The Musical Journeys Program of the SUNY Fredonia School of Music continues its eighth season of free concerts designed to appeal to very young children. Selected student ensembles from the Fredonia School of Music will perform half-hour Children’s Concerts on four Saturday mornings with two performances (one at 10:30 a.m. and one at 11:30 a.m.). The next concert will be held on March 1 in Darwin R. Barker Library, 7 Day St. in Fredonia.

Planned with the help of SUNY Fredonia faculty who are experts in music and education, the concerts are designed to introduce very young audiences (from infants to 6-year-olds) to musical instruments. In this child-friendly environment, performers will invite the children to sit on the floor close to the musicians; family members are encouraged to bring blankets or carpet squares to sit on. Strollers can be parked around the edges of the seating area.

“It’s wonderful to see the musical relationship between the children and the college student performers develop as the concert progresses. The musicians are sharing music they love, and the children certainly respond to that,” said Sarah Hamilton, associate professor of oboe and co-organizer.

A woodwind quintet will perform at the March 1 concert. The musicians are Fredonia School of Music students Sydney Moore, flute (Bryon), Michael Banko, oboe (West Seneca), Omar Calixto, clarinet (The Bronx), Leah Cripps, bassoon (Central Square), and Jeremy Hachten, horn (Lancaster).

“The Children’s Concerts are enjoyable, child-appropriate opportunities for very young children to interact with music and musicians. For the young audience and the performers, music becomes a playmate to join in a thrilling adventure,” said Jill Reese, assistant professor of music and co-organizer at the Fredonia School of Music. “During these events, learning and teaching among the children and the student musicians is mutual: children learn about music through moving, listening, and creating, and our student musicians learn to engage young imaginations and ignite new musical passions!”

The Children’s Concert Series is part of the Musical Journeys Program, a community outreach project offered by the Fredonia School of Music. More information is available at www.fredonia.edu/music/community/ccs.asp or call 673-4628.