DVD Picks: The A to Z Symphony

Aug 10, 2004 - © Nicholas Moreau

DVD Picks: The A to Z Symphony

Ages: 0-5
Producer: Classical Fun Music
DVD SRP: $19.95
VHS SRP: $14.95
Length: Approximately 30 minutes
Live action, 2D computer animation, classical music.
Release date: August 10, 2004

The DVD can be ordered July 13 onward, on www.cmkids.com.

Includes non-commercial public performance rights.

The A to Z Symphony received mention as one of Dr Toy's Best Vacation Products, more on that at the end of the article.

By six, Mozart was a "note-perfect prodigy", and Mendelssohn was accomplished in composition by age nine. While most kids will never reach these blokes' genius, anyone can and should appreciate classical music.

Not just because it's beautiful. There's benefits for the brain, too. Studies have shown that when studying for a school test, classical music helps the quiz-taker concentrate on material easier. So why not present something as critical as the ABCs, set to classical music?

The A to Z Symphony a worthwhile concept, but painfully executed by Classical Fun Music.

Musical parents give birth to musical company
Going on the motto of "The Best Music Builds the Best Minds", musician/writer/videographer/teacher/parents Bob and Claire Franki are creators of this concoction. Six-year-old daughter Nicole acted as a muse for the creative couple's first major production.

Classical Fun Music's goal was to "develop music program and materials to educate and entertain young children." They want to "preserve the enjoyment and appreciation of classical music within children by combining timeless selections of the world's greatest activities and images to create fun, memorable experiences."

On paper, this concept is fantastic. F is for flags and fireworks, so why not have Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, a favourite on the Four of July? And since A is for apple and arrow, you get a subtle reference to the choice of Rossini's William Tell Overture.

But that's on paper.

The production
Each segment starts with a monotonous adult announcer reading a monochromatic title card, saying "T is for Tea Party. Music is Brandenburg Concerto #3 by Bach." No normal kid is going to care if the segment is set to Beethoven's Symphony #5 or Mozart's Symphony #40.

That's never been the point of enjoying classical music. It's the point of Jeopardy, but even 35-day reigning Jeopardy virtuoso Ken Jennings didn't know that Vivaldi composed The Four Seasons; so your tot knows, the Spring movement plays during B is for Butterfly.

Now, with the titles and composers of the music before every segment, this video must be making music its prime priority. Not really. It's more interested in creating associations between letters and words. A noble

The copyright of the article DVD Picks: The A to Z Symphony in Family Entertainment is owned by Nicholas Moreau. Permission to republish DVD Picks: The A to Z Symphony in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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