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    "result": {"data":{"markdownRemark":{"id":"1db0e5f2-1841-5986-888e-168da7e23922","html":"<p>Children Will Listen</p>\n<p>“Careful the things you say\nChildren will listen\nCareful the things you do\nChildren will see and learn\nChildren may not obey, but children will listen\nChildren will look to you for which way to turn\nTo learn what to be\nCareful before you say ‘Listen to me’\nChildren will listen”</p>\n<p>Into the Woods is one of my favorite musicals.  Ever!</p>\n<p>The first time I experienced Into the Woods was in the year 1988.  I was a Freshman at Indiana State University when my “Introduction to music history” professor asked if I would be interested in playing in the pits for a musical.  He went on to say that he was conducting at the local music theater and then excitedly said, “We are doing Sondheim’s Into the Woods!”</p>\n<p>I had never heard of “Into the Woods”, had no idea what a Sondheim was, and yet I enthusiastically agreed to play.  Soon after, I was introduced to a show that soon became one of my favorite musicals ever!</p>\n<p>The cast and crew included some of my professors and classmates.</p>\n<p>Playing the show was an experience that I will always cherish.  It was the first musical I played with musicians who were considered professional, as well as the first and only musical I have played that used one trumpet.  I have not had the opportunity to play “Into the Woods” since, so I have no idea if the score called for more trumpet players.</p>\n<p>Regardless, it was a blast!</p>\n<p>Many of the songs are memorable, and to this day snippets of the tunes will play in my head as I live life.  However, one tune has always remained at the top of my “Favorite songs from Musicals list”.</p>\n<p>“Children Will Listen.”</p>\n<p>When I returned home for Christmas Break, I rented “Into the Woods” on VHS from my local library.  Remember, this was 1988; we did not have DVDs or Blu-rays at that time.</p>\n<p>I encouraged my parents and brother to watch it with me.  I cannot remember if they watched it or not, but what I do remember is that when Bernadette Peters sang, “Children Will Listen.” I sat in auditory bliss.</p>\n<p>To me, Bernadette Peters is the Final Jeopardy answer to, “This person sang the best rendition of ‘Children Will Listen’, and no one will ever sing it better…ever!”</p>\n<p>However, there is a close second.</p>\n<p>Remember, this is my blog, and I am spewing forth my opinion.</p>\n<p>The close second is Mandy Patinkin.  Yes, that is correct, Inigo Montoya himself.  If you have never heard him sing this tune, please do yourself a favor and find it on YouTube!</p>\n<p>In May of 2025, I titled my blog, “Take the Stage”, and mentioned the Bugs Bunny cartoon, “The Rabbit of Seville”.  In the blog, I noted that some people claim that cartoon introduced them to classical music.  Bravo Bugs…Bravo.</p>\n<p>Let me ask you a few questions.</p>\n<p>Was it wrong to use music from an opera to make a cartoon?</p>\n<p>Did the original music become less, because it was used in a different type of genre than originally intended?</p>\n<p>Are the people who heard the music in the cartoon, who later searched and listened to the original version of the music, less appreciative or to be looked at disdainfully?</p>\n<p>The answer is no.</p>\n<p>I know that some music snobs will throw a fit and claim that it is disrespectful for music to be used in other genres than how they were originally scored.</p>\n<p>My answer to that is, why do they accept orchestral adaptations of “Toccata and Fugue” by Bach, when it was originally written for organ?</p>\n<p>Why is it like, “Cleansing the palate”, when a chamber ensemble plays pieces arranged from “The Well-Tempered Clavier”?</p>\n<p>It is not disrespectful to arrange pieces of music for other genres, groups, or venues.  Many times, it is seen as a compliment when a piece is quoted or played in ways that the piece was not originally written.\nAll of these thoughts and questions make me want to ask another question.</p>\n<p>Why do people complain about the music that marching bands and drum corps put on the field?</p>\n<p>“I cannot believe they put ‘Carmina Burana’ on the field.  What an atrocity, a slap in the face, and a disgrace to music!”  The monocle-wearing, Monopoly guy-looking, music snob may mutter.</p>\n<p>Instead, the comments should be, “I cannot believe they put ‘Carmina Burana’ on the field!  I loved how they brought the power of the music and made it come to life!  Hopefully, some of the kids will listen to the original.”</p>\n<p>Maybe it is the educator in me seeping through.  Maybe I see many moments as learning moments.  Opportunities to share music, become excited, and, if interested, dig deeper and understand the history, heritage, and happiness it has brought through the ages.</p>\n<p>You see, when we introduce kids to music, via concert band, marching band, rock band, ska band, funk band, folk band, or any combination of instruments imaginable, they will listen.</p>\n<p>“Careful the things you say\nChildren will listen\nCareful the things you do\nChildren will see and learn”</p>","frontmatter":{"date":"October 02, 2026","title":"Children Will Listen","description":"\"If you build it, they will come.\"\n\"If you play it, they will listen.\"\n\"If they play it, they will learn.\"","tags":["Musicals","Listen"]}}},"pageContext":{"id":"1db0e5f2-1841-5986-888e-168da7e23922"}},
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