Music for Families in Birmingham

One of the really great things about living close to Birmingham is the variety of music happening in the city centre. Since becoming a parent, I have discovered that this extends to families as well. Here are some of the best family musical events coming soon.

BOpera

B'Opera describe themselves as producing 'beautiful music for tiny ears.' I'd say that is an absolutely spot on description of the classical music that B'Opera share with young children and their families. My family have attended one of their concerts and it was lots of fun and very interactive. The costume and props really engaged my children and the whole family was singing along at some point during the performance. B'Opera have a relaxed concert coming up on March 19^th called Songs My Mother Taught Me at St George's Church, Birmingham.

https://www.bopera.co.uk/events-1 Tickets are £17.50 for one adult and up to two children.

Notelets

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra have a brilliant performance space in Berkley Street just off Broad Street. They regularly host these fantastic Notelets concerts aimed at preschoolers and their families. There are lots of opportunities during the concerts for children to get up and move around. The concerts are themed usually around a book. The next Notelet's concert is the Jazz in the Jungle Trilogy with dates on 11th and 12th of March. Be warned that concerts often get fully booked as they are so popular. There are free craft activities before the concerts and an opportunity to try out the instruments at the end of the concert. Tickets are £10 each or 4 for £35. https://bmusic.co.uk/events/cbso-2021-22-notelets-fri-11-march-2022-11am#booking-info

Jazzlines Family Jam

This event regularly takes place in the Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space at Birmingham's Symphony Hall. The great news is that it's completely free. The next Jam session is on 19^th February and you need to book a ticket. Take an instrument if you have one but otherwise just turn up with lots of enthusiam.

https://bmusic.co.uk/events/jazzlines-family-jam-4

CBSO Family Concerts

Hearing a full orchestra play in the impressive Symphony Hall will create a brilliant memory for your children. I have previously taken a baby to one of these concerts and felt completely relaxed. Nobody minds if children get up and jig around as everyone there has kids and appreciates that music is fun. Free craft activities are provided before the concerts which are based on particular themes. A Myths and Legends concert kicks off half term this Sunday with tickets still available at this link: https://bmusic.co.uk/events/cbso-2021-22-family-concert Tickets are £12 or £38 for a group of 4. I am especially looking forward to the music from How to Train your Dragon. Totally roarsome!

Comments

Michael Morpurgo's Farm Boy @ Lichfield Garrick

The author Michael Morpurgo is a brilliant story teller and his Farm Boy story is no exception. This production has at its core a story that hooks you in and keeps you captivated. A grandfather and his grandson talk you through stories from their family that intertwine with the history of World War One and life on a farm. This play had parts that made me smile and chuckle but more parts that gave me goosebumps and a ripple of emotion. When grandfather made a confession and called on his grandson to help him, I was hooked waiting to hear the burden that he had born for his entire life. No spoilers though, come and see the play for yourself. The music in Farm Boy is an original score written by Matt Marks. It enhanced the story telling evoking memories and pictures in my mind. This combined with the strength of the story is clearly the reason the show has been at the Edinburgh Fringe and 'off Broadway' in New York. Throughout the show, there are just two actors on the stage: Gran

Midlands Family Days Out in 2023

Many of you love planning family days out. So what's better than viewing a year ahead? I will update this post to share great days out around the West Midlands for families. Many of the events that I share are either free or low cost. Feel free to book mark the this page to see new information as the year progresses. Also find me on Instagram @capablechild January Lunar New year Celebrations fill the Bullring and Grand Central with performances on Saturday 21st January. These continue in Birmingham's Southside on Sunday 22nd January with food stalls, family activities and performances. We have joined in these celebrations in previous years and my children loved the lively, bright dancing. https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/save-the-date-lunar-new-year-celebrations-return-to-birmingham-in-january/ February Dippy the Dinosaur arrives in Coventry at The Herbert Art Gallery. Tickets are free but expect them to go fast! Over half term there are family activities including crafts

Beauty and the Beast @ Lichfield Garrick

“That was so funny I nearly wet myself!” Such was my 11 year old daughter’s review of the Lichfield Garrick’s 2023 Christmas Panto - Beauty and the Beast. Truth be told, although I hopefully have more bladder control than that, I was in pretty close agreement with her. I’m not sure which part of the show was the most hilarious. It may have been the obligatory slapstick gunge and slide routine making pudding in the Beast’s castle kitchen. However, Figgy the animated (and socially borderline) Greek statue was in hot pursuit. Had I been the unsuspecting gentleman who sat on the front row I may have found the audience participation rather less comedic (he loved it really!!!). What I do know though is that by the end of the evening my sides hurt, I’d become seriously dehydrated and my daughter and I were ready for the festive Christmas season to begin! You may wonder how Beauty and the Beast could pass for panto? However, Sam Rabone’s annual Pantomime dame, reappearing as Belle’s hideously

Capable Child

Search This Blog