Kids' Recital vs. Traditional Concert: Stuffiness Optional

On Saturday morning, Joy and I presented a concert for the Kid's Club series the Community Music and Dance Academy hosts every year. We've done this sort of program before (back during our time at Millikin University we took an interactive classical music program into area schools), but it had been long enough that I had forgotten the differences between a traditional recital and one presented for ages 18 months to 8 years. So here, for your edification and amusement, are the top three differences between a Kids' Recital and a Traditional Concert:

1. Audience members talk back - Generally when we give a concert, audience members dutifully sit in silence, either enthralled with the rapturous sounds we're producing or sleeping. We really never know. At a Kids' Recital, the audience speaks up loudly and frequently. They let you know if they are having a good time. Or not having a good time. Or just thinking about their dog.

2. Audience members like to move - Attending a Traditional Concert is a bit strange. You're stuck away from home, unable to leave until someone else lets you; you keep hearing strange sounds that you can't always identify; it's too dark to read your program so you never know what's coming next; and water and food are scarce, even though you are thirsty and hungry. Throw in the possibility of sudden death and it's almost like being on Lost. But at a Kids' Recital, almost no one sits still. Kids are running around the hall, almost falling off the stage, wiggling fingers and toes and arms and legs and heads and anything else that wiggles. They are fully engaged in the performance.

3. Audience members are vocal in their response - Let's face it, even if you are horrible in a Traditional Concert, you'll at least get golf claps. But at a Kids' Recital, if they like you they really like you, and if they don't, well, you should best get home quickly. It isn't uncommon to find loud shouts of approval or guffaws for a successful concert or constipated-looking faces peering back at you for less than stellar performances.

We had a great time with the performance on Saturday and thankfully received more guffaws than sad looks. Exposing children to classical music in an interactive and fun setting is a delightful way to spend a Saturday morning, and it seemed as though the kids had a great time. I gauge our success by this response: Joy asked for jokes at one point during the program. Afterwards, about ten kids came up to us to tell us their joke because we didn't have time for them during the show. Have I ever mentioned that Joy is excellent at what she does?

Sam was able to come with his May and Pop, although he spent most of the time going up and down stairs. Every once and a while he would stay on stage for a while, bounce a bit to the music, and then shoot off again. That's ok; he'll have to sit still for concerts soon enough.