Listen to the Birds

Listen to the Birds is part of the series An Introduction to Classical Music. Author Ana Gerhard chooses a different theme for each book and then puts together a collection of songs by various composers which is related to that theme. What a great idea! The included CD only gives you excerpts from the pieces, but that is probably because it is meant as an “intro” to classical music for a younger audience with a shorter attention span. I would recommend despite this downside, since further listening can always be done separately from the book if the readers are interested… show more.

Nature is a perfect place to begin when introducing young people to classical music. Have you ever heard a bird trilling a masterpiece outside your window? So did Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saëns, and many other classical composers. In this beautifully illustrated book, we learn about the birds and the people behind 20 classical pieces.

The book includes a CD and Listening Guide, which describes the pieces and what to listen for. Also included are mini-bios of bird-loving composers who wrote the music, a glossary of musical terms, and a timeline. This beautifully illustrated book was published in 2013. Don’t fret if… show more.