My son was four when I took him to Music Hall for his first Cincinnati Pops Orchestra concert. It was a Lollipops Family Concert and the only regret I had was that I had waited so long to do it. An orchestra concert at Music Hall is always amazing, but experiencing the symphony with your children is something truly memorable. The Lollipops Family Concert series was created especially for families – from the reasonably-priced tickets to the dimly-lit auditorium with seat pillows provided for little ones.
Experience the ‘wonderful world of music’!
The Lollipops Family Concerts are so much more than just a concert. They are a delightful way for your children to experience the wonderful world of classical music and have lots of fun doing it. The doors open at 9:30 a.m., an hour before the concert starts. In that time, you can introduce your children to the majesty that is Music Hall. Tempo, the Pops penguin mascot, can usually be found in the foyer for a quick baton lesson and a hug or high five.
In the ballroom, there are lots of activities. The Music Lab is one of the most popular. Kids get to hit drums, blow into a clarinet, flute or trombone, and move the bow across the strings of a cello or violin. They get to touch and experience what it is like to make noise with the instruments they will soon be hearing on stage.
Lollipop concerts are for kids, complete with crafts and audience participation.
Also provided are crafts relating to the theme of that day’s concert. For Turkeys, Tunes & Tomfoolery, kids made turkey beaks so they could be the turkeys. For Superheros Up, Up and Away, kids (and many parents) made superhero masks. One of my favorites was for The Polar Express: A Musical Storybook. The kids made little jingle bell wreaths before the concert, and then during the concert, they got to ring their sleigh bells during “Sleigh Ride”. They also got to clap their hands for the whip crack and whinny like a horse at the end. It was truly wonderful and so much fun.
Another thing that is so great about these concerts: a lot of audience participation. Your family is not simply being entertained, although you certainly are, you are participating in the experience. During Symphony Spooktacular, the audience provided the thunder by hitting their thighs during “In the Hall of the Mountain King” from Peer Gynt, and we all got to be pirates and yell “Arrr” on cue during the suite from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
The concerts have themes to keep kids engaged.
Each Lollipops concert has a main theme to which the classical music all relates in some way. A good example of this was the spring Lollipops Concert, The Composer is Dead, with text by Lemony Snicket. The Composer is Dead was a real treat and lots of fun for little ones. The craft was a detective’s badge as the kids became the chief inspector in this playful murder mystery. In the program booklet, kids got to follow along with the story and mark off whether the suspects had an alibi or not. In addition to the classical music that went along with the story, the concert featured popular, spy-related music like Mission Impossible and The Pink Panther. My son is now a Henry Mancini fan!
By attending these family concerts, my son and I have enjoyed hearing music from many popular movies including Harry Potter, The Avengers, The Lion King, Superman, Frozen and Star Wars. One of my best memories was when Keitaro Harada walked out on stage dressed as Darth Vader and conducted the Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back. That’s cool in any galaxy! We have also been exposed to many classical pieces such as the overture to Die Fledermaus, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals, and Copland’s Hoe-Down from Rodeo.
My son has come to appreciate storytelling through music and has experienced the way music comes to life when hearing it performed in person. He has learned that through its beauty and power, classical music can convey feelings and invoke strong emotions; it can educate as well as entertain. He has felt the sense of community as a member of the audience and a participant in the concerts. He has watched and listened as certain instruments make specific sounds that all come together to make something truly remarkable.
Upcoming Lollipops series features Fiona and more!
This year’s series will include three different Lollipops concerts. Orchestra Toybox (November 3rd) will bring toys to life with selections from Toy Story, The Nutcracker, and a fun symphony that will use toys as instruments! Fiona’s Playlist (February 2nd) is a collaboration with the Cincinnati Zoo to bring you some of Fiona’s favorites, such as music from A Bug’s Life and Harry Potter. Last in the series is Take Me Out to the Ballgame (April 13th), which will celebrate the magic of Opening Day, and of course, there will be a “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” sing along!
Enjoy some time as a family experiencing the Cincinnati Pops together!
The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra presents The Lollipops Family Concert Series
Orchestra Toybox: Saturday, November 3rd at 10:30 AM
Fiona’s Playlist: Saturday, February 2nd at 10:30
Take Me Out to the Ballgame: Saturday, April 13th at 10:30
Kids Tickets – $10
Adult Tickets – $15
Children Under 2 FREE sitting on a lap
Buy your tickets today!
