5 Powerful Classical Music Pieces Every Child Should Know

Unfortunately, there is no evidence to support the widely-held idea that exposing infants and children to classical music can lead to an increase in their intelligence. However, research does indicate that listening to classical music can have a positive effect on many other areas of children's development.
 
Recent studies have suggested that young children who are exposed to classical music find it easier to concentrate, develop a stronger sense of self-discipline, are better listeners, and ultimately have a wider range of interest in music as they grow into young adults.
 
If you’re interested in introducing your child to classical music, these five popular and powerful pieces written by some of the greatest composers in history are an excellent place to get started.
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1. Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

When translated to English from its original German, the title of this classical piece means “a little night music.” Your child may enjoy this song because of its upbeat tempo and strong major notes. If the song appeals to him or her, consider taking the opportunity to explain how a serenade like Eine klein Nachtmusik would have been performed in the late 18th century, the period of time in which Mozart wrote it.
 
In the last ten years of his life, Mozart wrote and lived in Vienna, Austria, where people frequently enjoyed the opportunity of listening to his full symphony performances outdoors, in gardens and parks. Taking your child outdoors to listen to the music may be a novelty experience, helping to re-create what it may have been like to hear the song in person hundreds of years ago.
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2. The Flight of the Bumblebee, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

The speediness of the notes in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee makes the piece easy for children with short attention spans to pay attention to, and also makes it an easy to understand. Explain to your child that because the notes of the violin in this song are played in such a fast-paced way, the music is meant to make the audience think of a bumblebee. This can be an exercise in imagination that captures his or her attention with a concept of an insect that he or she has likely seen in real life, providing him or her with a way to relate to the music.
 
If you’re educating several children on the topic of classical music rather than just one, consider playing a group game to further engage their interest that involves listening to Flight of the Bumblebee. For example, have the children form a circle, passing a bean bag among themselves while the song plays, then pause the music sporadically throughout the piece. The child who has the bean bag when the music stops is the one who has been “stung” by the bumblebee, similar to the children’s game “hot potato.”
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3. Fur Elise, Ludwig von Beethoven

Fur Elise may be enjoyable for your child in ways that more symphonic, string-based pieces of classical music are not. It has an easily definable melody simple enough to remember after the music has stopped. It may also be among the songs that a teacher teaches your child how to play if he or she is enrolled in piano lessons.
 
To supplement your son or daughter’s interest in Fur Elise, you can also give him or her some background information about Beethoven’s particularly interesting characteristics and life. Musical story CDs can help you accomplish this in a way that interests your child, specifically the audio story Beethoven Lives Upstairs, available on Amazon.com.
 
Additionally, if your child appreciates Fur Elise, consider also exposing him or her to Symphony No. 5, even if only to draw attention to the iconic beginning notes that start the piece off so dramatically.
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4. The Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a, Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky ​

Arguably the most famous composition from the Nutcracker ballet, Tchaikovsky’s suite is short, yet energetic. It also may be a piece that your child already recognizes in some capacity if he or she enjoys watching Christmas movies around the holidays - the song makes an appearance in popular Christmas-themed films like Elf.
 
You can further enrich his or her experience with the Nutcracker Suite by reading one of the many illustrated children’s books that tells the story of the ballet for which the music was written. The book versions as written by Susan Jeffers, E.T.A. Hoffman, and the New York City Ballet are all highly-rated options. If your child is of an appropriate age, consider taking him or her to see a performance of The Nutcracker ballet during the winter season. Many cities hold annual performances in celebration of the holidays.
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5. Clair de Lune, Claude Debussy

​Claude Debussy deeply loved his own daughter, and composed a piano suite entitled The Children’s Corner to both entertain and celebrate her. While The Children’s Corner is not necessarily the best option for your child’s first introduction to the world of classical music, the French composer’s gentle composition Clair de Lune is an excellent choice. This song may be especially beneficial to play softly for your child at night, as he or she is lying down to sleep. The song is frequently included in recommended playlists and CDs of lullabies for children and can have a soothing effect.