Maestro Classics ~ Swan Lake

Maestro Classics has been around since 2004.  Stephen Simon and Bonnie Ward Simon have been involved in the orchestra long before that, directing sold out symphonies. 

Together the Simons created their signature format, alternating music with talking, explanations with musical adventures. The title track is always a work for narrator and orchestra, where the music is just as important as the story. This is followed by background information about the life and times of the work and/or the composer. Then a new musical genre is introduced, taking a theme form the title track and transforming it into jazz, folk, Dixieland, heavy metal, or other style. This is followed by the conductor talking about what to listen for in the music with musical examples. You are then invited to listen again, sometimes with the narration, sometimes without, and people are always astounded at how much more they hear with their new “educated” ears. Finally, each CD ends with a play-along, sing-along, or dance-along track, because participating in the music making is always fun. 

~ from their website.

You can hear a sample from any of the music right here on their website.

Their passion for music and educating others in it shines through in their products.  It really is an amazing thing. 

After listening to the CD once through, our favorite thing to do is act out the symphony with the music and narrator on in the background.

Maestro Classics is more that just music.  They offer many educational materials to go along with their CD’s as well.    Check those out here. 

Swan Lake isn’t all they have. 

They also offer:

• Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
• Casey at the Bat
• The Sorcerer's Apprentice
• The Tortoise and the Hare
• Peter and The Wolf, (which I reviewed previously here.)
• Juanita the Spanish Lobster
• My Name is Handel
• The Soldiers Tale

The CD’s are sold individually at a price of $16.98.  They offer MP3’s also for $9.98.  They have package deals available too. 

With the CD you get a great little booklet with some fun activities to do as well, a rebus story, a crossword puzzle, a coloring page. 

To see what others though of this check out this post. To see a wide variety of reviews check out our crew blog.

As a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew I review products like this, which I receive for free in order to be able to write my review.