Music From Above Genius Of Beetoven Woven Into A Child’s Story

He wouldn’t be my first choice as a boarder. He ranted, wrote on the walls, slept at strange hours and cut the legs off of his piano so he could play it on the floor.

But while often considered eccentric, and even mad, Ludwig van Beethoven gave the world musical treasures adults have appreciated for over a century.

Children can get excited over Beethoven as well, believes Susan Hammond, a Canadian music teacher, pianist and mother.

“I know classical music can move children because it’s very tender music and children can respond to that range of emotion,” she says.

To prove her point, in 1988, Hammond used her inheritance money to produce “Beethoven Lives Upstairs,” an audiotape of the composer’s music and life. The tape, an instant success, spawned a video and then a live children’s symphony concert that has played throughout North America.

“Beethoven Lives Upstairs” will be performed at the Spokane Opera House Thursday night and complimentary tickets are being offered on a first-come, first-served basis to encourage families with young children to experience an evening with this brilliant composer.

The University of Idaho Symphony and the Young Children’s Group from Toronto will present the show at 7 p.m., as part of the Music Educators National Conference held this week in Spokane. (Concert attendees must pick up the free tickets in advance, available at the Opera House, Coliseum, Met and Spokane Symphony box offices.)

The fictionalized story of “Beethoven Lives Upstairs” is set in 19th century Vienna. Beethoven has moved into the upper studio apartment of a young boy, Christoph, whose father has recently died. In a series of letters to his uncle, Christoph relays the horrors of having the eccentric composer living above him. The uncle, who is familiar with Beethoven’s musical genius, helps Christoph understand the reasons for the boarder’s irritating behavior.

Eventually, Christoph befriends Beethoven and comes to understand the genius of his soul, the torment of his deafness and the beauty of his music. After attending the first performance of the Ninth Symphony, the boy at last understands that “Beethoven wanted to change the world with his music - perhaps he will do it, bit by bit.”

More than 30 excerpts of the master’s music - including some pieces Beethoven wrote especially for children - are magically woven into the stage drama as two actors share their anecdotes and observations, based on true incidents from the composer’s life.

“It’s less a concert than an experience,” says Hammond, coproducer of the performance, who believes children can feel the struggle of the composer reaching for the impossible.

“We underestimate our children and their abilities,” Hammond says. “They’re capable of listening to 45 minutes of continuous drama and music and they’re capable of a much wider spread of emotions than are usually offered to them in the media.”

It isn’t just upstairs that Beethoven lives. After seeing this performance, Hammond hopes he’ll come to reside in a few young people’s hearts as well.

Step up to the plate: For physically or mentally challenged boys and girls, ages 6-18, Challenger Division Baseball will be starting its first ever 10-game season here in May.

Sign-ups will be held Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at N9427 Newport Highway in Spokane. No experience is necessary to play. Coaching volunteers and sponsors are also needed.

For more information, call Kent Burns at 467-4413 (work) or 467-4261 (home).

When airplanes aren’t enough: For grandparents separated by hundreds of miles, who desire to maintain a close relationship with their grandchildren, “Long Distance Grandparenting” by Rose Marie Barhydt and Bonnie Potter ($7.95, Blanfield Publishing) gives practical tips on the subject.

The book includes sections on oral histories, gift-giving, communicating with grandchildren, maintaining family traditions and more. To order, call (313) 662-4398.

Sloppy, slippery, satisfying: “Kids’ Crazy Concoctions” by Jill Frankel Hauser ($12.95, Williamson Publishing) is an art book of 50 recipes and more than 90 art projects for children 4 and up, giving kids the opportunity to make various crafts from gooey substances. To order, call (800) 234-8791.

Computer education for kids: Compukids is a business in Spokane offering computer classes to children, 3 to 10 years, through day-care centers, schools and Saturday classes, to familiarize them with computers and software (provided by Compukids).

Classes cost $36 for four weeks (45-minute sessions). Call Kathy Casey at Compukids, 448-6335, for more information.