Today’s post on Bristol Mum is written by Jenna Brown, mum-of-two and host of Lilliput Concerts: live classical music from professional musicians which take place in a relaxed, baby-friendly environment.

Lilliput Concerts are held monthly at Redland Park United Reformed Church and are especially for parents and carers with babies and very young children.

Each concert is always followed by quality coffee and delicious cake!

Please read on to find out more…

We all remember the days of heading out for an evening of wonderful, live music; totally immersed in the spectacle of a great performance. But formal concert environments just don’t suit the baby and toddler lifestyle.

Out of this frustration Lilliput Concerts was born, where you can enjoy live, professional music with the whole family; from newborn babies through to great grannies!

Without a nursery rhyme in earshot (well, apart from the occasional harp rendition of Mozart’s theme better known as ‘twinkle twinkle’), grown-ups and children can enjoy 40 minutes of the best classical music on offer without having to worry about little ones sitting still or being quiet.

In fact, the smallest audience members are encouraged to get up close and personal with the performers and their instruments and join in with the music-making and dancing on stage.

Since its launch in Bristol in 2014, children have been able to test their skills on accordions, violins, cellos, trumpets, French horns, tubas, oboes, harps and many more orchestral and folk instruments.

And with plans for the 2017 concert programme already well under way, we are looking forward to bringing you some of the more unusual instruments showcased in World Music, such as the didgeridoo, and a whole range of fascinating percussion!

Lilliput Concerts are perfect for the 0-4 age range (with older children welcome too, of course!) and we are thrilled to be able to showcase the very best local musicians Bristol and the South West has to offer, from the City’s premier choir, Exultate Singers, one of its finest string quartets the Lochrian Ensemble, the famous Severn Jazz Band and nationally acclaimed pianists.

But it gets even better, with internationally acclaimed performers brining us some of the more unusual instruments available, such as Ancient Triple Pipes being performed to us by the world leading authority Barnaby Brown.

We have all heard about the so-called ‘Mozart effect’, where it is believed listening to classical music in utero and from birth can have a positive impact on brain development in babies and children, and there has been much recent research to suggest that classical music does have huge benefits for all the family; From improving language development, to enhanced logical reasoning and increased numerical literacy it seems music really does have developmental and educational benefits.

But even more so it can be wonderfully relaxing, uplifting and mood enhancing. What better way to spend time with your young family?

So, why not give it a try to join us for a concert and see how your little ones respond to the new sounds of live classical music, while you relax with a coffee and delicious cake courtesy of The Nick Holder Bakery.

You don’t need to be an expert, a musician or a seasoned concert goer; our concerts are welcoming, all-inclusive and affordable.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

To book tickets and for information on future concerts visit:

www.lilliputconcerts.org.uk
Twitter: @lilliputconcert
www.facebook.com/lilliputconcerts
email jenna@lilliputconcerts.org.uk

Images courtesy of http://www.superfunkypenguin.co.uk