Chamber Music for Children
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Exposing youngsters to classical music is becoming harder and harder, mainly because of school budget cuts.
That is why pianist Cynthia Williams and Paul Stein, a violinist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, who call themselves “Chamber Music Express,” are putting on a concert geared for elementary school students and their parents at the Altadena Public Library on Tuesday night.
“We’re just trying to bring the music to the neighborhood,” said Williams, who has a Ph.D. in music and teaches piano privately.
On the program, entitled “Sight and Sound of Music,” will be a selection from “The Four Seasons,” by Vivaldi.
“We’re doing (the segment called) Autumn. What a coincidence,” Williams dead-panned.
There will also be a movement from Beethoven’s Spring Sonata for violin and piano, and one from a Mozart sonata.
“We’re doing a piece by African-American composer Coleridge Taylor, a tarantella,” Williams said. “Because of little kids’ attention spans, they’re not very long pieces.”
But they will be exposed to some classics.
“I just feel that it’s a part of our experience in life. Music is a part of our lives, whether it be popular or classical,” she said. “I just think that regarding music, in general, you need to listen to all kinds. (Otherwise) it’s like eating bread all the time.”
Williams thinks classical music is important because it is the basis for all popular music.
“I don’t think any type of music just appeared without being influenced by another type of music,” she said.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the library, 600 E. Mariposa St. Admission is free. Information: (818) 798-0834.
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