

The award-winning Classical Kids series introduces children–and adults–to the joys of classical music. A dramatic story, a little bit of history and the world’s best-loved classical music set the scene for these fun-filled musical adventures.
Now Available as Audiobooks!
Find the Classical Kids Audiobooks available on all Audiobook Streaming Platforms

The Children’s Group is excited to release the studio recording of the Classical Kids production, Gershwin’s Magic Key, featuring the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras and including the two actors featured in the original live concert, which premiered with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Gershwin’s Magic Key is available on CD & MP3 now.

“Susan Hammond has probably done more to promote classical music than anyone since Bernstein.” (NPR)
Classical Kids originator and producer Susan Hammond is acclaimed for her award-winning and best-selling Classical Kids CDs introducing children to classical music. A dramatic story, a little bit of history and the world’s best-loved classical music set the scene for fun-filled musical adventures the whole family will enjoy. It’s a symphony of stories for all ages, presenting the great composers – Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi and Handel — as heroes for today’s children.
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The stories connect with kids; the music touches their hearts and becomes a part of their lives. Classical Kids builds a foundation in the classics that lasts a lifetime.
“Making the masters accessible to the young.” – Time
“…a painless way to expose young folks to classical music” – TV Guide
Susan Hammond has three great passions in life: making recordings, exploring the piano, and talking to teachers. Her infectious enthusiasm and innovative teaching style has made her a popular speaker at workshops across North America.
Over its 20 year history, Classical Kids has created a whole new generation of classical music fans through its unique blend of children’s entertainment and classical music. Beethoven Lives Upstairs, Mr. Bach Comes to Call, Mozart’s Magic Fantasy, Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery and six other titles all feature freshly recorded music with a fact-based drama from a child’s point of view. From its modest beginnings at her dining room table, Hammond has also created an Emmy-Award winning video, five acclaimed touring Symphony shows, four beautifully illustrated books, two DVDs, and acclaimed Teacher’s Notes. For her efforts, Hammond won an unprecedented six Juno Awards and has been honored with the Order of Canada for her contribution to the Arts.
“Classical Kids has so much to offer music education in context which results in meaningful learning. Teachers will benefit greatly.” (Dorothy Straub, MENC)
Shortly after the CD releases, Susan was asked to describe her approach to educators across North America. She eagerly probes the ideas of others while seeking to find the best way to make classical music exciting and relevant to kids today.
Recently, Sue turned back to her first love, the piano. Having studied at London’s Royal College of Music, with Karl Ulrich Schnabel, Lawrence Pitchko and John Covelli, she has now begun performing again. She is also applying her inquisitive mind to writing a book to help pianists improve their practicing, teaching and performance. Based on courses she taught at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto and the PEI Conservatory, the book will offer practical ideas on technique, interpretation, the emotions, listening, and programming for the practising pianist interested in retooling their skills. Being Sue, she uses the Classical Kids idea of embedding these facts in a fictional Conservatory “where I would love to spend a year myself!”
Susan Hammond now lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband.
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“Susan Hammond has probably done more to promote classical music than anyone since Bernstein.” (NPR)
Classical Kids originator and producer Susan Hammond is acclaimed for her award-winning and best-selling Classical Kids CDs introducing children to classical music. A dramatic story, a little bit of history and the world’s best-loved classical music set the scene for fun-filled musical adventures the whole family will enjoy. It’s a symphony of stories for all ages, presenting the great composers – Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi and Handel — as heroes for today’s children.
Read More
The stories connect with kids; the music touches their hearts and becomes a part of their lives. Classical Kids builds a foundation in the classics that lasts a lifetime.
“Making the masters accessible to the young.” – Time
“…a painless way to expose young folks to classical music” – TV Guide
Susan Hammond has three great passions in life: making recordings, exploring the piano, and talking to teachers. Her infectious enthusiasm and innovative teaching style has made her a popular speaker at workshops across North America.
Over its 20 year history, Classical Kids has created a whole new generation of classical music fans through its unique blend of children’s entertainment and classical music. Beethoven Lives Upstairs, Mr. Bach Comes to Call, Mozart’s Magic Fantasy, Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery and six other titles all feature freshly recorded music with a fact-based drama from a child’s point of view. From its modest beginnings at her dining room table, Hammond has also created an Emmy-Award winning video, five acclaimed touring Symphony shows, four beautifully illustrated books, two DVDs, and acclaimed Teacher’s Notes. For her efforts, Hammond won an unprecedented six Juno Awards and has been honoured with the Order of Canada for her contribution to the Arts.
“Classical Kids has so much to offer music education in context which results in meaningful learning. Teachers will benefit greatly.” (Dorothy Straub, MENC)
Shortly after the CD releases, Susan was asked to describe her approach to educators across North America. She eagerly probes the ideas of others while seeking to find the best way to make classical music exciting and relevant to kids today.
Recently, Sue turned back to her first love, the piano. Having studied at London’s Royal College of Music, with Karl Ulrich Schnabel, Lawrence Pitchko and John Covelli, she has now begun performing again. She is also applying her inquisitive mind to writing a book to help pianists improve their practicing, teaching and performance. Based on courses she taught at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto and the PEI Conservatory, the book will offer practical ideas on technique, interpretation, the emotions, listening, and programming for the practising pianist interested in retooling their skills. Being Sue, she uses the Classical Kids idea of embedding these facts in a fictional Conservatory “where I would love to spend a year myself!”
Susan Hammond now lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband.
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"A comprehensive set of works...performed by outstanding musicians...a small price to pay for a child's future." – The Newcastle Pacer “(Susan Hammond’s) Classical Kids Teaching Edition educates children as well as adults about the music and lives of several major historical composers and also teaches such skills as reading musical notation, understanding orchestra and instruments, composition, form and, best of all, imagination and creativity.”
“Truly one of the best items in the kid’s market today.”
"Classical Kids are far and away the best recordings for introducing children to classical music."
“(The Classical Kids series) has taught a worldwide audience to love music.”
“More than just introducing children to classical music, they tell fabulous tales steeped in historical detail.”
“One of the most completely wondrous examples of children’s entertainment ever.”
“Classics that are sometimes imitated but never duplicated, they teach and richly entertain kids.”
"...she's [Susan Hammond] doing as much for the long-term health of classical music as anyone in the country."
“…charming…a worthy ambition…Mr. Bach Comes to Call makes classical music more accessible to kids.“
“The new DVD ‘Mr. Bach Comes to Call’ is a gift...for anyone who loves how music enriches life and life enriches music...the story is charmingly, disarmingly simple. Director Maria Erades treats probing scenes with great sensitivity and playful scenes with juicy joy.”
"What really takes centre stage…are the extensive selections of Bach's music from the Brandenburg concertos, orchestral suites, fugues and religious works, all of which honour his diversity and genius…an admirable effort at sparking children's interest in classical music."
“The Children's Group is known for spotlighting famous composers through child-centric adventures in the critically acclaimed ‘Classical Kids’ CD series and... revisits its winning formula in this engaging new DVD.”
“The best way to unlock the mind and heart of a child to the wonders of musical masterpieces...”
“Mr. Bach Comes to Call is an excellent primer for the life and work of this great composer. It will excite, amuse and educate children ages 6 to 12, and provide a foundation for an appreciation of Bach’s music that will last a lifetime.”
"...required family listening...an exciting, innovative (recording) certain to fascinate children and adults alike..."
"...an invitation to receptive minds of children to enter and explore the world of serious music that is stimulating...and at the same time is just plain fun..."
“...draws children into another century with entertaining and literate biographical drama...the composer's music...is interwoven into the story and comes alive."
“The series’ masterpiece...a magnificently crafted story underscored by a flawless choice of selections from Beethoven’s repertoire...revives the nearly lost art of storytelling.”
"Hammond has done a remarkable and lasting service to music, education and the opportunity for children to enjoy that which is most enduring and imperishable of all human creations."
"...an innovative mix of theatrics and music...the composer's most famous material spills out naturally, color-coded by the strong images that surround it."
"Another outstanding entry in an acclaimed series that is already in danger of creating a whole new (and knowledgeable) generation of classical music lovers."
“Original riddles, beautiful singing and a cute and colourful story line with a happy ending keeps the listener enthralled...”
"...One of the most astonishing effects of the music...Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty... is the way it captures in sound the fresh spirit of America's freedom..."

Classical Kids Teaching Edition
This comprehensive book-style set combines musical studies with many other subject areas and skills and is designed to move children from passive listeners to active participants in music, drama, social studies, history and other arts. The set also promotes literacy, critical thinking and communication skills.
The Teaching Edition includes 9 award-winning and best-selling Classical Kids CDs plus the Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Mr. Bach Comes to Call DVDs. The set also features 3 exclusive bonus discs:
– Teacher’s Resources CD-ROM: includes Teacher’s Notes and scripts for all 9 CDs
– Slideshow DVD: hundreds of images from the times of the great composers
– Music Only CD: 40 minutes of instrumental-only music from the Classical Kids CDs
The Teacher’s Notes support the Integrated Curriculum, Whole Language Learning, Enquiry-based Learning and Visual Thinking Strategies. They provide activities and suggestions to help students and musicians develop general creativity, multi-level thinking, memory skills, cooperation and time management. The scripts are ideal for class read-alongs or ESL programs. The Slideshow DVD also comes with hundreds of questions and activities to encourage class discussions.
Classical Kids Teaching Edition

This comprehensive book-style set combines musical studies with many other subject areas and skills and is designed to move children from passive listeners to active participants in music, drama, social studies, history and other arts. The set also promotes literacy, critical thinking and communication skills.
Read More
The Teaching Edition includes 9 award-winning and best-selling Classical Kids CDs plus the Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Mr. Bach Comes to Call DVDs. The set also features 3 exclusive bonus discs:
– Teacher’s Resources CD-ROM: includes Teacher’s Notes and scripts for all 9 CDs
– Slideshow DVD: hundreds of images from the times of the great composers
– Music Only CD: 40 minutes of instrumental-only music from the Classical Kids CDs
The Teacher’s Notes support the Integrated Curriculum, Whole Language Learning, Enquiry-based Learning and Visual Thinking Strategies. They provide activities and suggestions to help students and musicians develop general creativity, multi-level thinking, memory skills, cooperation and time management. The scripts are ideal for class read-alongs or ESL programs. The Slideshow DVD also comes with hundreds of questions and activities to encourage class discussions.
Read Less