This weekend a colleague invited me over to dinner. After the meal while the adults had coffee and dessert, his two little kids aged 2 and 3 headed for the TV to watch a DVD: Little Einsteins…Mission Celebration. I had heard of Little Einsteins but, not having any little tykes of my own, had never seen the show. Within minutes I heard the strains of J. S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #5 emanating from the TV. But what amazed me was that the two little ones were actually singing along! I looked at the TV screen and there was the score of the music, large as life, with a red dot highlighting the notes as they were played. I watched as the Little Einsteins embarked on their mission with the two toddlers completely engrossed in it. The next episode had the music of Bizet while the third had Mozart. Each time the kids sang along! The father told me the kids could not get enough of Little Einsteins and that their favorite music was the music used in that show. Later I went online to find out a bit more about Little Einsteins and I read reviews on Amazon.com by parents who had bought the DVD and they were all gushing about how their toddlers absolutely loved the show and the music. I wonder if there are any parents here who have encountered Little Einsteins? Are your kids also singing along to classical music?

Every now and then I see posts here that lament the demise of classical music and how young people do not care for it. Disney’s Little Einsteins may have just come to the rescue!
Little Einsteins Review

My daughter loves her Baby Beethoven DVD, and also the Baby Bach/Beethoven CDs. It's nice, because while the arrangements may be simplistic, its music that I know and love myself, so I can enjoy it with her...

Yes jazzyprof my 2 year old loves Little Einsteins. She has all the dvd's and sings along as well. She will watch them over and over all day if we don't make her go play.

I think they are very good for music as well as other things. Very educational.

Mike

Yes, my 4 y/old enjoys the show, and he also thinks the classical music radio channel in my car is 'ours' (mine and his) as opposed to his older brothers' hits stations.

He also often puts in a request for 'Little Einstein' when I'm playing piano. Fur Elise hits the spot!

I think all little kids would love classical music if they were just exposed to it. I can't imagine a young child NOT dancing around the house if a Mozart concerto CD were playing. Too often though all they hear is pop, and they are "told" classical music is boring or something, so they believe it without having ever heard it.

I am sure that what you say is true. I just don't understand the necessity of adding a visual element to the inherent entertainment value of the music. Of course, it keeps the kids rooted to one spot, I guess, so it sounds like TV baby-sitting.

The pedagogical value of TV for infants has come under some pretty severe criticism of late.

Regards,

While you're right about the visual thing, I do find that it's quite edifying to follow along with the score.

Babies can't read score though...

I do remember reading somewhere that watching these 'genius' shows actually makes the babies less intelligent.

Oh well... I don't have TV, so I'm immune to this 'chewing gum for the mind.'