LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear Art Patrons: Welcome to springtime, arts lovers! We’re about to get into one of the very best times of year for the arts here in Quincy. There are so many opportunities for everyone to get out and experience amazing music, theatre, art and history that we could barely pack it into one magazine. This month, I wanted to extend a special invitation to parents with young kids to really get out there and try something new! It may seem intimidating to take little ones to concerts, art shows or theatrical performances, but with just a little preparation, your kiddos can have a one-of-a-kind experience that will help them blossom into lifelong arts lovers. So here’s a list of tips to help you get the most out of your next arts experience with young kids!
Prepare!
In the week leading up to an arts experience, help your kids engage with whatever you’re about to go see. I recently took my kiddos, 21-month-old Grant and 4-year-old Elliot, to a Low Brass Ensemble concert at Sunday Music Series, and we spent the week before reading books about music (my favorite for little kids is Mo Williams’ Listen to My Trumpet!) and watching YouTube videos featuring young musicians playing trombones and tubas. Another fun activity to get ready for a
music event is to get a baton and let them try to conduct their favorite music. I think we’ve conducted every song in Moana about a hundred times in my house! If you’re going to a performance of any kind, you can also talk about what it means to be a good audience member. My kids respond well to thinking about how audiences get to participate by clapping really loud when a performer is done! It makes them feel like part of the show and teaches them gratitude for the people who put so much time and preparation into performing for us.
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And if you’re headed to an art show, spend some time making art yourselves! Think outside the box and try to match the art you might see. You can make sculptures with Play-Doh, fiber art from old rags, homemade watercolors from food coloring and lots more fun ideas. Display them in a hallway with little tags, and talk about how we can be good viewers without touching.
Being a parent with kids at a performance will not always go as planned. If the kids didn’t get a nap or they’re just not feeling it this particular day, it’s okay to head home and try another time. It’s important to stress the positives, “That first song was really exciting, wasn’t it?” Don’t dwell on the fact that you might not have made it through a whole show.
Showtime!
After the Show
If your kids are anything like mine, some days they can sit through two hours of a performance, and some days they can’t make it through two minutes. I recommend coming prepared for both scenarios. Find a seat near a door where you can make a quick exit if needed. Bring some quiet snacks wrapped in quiet wrappers if the venue allows. I find that getting dressed up for a performance helps send signals to my kids that we are about to do something special and that we should be on our best behavior. I also like to point out things we’ve prepared to see. “Look guys! There’s the conductor with his baton, and there’s that great big tuba and its smaller cousin, the baritone!” During breaks in the performance or as you’re viewing artwork, ask your kids questions. “Was that song happy or sad? Loud or quiet? What instruments did you hear?” Or “What colors do you see? How does this piece make you feel?”
Grant Sievert, 21 months, attending Sunday Music Series Low-Brass Concert.
Elliot Sievert, 4, with QHS Show Choir members Skylar Lankey and Paige Schumacher.
If you’re visiting one of our local museums or historical sites, try taking a pad of paper and some crayons along and asking kids to draw something related to what they’re looking at. This helps keep their hands busy and they’ll learn something at the same time!
The great thing about local events is that musicians and artists are often happy to meet their youngest fans. Don’t be afraid to say hello! Many musicians, myself included, are happy to let kids see their instruments up close and ask questions. At art show openings, oftentimes the artist is on hand. You can introduce your kids and help them ask the artist something about their work. It takes a little preparation to take kids out to arts events, but it’s a whole lot of fun and it gets easier each time you go. Check out the Arts Quincy calendar for some upcoming events that you can enjoy with your kids. A couple of my favorites, most of which are free to attend, include Sunday Music Series (page 17), Family Day at the Quincy Art Center (page 21), Quincy Park Band (page 21), Puppet Shows and Dance Parties at Quincy Public Library (page 10), Quincy Civic Music Concerts (page 15) and festivals like Dogwood and Lincoln in the District (pages 8 and 9). Your Friend (and fellow mom) in the arts-
Laura Sievert, Executive Director
