Her Gone Life

Like many children, my son loves music. So when I was invited to spend a music themed day at Carnegie Hall during their Fall Family Weekend, I thought this was a great way to give him more musical exposure.

I was invited as media and received tickets for review purposes. No other compensation was received. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.


Carnegie Hall’s Fall Family Weekend is a free musical extravaganza with activities and performances each day. Designed as an interactive musical museum, children and families had the chance to participate in songwriting workshops, create and play their own instruments, join in sing-alongs, listen to musical stories, and explore a digital music playground.


We literally spent ALL day in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI), a 24 state-of-the-art spaces dedicated to music education atop Carnegie Hall, and had a blast!



My son met with a songwriter to write and sing an original song. Ironically his song was about "At Daniel House" which is made of bricks, near the train and a playground. LOL.


They even recorded it and sent us the file. Now he can listen to "his" song whenever he wants. That was pretty cool.


Then we made different types of musical instruments while learning about them including Straw Oboes and Trumpets!


We also learn how to make sound using technology, our bodies and other conductors including PlayDoh and fruit. My son really had a fun time in this section. I admit it's a fun idea to have sounds play as you take a step or touch something.


We ended our day with other the activities including listening to African folk storytelling with Charlotte Blake Alston and a performance by soulful R&B and funk group Shine and the Moonbeams.


To top it all off, before we left my son took part in his own music performance in a duet playing the Star Wars theme song. Yes they actually played the theme and my son blew on key! As a proud Star Wars parent, that blew my mind and was my favorite moment of the day.


In addition to the Family Weekend events, WMI presents free, interactive Carnegie Kids concerts in the Resnick Education Wing throughout the year for children ages 3–6, beginning on November 15.

Entering its 20th anniversary season, Carnegie Kids performances will give young music lovers the opportunity to sing and dance along with, as well as learn about New York City’s diverse musical and cultural traditions.

Upcoming 2015–2016 concerts and interactive events for families include:

CARNEGIE KIDS: SONGS FOR UNUSUAL CREATURES
Sunday, November 15, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. and at 2:00 p.m.

Multi-instrumentalist, composer, and writer Michael Hearst and his band Songs for Unusual Creatures introduce families to some of the most bizarre animals on the planet. Hearst and his compatriots make these creatures come to life with the use of a wide range of peculiar instruments, including claviola, theremin, and stylophone. Unusual creatures—such as the blue-footed booby and blobfish—slither, soar, and scamper along in video projections to the band’s quirky tunes


CARNEGIE KIDS: MY CITY, MY SONG WITH MAGDA GIANNIKOU, FALU, and YACOUBA SISSOKO
Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 12:00 p.m and at 2:00 p.m.

Three vibrant New York City–based artists perform in My City, My Song, a colorful, interactive concert that provides an opportunity for kids to learn about New York City’s diverse musical and cultural traditions. Athens-born pianist, accordionist, and singer Magda Giannikou performs exuberant music rooted in Greek traditions. Indian singer Falu Shah blends Eastern and Western music into a unique “Indie-Hindi” style. Kora player and singer Yacouba Sissoko shares stories and songs from his native Mali.


CARNEGIE HALL FAMILY HOLIDAY CONCERT:THE NEW YORK POPS
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 3:00 p.m.

Join Steven Reineke and The New York Pops to celebrate the return of A Charlie Brown Christmas to Carnegie Hall and the 50th anniversary of the iconic television special created by Charles M. Schulz. This popular winter celebration includes a sing-along and exciting surprises that will spread Yuletide cheer for the entire family.


To learn more about Carnegie Hall Family programs, visit - www.carnegiehall.org/For_Families