Orchestra Adventures Concert Guide

Planning to attend an upcoming RSO concert? Whether it’s your first time, or you are a “veteran” concert attendee, we hope you have a terrific time. We think you’ll find the more you know ahead of time, the better prepared you are to have a really good experience. Just think, you get to go out at night for a special evening – maybe even getting to stay up later than usual, you get to go to a very cool place - The Coronado Theatre, AND you get to hear one of the best symphony orchestras in Illinois.

There are all different kinds of music in the world as you’re certainly aware. “Classical” or symphonic music is one that has a long history of being music that people love hearing over and over again. The reason for this is that you hear something in the music that is new every time you listen, even if you hear the same piece over and over. Classical music has so much going on at the same time that it’s fun to listen to and discover new things.

Here are some things YOU can do with your family before you come to an RSO concert:

- Google the composer or check out the concert guest artist’s biography on this website. See what you can discover about them. When you come to the concert there will be a special Concert Guide for Young People that will have information designed specially for YOU, but there’s lots more to find out about.

- Listen to some of the music before hand. You can sometimes find recordings at the library, or download it from the internet. Check the RSO website for CD recommendations for pieces performed all season. Pop a CD into the car and listen while you’re running errands with your Mom, play it in the background while you’re doing homework, or program it into your iPod while you do chores around the house.

- Plan a special dinner on concert night. Since concerts start at 7 p.m. you’ll have to eat a little early, but that can be fun. If there’s Italian music on the program, make an Italian dinner; if the guest artist is Chinese, go out to a Chinese restaurant before the concert. Or have a picnic before you come. (Check out the RSO Restaurant Partners listed on the Concert Experience web page to find a restaurant that gives discounts for RSO subscribers.)

- Plan a special dessert and save it for when you get home from the concert. You can talk about the concert with your family – what you liked and didn’t like. Did you see any interesting people, or friends at the concert? Were there any members of the orchestra that you found yourself paying more attention to for some reason? If so, what caught your eye?

- Look up other symphony orchestra websites. Many of the orchestras in big cities have great places for you to learn and have fun on their sites. For instance try:

The New York Philharmonic – www.nyphilkids.org
The San Francisco Symphony – www.sfskids.org
The Nashville Symphony Orchestra - www.nashvillesymphony.org/nsokids

CHECK IT OUT! NEW ORCHESTRA ADVENTURES KIDS CLUB!

Especially for kids between the ages of 8 – 12, the Kids Club is a great way to make coming to concerts even more fun.

Parents – sign up for the Orchestra Adventures Kids Club by calling Jennie at 815-965-0049. The fee of $5 includes:

• An RSO Orchestra Adventures Kids Club pin and membership card
• A special treat at intermission during Family Series concerts – just for Kids Club members. The Kids Club Corner is at the north end the balcony level lobby (near the restrooms).
• A special invitation to the Kids Club table on the Coronado Theatre stage after the first Family Series concert on September 29. Kids can meet guest artist Eva León, RSO musicians and receive a special “goody bag” from the RSO.
• A birthday card sent to your child on his/her birthday, signed by Music Director Steven Larsen.
• An invitation to a pre-concert party before the March 8 Family Series concert. Club members can hear the Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra String Quartet and meet other young musicians while enjoying a pre-concert treat.