Family Night at the Symphony

Anyone who's known me at any time since oh, about the 3rd grade, knows that I LOVE classical music.  I've actually won awards and contests for being able to name pieces & their composers.  So when the Idaho Falls Symphony announced it's Family Night program to kick of the 2012-2013 season I figured it would be a great way to introduce Gideon to classical music.  (Well technically he hears it all the time around the house, but still.)  It was fun because they had a "petting zoo" set up in the foyer where the kids could come and try out different instruments. He had a blast.  As a percussionist, I was so proud when he wanted to try the cymbals & timpani & drums.  But at the end of the concert when they asked him what instrument was his favorite and what he'd like to play when he gets bigger he didn't even hesitate when he shouted, "Trumpet!"  (He got even more excited when I told him Grandpa Darryl & Aunt Shiloh play the trumpet and grandpa has a trumpet at his house.)

Anyway the concert was fun. All of the pieces were very recognizable, (even Gideon shouted, "Hey mom, I know this song" a few times.) So it was fun.  And they encouraged the kids to clap along or dance around in their seats.  And boy did they! But how could you not with such jubilant selections as "Les Toreadors" from Bizet's "Carmen?" Or John Phillips Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."  They even played Offenbach's "Can-Can" and the Finale from Dvorak's "New World" Symphony.  I was glad though that they also chose to play "The Hebrides Overature" by Mendelssohn.  It's a pretty well recognized piece but I'd forgotten about it until they started playing it. It was great because I instantly thought, "Wow I haven't heard this piece in forever and I LOVE it!"  Anyway it was a fun date night for mommy & Gideon.