Get ready to explore a musical zoo like no other!

In this episode of Busy Kids Love Music, we’re diving into one of Camille Saint-Saëns’ most imaginative and beloved works—Carnival of the Animals. This whimsical suite features 14 short movements, each representing a different animal or creature, from regal lions and squawking roosters to gliding swans and even... piano students!

You’ll hear musical excerpts that bring each animal to life and learn:

• Why Saint-Saëns wrote Carnival of the Animals in secret

• What instrument represents the elephant

• Why The Swan was the only movement published during his lifetime

• How this suite became one of his most popular works after his death

PLUS: It’s an Audio Treasure Hunt episode!
Hidden throughout today’s episode are six musical clues. Download your free Treasure Hunt printable and see if you can answer them all as you listen.

Want to explore even more?
Sign up for my FREE 5-Day Online Music Camp inspired by Carnival of the Animals! Each day features music exploration, fun piano activities, and creative ways to bring the animals to life. Perfect for music-loving kids of all ages!
🔗 Link to join in the show notes.

Next Week: We wrap up our Saint-Saëns series with a spine-tingling piece—Danse Macabre—just in time for spooky season. Don’t miss it!

Resources Mentioned:

• Download the Audio Treasure Hunt Printable

• Join the FREE Carnival of the Animals Online Music Camp

• Listen to Carnival of the Animals in its entirety here

Busy Kids Love Music is created by Carly Seifert, piano teacher and founder of Busy Kids Do Piano, helping families explore the joy of music from their own homes.

📌 Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode — and keep your ears open for more musical adventures!

We’re kicking off a brand-new composer series—and this one’s all about the brilliant French composer Camille Saint-Saëns! 🎼

In this first episode of our 3-part series, your child will discover:

• What made Saint-Saëns a child prodigy

• His early musical education and incredible memory

• How travel and science inspired his compositions

• The tragedies and triumphs that shaped his life

• Why his music stood apart from others in his time

Plus! This episode includes a FREE Audio Treasure Hunt to make listening extra interactive and fun. Can your child catch how old Saint-Saëns was at his first public concert? Or what inspired his “Egyptian” piano concerto?

🎧 Featured Music Includes:

• Organ Symphony

• Piano Concerto No. 5 “The Egyptian”

• Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor

Don’t forget to download your free Audio Treasure Hunt worksheet and explore my curated playlist of Camille Saint-Saëns’ most beloved compositions.

🎹 Enrollment Now Open: If you’ve been thinking about starting piano lessons at home, now’s the perfect time! Public enrollment for Busy Kids Do Piano is open through August 18th. Learn more and sign up here.

Don’t miss Episode 157, where we’ll take a closer listen to The Carnival of the Animals—a delightful musical zoo full of lions, kangaroos, and the famous swan.

Until next time, keep listening and keep making music!

Welcome to the final stop on our Around the World with Busy Kids Love Music summer series! In this episode, we journey to the breathtaking island of Tahiti, the largest island in French Polynesia, where folk music and dance are central to cultural life.

From the energetic rhythms of the ʻoteʻa dance to the booming beats of the toʻere and pahu drums, Tahitian music is filled with movement and joy. We’ll explore the traditional instruments, musical styles, and even group choral chants like himene tarava, which blend Polynesian harmonies with European influences.

You’ll also:

• Hear samples of traditional Tahitian drumming and singing

• Learn how music and dance are celebrated at the Heiva Festival

• Discover how Tahitian children carry on musical traditions today

• Explore how modern musicians are blending traditional instruments with new sounds

Don’t forget! Download your Tahiti Passport Stamp to complete your musical journey around the world.

Check out this playlist on YouTube to view incredible Tahitian performances.

🎹 Plus, exciting news! Public enrollment for Busy Kids Do Piano and Busy Moms Do Piano opens August 4th! Learn more about Busy Kids here and Busy Moms here.

Thanks for joining us on this global musical adventure—see you in two weeks for more musical exploration!