Back to school means back to piano lessons, too! One of the best ways to get kids motivated to learn the piano and to support their learning at the same time is to attend live concerts. In the greater Katy and Houston area, we have a ton of performances all year long, and quite a few are free.
Besides piano concerts, consider orchestra concerts, jazz, opera, rock, choir and chamber music performances. Churches sometimes offer free performances, and universities as well.
Check out these local resources for performances:
Houston Symphony Orchestra
Houston Grand Opera
Performing Arts Houston
Houston Ballet
Da Camera
Discovery Green
Miller Outdoor Theater
Bayou Music Center
713 Music Hall
House of Blues
Smart Financial Center at Sugar Land
Toyota Center
For performances at local universities, try these:
Rice University Shepherd School of Music
University of Houston Moores School of Music
Before purchasing concert tickets, always read the fine print and see if there are age restrictions. For classical performances, when in doubt, or if the concert doesn’t specify an age requirement, leave children under the age of seven home, or for longer performances like symphonies and opera, keep them home if they are under the age of ten. Classical concerts expect concert goers to sit really still and quietly the entire concert (not good for young students or wiggly kids – or wiggly adults!). Audience members at these concerts sit like statues.
Don’t forget to check the lengths of performances and consider the late start times. Bigger, professional performances like orchestras and operas last typically a couple of hours at least. A solo piano recital at a university might be closer to an hour.
Consider taking young students to something fun first. Skip the classical concerts and try something like the Blue Man Group, Stomp or a musical, like The Lion King. The Houston Symphony often programs some family friendly concerts featuring music from movies such as Star Wars or Harry Potter. Classical concerts can be an acquired taste, so work up to them slowly.
Arrive early. Whether you’re attending a classical concert or rock concert, parking might be tricky, and there may be lines to get your ticket or to get into the venue. For some professional performances, they might not let you into the concert until intermission if you are late.
For livelier concerts and events such as rock concerts and musicals, ear plugs should be worn (they are definitely needed for pop or rock concerts). Many venues, including restaurants with live music and movie theaters, have their sound systems too loud for comfort or loud enough to possibly damage hearing (and they don’t put that in the fine print on the ticket!). If you hear music that is so loud you cannot hear the person next to you talking, cannot hear yourself talking, or experience pain or discomfort in your ears, then it’s too loud for hearing health. If you leave a concert and your ears are ringing, feel like they are underwater, or you can’t hear properly, then most likely, some auditory damage has occurred. Unfortunately, auditory damage cannot be repaired fully.
Don’t shy away from attending pop or rock concerts with older students. If music speaks to them, especially at their age and at that stage of life, it will be all the more meaningful if they can see one of their favorites live. I have great memories of seeing Black Sabbath, Tool, Primus, Phish, and Bon Jovi live. Share your rock concert experiences with your kids to get them excited, too!
Plan ahead, and plan carefully. Many concert tickets are nonrefundable. In Houston, you may have to pay for parking, and parking can be limited or hard to find. I’ll always remember the time my husband and I went to dinner in Houston with orchestra tickets to follow, but when we left the restaurant, our car was gone! First thought was that it had been stolen, but it was towed for parking on the wrong street.
Conclusion
Consider concert tickets for birthday and Christmas gifts, your anniversary, or graduation presents. Maybe start a new annual family tradition involving a concert, such as seeing The Nutcracker each year. Local art museums sometimes feature live performances while you get to appreciate the art. Whatever your family prefers, get out there and check out some live gigs! It’s a great way to get kids excited about music.
