TOS Review/ Maestro Classics - Peter and the Wolf

This is so beautiful!

I was given the opportunity to review Peter and the Wolf, from Maestro Classics, and the consensus around here is... we love it!

This was the perfect way to introduce my children to the Symphony Orchestra.

When I received the Package, it included what is called the Digipak, which includes the CD, and a booklet that tells about the composer, the conductor, the narrator, and has several fun activities for the children that are related to the CD.

The case that it comes in is beautiful, as is the CD itself.

On the CD you will first listen to an introduction which tells the background of the story, and which instruments represent which characters.  This is really helpful.

Then you will listen to Peter and the Wolf with the words to the story included.
I love this version because it really helps you to understand what is happening in the story.

There is also an instrumental version as well, but in the words of my 6 year old, "I like it better with the words, cause with the guy talking it, it's more understandable." lol

Your children will also learn all about the composer, and about the music, among other things.

There are 8 tracks on this CD, and the whole CD is 68:11 minutes long.

I think this is like a mini unit study on music and composers, or as the company puts it "a music lesson in a box".

The music is so beautiful, and loud! Which makes it so fun to listen to.

I don't know about you, but we rarely, if ever, listen to classical music, or anything but Christian radio, so this makes a great way to start introducing a more classical style of music into my children's lives.

My 6 year old son loves it! This is what he says " I don't really understand it, I just like the music and the talking, and I like it all!"

He says his favorite part is "when he catches the wolf, and when the wolf gobbled up the duck, and when they said, if you can listen very closely, you can hear the duck quacking inside of it, the wolf gobbled her up still alive!"   (All his quotes are his own words, so please forgive the grammar.) HA!

It sounded to me as if he understood it pretty well. He was walking around the house today listening to it with the MP3 player!


Peter and the Wolf has won 3 different awards.

1. Parents Choice Award
2. Nappa Gold Award
3. Dr. Toy Award for the top 10 best audio-video products

I can see why. We just adore Peter and the Wolf, and can't wait to try the others as well.

I was doing some checking around their website, and I found a few things that you might be interested in.

I saw that you can get the sheet music to the songs, free, on their website.

Also, the answers to the activities in the booklet are on their website as well. You can find these under Maestro Club.

You can listen to a sample of Peter and the Wolf, and all of their other music as well.

I love everything about this. The only thing I could see that I would change, would be to offer extra booklets, so that you can have one for each child. I think that would be very helpful so that all of your children could do the activities. (Without fighting over one booklet!)

There was only one thing on the CD that bothered me a little. It may not be a big deal for you, but I thought I should mention it.

In one part, where it was telling about the story, the lady was talking about how there were two sides to the story, and she mentioned that if Peter hadn't disobeyed, than the wolf never would have made it to the Zoo. She was trying to point out the good that came of the disobedience.

I see what they are saying, but I don't want to give my kids any reason to disobey, or have them thinking that sometimes, it is OK.  This is just me, but I didn't care for that part.

BUT, honestly, other than that, I absolutely, positively recommend this to you all.

I think you will love it.

If you are interested in purchasing Peter and the Wolf, you can find it for $16.98 at Maestro Classics.


I thought you may want to know that they offer other CD's as well, such as:

The Tortoise and the Hare
The Story of Swan Lake
Juanita, the Spanish Lobster
Casey at the Bat
Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
and of course, Peter and the Wolf!

Enjoy!

*EDITED TO ADD: Maestro Classics has just launched it's new website, and it has a lot more to offer. It looks like it will soon offer a download option as well. The new website is beautiful. I encourage you to check it out. All links have been updated to the new website.*

Check out what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about Peter and the Wolf!

*I have received a copy of Peter and the Wolf, free, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew, in return for my honest opinion. No other compensation has been given to me.*