Baby Got Bach event returns to St. Louis
* The concert will include music by living composers. This is a great opportunity to point out how all the music we hear everywhere in movies, television, commercials, games, etc… is written by someone and how kids can learn how to compose music too.
St. Louis Symphony Family Concerts
Do you want to introduce your child, friend, or relative to the world of classical music and the sounds of an orchestra? Are you just interested in learning about classical music from a world class symphony in an informal setting without a big ticket price? The St. Louis Symphony’s Family Concerts Series is for you.
The series kicked off in October with an entertaining performance of Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham, brought to life by the Really Inventive Stuff theater group. Be sure to experience the remaining Family Concert Series performances with your family (recommended age for children is 5 to 12, but mature preschoolers may be fine) or on your own. Performances are approximately 45 minutes to one hour long.
Have fun at the “Instrument Petting Zoo” in the Wightman Grand Foyer one hour prior to the concerts. Children can try out instruments from each of the music families. Symphony volunteers will be on hand to help in this very up close and personal musical experience. Kid friendly refreshments and drinks are also available at concessions.
FAMILY CONCERTS
Hip Hop Symphony
Presented in partnership with COCA (Center of Creative Arts)
Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 3 pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103
Tickets $12 to $17
Learn about music form (e.g. canon, fugue, theme and variations) in this innovative program pairing hip hop choreography by COCA’s Redd Williams with classical favorites performed by the St. Louis Symphony. When the dancers take the stage, you’ll see the visual and physical representation of what you’re hearing.
Magical Movements: The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
DanceWorks Chicago, special guest artists
Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 3 pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103
Tickets $12 to $17
Benjamin Britten’s classic The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra gets a new spin with the addition of dancers from DanceWorks Chicago. Watch as the orchestra comes together section by section before your eyes. This dynamic partnership makes for a magical experience where the whole is much larger than the sum of its parts. If you’re a fan of dance this is a great performance to see!
The Remarkable Farkle McBride, Based on the book by John Lithgow
Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 3 pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103
Tickets $12 to $17
Poor Farkle McBride tries every instrument, but not one of them is quite right. Brian Owens narrates the popular children’s book by John Lithgow and illustrations from the book are projected on a screen behind the orchestra. Join Farkle McBride on a journey to find his place in the orchestra and learn about the different instrument families along the way. The first half of this concert features interactive performances by the St. Louis Symphony in which kids can clap and sing along!
Watch a video of John Lithgow narrating the book, The Remarkable Farkle McBride.
Buy your tickets online, call 314.534.1700, or visit the St. Louis Symphony box office in person at 718 N. Grand Blvd, St. Louis.
Arts events for families on October 7
What are you doing on Sunday, October 7, 2012? We are so lucky in St. Louis to have many quality, family friendly arts events to choose from this Sunday. Join in the fun and enjoy visual art, dance, jazz, or classical music!
Visual arts open studio at COCA
Sunday, October 7, 2012, 1 to 3 pm
524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130
$8
Children (3+) explore collage, book art, watercolor, and paper maché under the guidance of COCA’s visual arts instructors. Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult.
hip hOZ performance at COCA
Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm
524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130
$16 to $20
COCA presents the world-premiere of this original production that takes audiences on a high energy, hip-hop adventure down the yellow brick road. Created by international hip-hop sensation, and COCA’s own, Redd Williams, hip hOZ features innovative choreography to mash-ups of classic and contemporary music. Tickets are almost sold out as of October 4, 2012.
Get Hip! Jazz St. Louis Youth Concert at Touhill Performing Arts Center
Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 2 pm
One University Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63121
FREE (no tickets needed)
Presented by Jazz St. Louis, Get Hip! is a fun, interactive introduction to jazz that illuminates the art form’s cultural origins, concepts about improvisation and creative self-expression, and explores the role and responsibility of each individual member of the jazz ensemble and how they all must work together. Instrument “petting zoo” and face painting begins at 1 pm in the lobby.
St. Louis Symphony Family Concert: Green Eggs and Ham at Powell Hall
Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 3 pm
718 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63103
$12 to $17
This 45 minute interactive performance features a theme of “trying new things,” something everyone needs help with! The first half of the concert includes music by Copland, Reich, and Ives and encourages the audience to join in with clapping, rhythm patterns, and singing. The second half of the concert brings the famous book Green Eggs and Ham to life, with words by Dr. Seuss, music by Rob Kapilow, actor Michael Boudewyns, and soprano Kimberly Schroeder of the Really Inventive Stuff theater group.
Photo: Jazz St. LouisKids yoga class at Prana Yoga
Prana Yoga in Des Peres offers a fun yoga class designed for kids age 5 to 13 on Wednesdays at 4:30 pm. No prior yoga experience is necessary and mats are available for use during class or bring your own. The 45 minute session is $10 and caregivers can participate with their child as well. Be sure to wear clothes that are easy to move in.
Yoga instructors, Jessica Key of Mini Yoga STL, or Mara Bruce, create a friendly and dynamic atmosphere, filled with downward dog, wheel, cobra, hand stands against the wall, and much more. This yoga class is a great after school activity for kids (and Moms too!) to get some exercise, take some deep breaths, and regroup after a busy day.
Prana Yoga is a beautiful and thoughtfully designed yoga facility located at 11771 Manchester Road in Des Peres. The studio is beneath the Terra gift store in the Ace Hardware shopping plaza. Mary Jane Cusumano and Melanie Zuanich opened the studio in 2011 and have built an enthusiastic and dedicated yoga community.
Photo: Mini Yoga STLCreation Station is Open on Sundays
Pretend play, art projects, puzzles, mazes, toy cars, trains, and more are ready for your child (5 years old and under) to explore at the Creation Station, located inside the Visitor’s Center of the Museum of Transportation. The newly redesigned and light filled play room is now open on select Sundays in September, October, November, and December, in addition to regularly scheduled weekday sessions. The open play sessions are first come, first served, and last one hour. The Creation Station is wonderful for play dates as the space is just the right size to keep track of children and most activities encourage a variety of social interactions.
Fall Family Days
Sunday, September 2
Sunday, September 9
Sunday, September 30
Sunday, October 7
Sunday, October 21
Sunday, November 4
Sunday, November 18
Sunday, December 2
Sunday, December 16
Sunday session play times are: 11:15 am, 12:30 pm, 1:45 pm, and 3 pm
Weekday schedule (Call to confirm, 314.965.6212. As of this writing, the weekday play times will change again in November, but the schedule has not been confirmed yet.)
Now through September 8
Monday through Friday: 9:15 am, 10:30 am, 11:45 am, and an additional session at 1 pm on Thursdays only.
Starting September 9 (Fall Schedule)
Tuesday through Friday: 9:15 am, 10:30 am, 11:45 am, and an additional session at 1 pm on Thursdays only.
Admission Information
Admission to the Creation Station is extra, in addition to the general museum admission fee. The Creation Station is $2 per person per one hour play session. Ages 1 and older. Members may receive free Creation Station admission depending on their membership level. No reservations or pre-sales accepted.
Admission to the Museum of Transportation is: adults $8 (13 years old or older), children $5 (3 to 12 years old), and members are free.
Tips
* The earlier morning Creation Station play sessions tend to fill up quickly, so try to arrive 20 minutes or more before the session start time to secure your child’s spot.
* The snack bar offers reasonably priced pretzels, yogurt, cheese sticks, hot dogs, chips, sweets, juice boxes, and more.
* The miniature train that kids and their caregivers can ride around the museum grounds runs through November. Tickets are $4 per person, unlimited rides. Train schedule.
* Tickets to the museum, Creation Station, and train rides add up to a pricey visit rather quickly. If you think that you might visit the Creation Station and ride the miniature train more than two times during the year, consider becoming a member. Membership levels and benefits. Your membership gift is tax-deductible. Also, check with your workplace for any matching gift programs.
* The Creation Station is available for birthday parties on the weekends. Book early as many time slots are filled months in advance.
* Take some time to visit the old trains in the area above the Visitor’s Center. These trains offer great rambling and exploration opportunities for kids.
Photo: Jennifer LinJuly & August 2012 Family Friendly Events
Here are my picks for upcoming family friendly events that take place at reasonable times of the day for young children:
Fifth Annual Bug Hunt, included with Butterfly House admission
Saturday, July 28, 11 am to 2 pm
Butterfly House
Children’s Concert Series: Our World of Music, FREE
Wednesday, August 1 at 9:30 am
Piper Palm House
Babaloo Music & Fun, FREE
Wednesday, August 1 at 10 and 11 am
Kirkwood Public Library
Science with Sid, included with Magic House admission
Wednesday, August 1, 10 am to 5 pm
The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum
Archaeology Day at Cahokia Mounds, FREE, donations appreciated
Saturday, August 4, 10 am to 4 pm
Cahokia Mounds
Community Music School of Webster University: Young Years Music Classes (3 to 7 year old kids), Demo Day, FREE
Saturday, August 4 at 10 am
Community Music School of Webster University
Community Music School of Webster University: Young Years Music Classes (3 to 7 year old kids), Demo Day, FREE
Saturday, August 4 at 1:30 pm
Strauss Center, Faust Park
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM) Stroller Tour, FREE
Tuesday, August 7 at 9 am
CAM
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM) Play Date, FREE
Tuesday, August 7 at 10 am
CAM
Children’s Concert Series: Can You Hear the Drums? FREE
Wednesday, August 8 at 9:30 am
Piper Palm House
Faust Olden Days of Summer, $8/child in advance or $10/child day of event
Wednesday, August 8, 10 am to 1 pm
Historic Village at Faust Park
Children’s Concert Series: Violins and more, FREE
Wednesday, August 15 at 9:30 am
Piper Palm House
Circus Flora Art Contest
Do you and your children love experiencing Circus Flora? Kids in preschool through 12th grade are invited to draw, paint, collage, or photograph Circus Flora for a chance to be exhibited at the Sheldon Art Galleries. Over 40 works will be chosen. The first place winner’s artwork will be featured in the Sheldon Art Galleries Fall exhibit brochure and poster and will receive a prize basket filled with art supplies. Second and third place winners will receive a gift certificate to Blick Art Materials. Artwork in all media are encouraged.
Haven’t seen this year’s Circus Flora production yet? The Wizard: Merlin & the Legends of King Arthur, runs from through June 24. Tickets are still available.
Judges of the art contest are Artistic Director and Producer of Circus Flora, Ivor David Balding; Circus Flora performers, Katherine and Alexandre Sasha Nevidonski; and the Director of the Sheldon Art Galleries, Olivia Lahs-Gonzales.
Submission Guidelines
* FIRST DEADLINE! Contact Rebecca Gunter, Sheldon Gallery Coordinator and Education Manager, to notify her of intent to participate at rgunter@thesheldon.org by June 24, 2012.
* Submissions are due to The Sheldon Art Galleries by August 1, 2012 and should be mailed or delivered by appointment to: The Sheldon Art Galleries, 3648 Washington Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63108.
* Works on paper should be no more than 16 x 20 inches.
* Sculptural entries should be first submitted by images on a CD and delivery of actual sculptures should be arranged with Rebecca Gunter.
Circus Flora Art Contest Submission Form
Circus Resources from the Sheldon and Circus Flora
Family arts events, June 5 & 10
Here are four family friendly (and free!) arts events upcoming in St. Louis that you won’t want to miss.
1. CAM (Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis)
3750 Washington Boulevard, St. Louis
Tuesday, June 5 at 9 am: Stroller Tour of the galleries, FREE, complimentary refreshments.
2. CAM (Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis)
3750 Washington Boulevard, St. Louis
Tuesday, June 5 at 10 am: Play Date, FREE, artist led activities for kids, storytelling, music workshops, complimentary refreshments, and more.
UPDATED! 3. Citygarden
9th and Market Streets in downtown St. Louis
Tuesday, June 5, 12:15 to 12:45 pm: Circus Flora artists perform a special lunchtime show throughout the park. Bertini Troupe on unicycles, Luciano’s Pound Puppies, the St. Louis Arches, and Shayna Swanson are featured. FREE.
4. Laumeier Sculpture Park
12580 Rott Road, St. Louis
Sunday, June 10, noon to 5 pm, FREE: PNC Arts Alive Discover Laumeier Festival. Enjoy tours, arts activities, music, food, artist demonstrations, and more.