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About the Concert Experience
What is Once Upon a Symphony?
While many parents of young children tend to avoid orchestral concerts because of behavioral expectations at such events, Once Upon a Symphony is designed to remove these barriers and invite young children into the performance through developmentally appropriate content and techniques.
Imagine a traditional orchestra concert: a dark concert hall full of people, where everyone is expected to sit still and quiet for a long time, listening to music that is beautiful but is unfamiliar at times. It may seem that there are many unwritten rules for audience behavior and that applauding at the “wrong” time is frowned upon. Even at “family-friendly” programming, trying to take a crying or upset child out of the concert hall can be nearly impossible, but staying in the hall can be disruptive and stressful, too.
Once Upon a Symphony is very different from a traditional orchestra concert. Designed especially for 3- to 5-year-old children, Once Upon a Symphony creates an experience that will welcome your child into a safe, interactive environment. Research shows that children learn by seeing, hearing and doing, and their experience at Once Upon a Symphony will engage them in each of these ways.
What will you see at Once Upon a Symphony?
Once Upon a Symphony combines music and storytelling to introduce young children to the amazing world of classical music. This Once Upon a Symphony performance will explore the story of Jack and the Beanstalk through an original production featuring music performed by members of the “World’s Best, Chicago’s Own” Chicago Symphony Orchestra with actor Kasey Foster and sets, costumes, and projections designed by the Chicago Children’s Theatre. This performance features musicians playing flute, oboe, bassoon and horn.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
How to Prepare for the Concert
There are several things that you can do to prepare for this experience, making your visit to Symphony Center more enjoyable and memorable:
- Introduce your child to the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, which can be found at your local library or bookseller or online. The focus of our story reflects the original English folktale, emphasizing the courage Jack finds in himself to save his town from the thieving giant.
- Introduce your child to the music they will hear during this program by purchasing recordings or downloading the playlist here. Listen to this music in the days prior to your visit to Symphony Center and explore how the music portrays the activities or images suggested, which are central parts of the Once Upon a Symphony performance:
- Molly on the Shore, by Percy Grainger: This music illustrates how Jack just can’t stop wigglin’ and jigglin’!
- The Cuckoo and the Nightingale: The melody (found here on YouTube) to this song is sung to Jack by his mother, which Jack then sings to himself, to help him feel brave when confronting the giant. Sing these lyrics with your child to the song’s melody:
When I am scared and all alone
And wish that I could run back home
I stand up tall – okay I’m small
But I am not afraid at all - Aladdin’s Dream and Dance of the Morning Mist, by Carl Nielsen: This music depicts the beanstalk as it twists and turns and grows upward towards the sky and the giant’s castle.
- Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, by J.S. Bach: This music highlights the appearance of the beanstalk that sprouted from a magic bean. The music’s steady beat illustrates how brave Jack is, climbing up to the top of the beanstalk, to the giant’s castle.
- In the Hall of the Mountain King, by Edvard Grieg: This music evokes the menacing presence of the giant.
- Molly on the Shore, by Percy Grainger: This music illustrates how Jack just can’t stop wigglin’ and jigglin’!
Access all music via this Spotify playlist to prepare for the performance.
Explore the Woodwind Family with Your Children
The musicians in this video are playing woodwind instruments; however, the horn is a member of the brass family, but its sound blends so well with woodwinds that it often plays with them. Ever since the heyday of classical music when wind ensembles were most popular, horns have always performed together with woodwinds.
Watch the video again and listen closely to the music, then ask your children to identify the instruments they hear in the ensemble.
Watch this video of the CSO musicians as they explain their instruments.
Ask your children what their favorite woodwind instrument is and why.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Where is Symphony Center? Where can I park?
Entrances are at 220 S. Michigan Ave. and 67 E. Adams St. To find nearby parking locations, we suggest visiting chicagoparkingmap.com or chicago.bestparking.com. -
What do I do with my stroller?
Stroller parking will be available on the first floor of the Rotunda. Symphony Center staff will park your stroller in a safe, secure location. -
Where is the performance?
Buntrock Hall, located on the second Buntrock Hall -
Do we need to dress up?
No! We encourage you to dress comfortably. -
Where are our seats?
There are no assigned seats for these performances; however, to keep everyone safe, please sit where the usher directs your group. Seating consists of cushions and benches of various heights. -
What if my child is in a wheelchair?
Buntrock Hall is completely wheelchair accessible, and our ushering staff will be happy to assist in accommodating any patrons who may use wheelchairs. However, please contact Patron Services before the concert to inform us of any special needs you may have. Patron Services may be reached at (312) 294-3000. -
Do we have to stay in our seats?
Yes. Please remain in your seats to keep everyone safe and sound. -
What if my child cries, becomes upset during the performance, or needs to use the restroom?
Unlike concerts in Orchestra Hall, you may exit and re-enter this performance at any time. You may exit Buntrock Hall to comfort your child or give them a break so that they do not distract other patrons from enjoying the performance. Our ushering staff and volunteers will help direct you to the nearest entrance and exit. -
What if my child becomes noisy or talks during the performance?
It’s OK! We expect that young children will behave like young children. However, we do ask that you please be courteous to your neighbors and allow them to enjoy the performance, too. -
My child is uncomfortable around strangers. Will they be OK during this concert?
Your child will not be forced to do anything that might make him or her uncomfortable. If a child does not want to participate in any part of the experience, it’s fine to just sit and watch. -
Can we sing along or hum along or dance to the music?
Absolutely! Please do! During some parts of the performance, we want everyone to sing, hum and dance. -
Can I videotape or photograph the concert?
Unfortunately, no. Symphony Center policies expressly prohibit still, audio and video recording, which includes cell phone recordings. Flash photography is very distracting to the performers, and the bright light emitted by camera and cell phone screens is very distracting to other audience members.
This program is co-produced with Chicago Children’s Theatre. 
