small things

Maestro Classics Giveaway (Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel!)

Today’s giveaway is from Maestro Classics!  If you’ve been looking for a simple way to introduce your children to classical music in a way that makes it fun and accessible, I think you will really appreciate their collection.


We recently received the Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel album from Maestro Classics, and have really been enjoying it.  This album is from the Stories in Music series.  My kids like to read along with our own copy of Mike Mulligan while listening to the narration set to music on the album.  Stories in Music is a classical music CD series for children and families. Produced by Maestro Classics, this series of works for narrator and symphony orchestra features new, sophisticated performances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and child-friendly, fun-filled stories and musical explanations. Educational for adults and children alike, this series grew out of family concerts created by conductor Stephen Simon and his wife, music educator/executive producer Bonnie Ward Simon, and premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Rave reviews nationwide and numerous top awards have greeted this unique series of classical music CDs for kids with its signature format.


From the Maestro Classics website:  Virginia Lee Burton’s classic American children’s book, a childhood favorite for generations, is brought to life with this beautiful new music for orchestra and Irish bagpipes.  In the story, Mike Mulligan refuses to give up his aging steam shovel Mary Anne as they travel to find one last job together.  A tale of loyalty and friendship, perseverance and good ideas, this musical CD won a Parents’ Choice GOLD award.  A 24-page activity book included with the CD contains biographies, sheet music, words to a sing-along song, information on featured instruments, games, and more.

Virginia Lee Burton has been a favorite of mine since childhood, and I was thrilled to learn while listening to his album, that she drew her inspiration from her children.  Between my fondness for her work and the fantastic music that Stephen Simon composed to accompany the Mike Mulligan story, I think it’s probably my favorite of the Maestro Classics albums we own.

Maestro Classics is offering one Small Things reader a copy of their Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel Stories in Music album.

For your chance to win, simply leave a comment on this post.

Visit the Maestro Classics website and leave another comment sharing which album you would most like to share with your family

“Like” Maestro Classics on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did so

 Follow Maestro classics on Pinterest and leave an additional comment.

Make sure you leave separate comments for each additional chance to win!

Comments are closed and the winner is Lisa McK @etcblog “Fantastic idea to combine music and literature.”

Thanks, Maestro Classics!


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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I visited their website and would love to get Peter and the Wolf. (It looks like Salley Mavor’s artwork too, and I’ve loved her for over 12 years)

  5. This sounds like a great way to introduce my daughter to classical music! Thank you for the chance to win! Carnival of the Animals look amazing!

  6. The Tortoise and the Hare would be an awesome set to have – I can only imagine how fun it would sound to contrast the fast tempo and slow tempo!

  10. Peter and the Wolf would be the second one I would want to share with my family, another fond memory of my childhood!

  11. Looks amazing, Mike Mulligan was one of my favorites as a child, I remember reading it with my grandfather over and over!

  18. I went to their website, too – Mike Mulligan ties with Carnival of the Animals, which I know we would all enjoy.

  19. I’m following them on pinterest; have you looked at their Instruments from Around the World – so neat.

  20. That Mike Mulligan CD looks great, and so do all the others! We’ve been listening to Can You Hear It? lately, and are all enjoying it. Thanks for the recommendation and the giveaway.

  45. I LOVE this book and would love to own the Music album version. My kids would love it too!

  47. If I couldn’t share the Mike Mulligan album with my family, I would choose Carnival of the Animals. Thank you Ginny for this giveaway!

  48. Hands down favorite children’s book of all time in our house. ALL my kids adore Burton’s books. Wish she had written more, but the handful that she did are fantastic.

  49. Looks good. One of the best ways I’ve found to introduce kids to classical music is taking them to free concerts. We are lucky that we have a community orchestra of great quality that gives free concerts throughout the year. We’ve been bringing the kids since they were in utereo and always sit up front so they can see the instruments in action.

  50. I would love the Peter and the Wolf CD, I have fond memories of listening to that as a child.