glad that you like this post Ethelyn ???? But I’m sorry, I can’t really help with your printing problem. I don’t think many people try to print off the posts, so this isn’t something I’ve come across before.
Thank you for sharing such wonderful resources!
You’re very welcome! I’m so glad you found them useful! 🙂
What a great list! Great to have the link between book and music
I’m so glad you enjoyed this post 🙂
Thank you for your wonderful list! Can’t wait to have some fun with my children in class! :o))
You’re most welcome! I hope your class has lots of fun with it 🙂
Hi Sara,
I always look forward to your emails chock full of resources and your amazing blog articles. You’ve outdone yourself with this one! What I like most about your work is that you make it so accessible to everyone and lots of fun.
Thanks Carolyn! I’m so glad you find my ideas useful, your comment made my day! 🙂
This is an amazing list! I can’t wait to use these with my young children for homeschool!
Thanks Kate I hope you all have lots of fun with it!