Family & Kids - Music with Kids

For this segment, I'd like to share with you my favourite kids-friendly places where you can listen to live music on the go. I would also like to recommend some places where your kids can learn to play music or become more familiar with music.

1. Listening to music

So where can you enjoy some music while you are on mum- or dad-duty? Well, there are many options. I cannot list them all, but I will list some options that are mostly free or that have a "Kollekte" with donations.

- On the last Wednesday of each month, go to the Restaurant Pavillon in Schützenmattpark for a free open air concert. This usually takes place between February and November.

- All year long every last Friday of the month, go to the Tinguely Museum - and if you have the museum pass, you won't have to pay anything!

- All year long, you can pop in at the Musik-Akademie Basel and grab a flyer. There are so many flyers there, you will definitely find a concert to your taste.

- In December before Christmas, check out the free afternoon advent calendar shows at Theater Basel: they could be performing live music, opera, a dance show, a book reading or another surprise.

- During the summer months on Wednesdays, go to the courtyard of the Kunstmuseum Basel where you can listen to a free concert while eating at a buffet for CHF 10.-.

2. Playing music

After having attended any of these live events, your kids will most likely want to learn how to play music! Again, I'm only going to name a few of the options available. You could go to:

- Kindermusik at Dreispitz. They have classes for babies sorted by age, for instance up to 18 months, then 1.5 to 3+ year-olds, then 3.5 to 5 year-olds, then 5 to 7 year-olds, and so on.

- Music Together Rhinekids at The Looking Glass studio. This one has a different approach as the class can cover all ages. I was lucky enough to attend a class and I can only recommend it. Teacher Sara Salzmann Mohan is a violinist; she also played the banjo for us. She has a beautiful voice, teaches notes and rhythm in a fun way and got us to dance. Her classes never exceed 6 kids. She also organises themed classes (for instance for Halloween).

- If you know some German and are not afraid to join a music class like a real local, why not contact the Musik-Akademie Basel and register for a music class with Rhythmik Eltern-Kind (either in Kleinbasel or in Grossbasel).

I attended a delightful class where the teacher Louise played the piano and sang, made both kids and parents sing (in German) as well as exercise while playing and recognising rhythms and tones. This is based on the Emile Jacques-Dalcroze way of teaching music. This class targets kids who are 2 to 3 years old. There is also a Rhythmik class for 3 to 6-year-old kids and 6 to 9 year olds.

For children aged 6+, the Musik-Akademie also offers a beautiful concept called "Instrumentenkreisel". Your child will have the opportunity to try several instruments before picking his or her favourite. These classes are held in German and Swissgerman. Book early for these classes, because they get fully booked very quickly.

- Laure Audidière