by Laura Mason

Have you ever been to the symphony? Has your child?  It is never too late or too early to start experiencing concerts given by the various musical groups around our city. Seeing the symphony is a once in a lifetime experience that doesn’t have to be once in a lifetime. Here’s why you shouldn’t miss out on these fantastic musical excursions.

Many Musical Benefits

When you see a concert given by accomplished musicians, you undoubtedly grow as a musician yourself. You can reap all the benefits of music listening at a multisensory level – you are not only hearing great interpretations of musical classics, but seeing master musicians’ exquisite technique. It is an inspiring example and illustration of elements studied and to be studied. Furthermore, you can develop your skills as an audience member. Because there is such benefit in seeing other musicians perform, concert-going is a consistent part of a musician’s life. It is beneficial to give young musicians opportunities to develop their listening skills and comfort with different concert settings.

Honing your Skills an an Audience Member

There are many things you can do to make the most of a concert experience and help even the youngest concert-goers be more successful. The key is to familiarize yourself with as much of the process beforehand as you can. Find pictures of the hall and the musicians. Read about the composers and the works being performed. Listen to the music…several times – dance to it, draw to it, put a story to it. These interactive repetitions are critical to helping the younger musician hone their attentive listening skills.

A Chance to Support the Music in Your City

A great way to support music in your city is to support the musicians making it, by giving them a chance to share the moving performances they prepare. You can go to Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra website and the Pittsburgh Opera website to see the various performances they have scheduled this season. Some performances are especially geared toward the younger age groups, such as Fiddlesticks Family concerts. You can also ask your lesson teacher if you are looking for some smaller group performances to attend or a performance featuring a specific instrument.

Perhaps the best part about attending concerts is the shared energy between the performers and members of the audience which creates a sense of community. May the concert-going experience be one that unites generations in your household and the households in our wonderful city.

For more information on the benefits of Music Listening, check out this related article.