Adagio Adventures: In the Garden
- Kayla Collingwood
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
An imaginative journey through classical music for children aged 4-8
After a break from releasing new Sound Garden resources, I’m excited to slowly share new products which have been quietly growing behind the scenes.
I took some time to focus on other projects, such as my own work as a performer and teacher, expand my skills in visual design and digital product creation, and to understand of the evolving role of AI in creative work.
Like many artists and educators, I’ve had to consider how these tools can be used ethically - not to replace human creativity or intention, but to support and strengthen it. You’ll now find AI use statements across my resources, including this one. While I may use AI tools to assist with tasks like idea development, planning, and editing, all final content is designed and written by me, or sourced under appropriate licensing. That creative integrity is a core part of how I work.
Now, let me introduce myself and this new product for early learners!
About Me
Who am I? Hi! I’m Kayla Collingwood, founder of Sound Garden and a passionate classical singer, educator, and creator.
Why trust me? Because as well as my work singing and teaching, I also worked in early childhood and as a nanny at various points in my life. Child development through play and storytelling is very important to me. Beyond that, helping listeners of all ages to connect with classical music and the world around them more broadly is my goal!
I’m so glad you’re here. Take a look around the rest of the site after you finish reading this post!
🌱 What is Adagio Adventures?
Adagio Adventures is a story-led series designed to bring classical music to life for children aged approximately 4 to 8.
Each edition combines:
An original story to read aloud
Carefully curated classical music pieces to accompany each chapter
Creative, hands-on activities inspired by the music
In this first instalment, In the Garden, children join the Sound Gardeners – Grove, Aria, Coco, and Theo – on a magical journey to find mysterious “music seeds” hidden throughout the Sound Garden. Each chapter features a new classical work and a set of activities designed to support musical exploration and child-led learning.
🎧 Listen Along with the Playlist
Each chapter in the book is paired with a piece of classical music that inspired the story and activities. You can find the full playlist on Spotify here:
Here is the tracklist:
Morning Mood – Edvard Grieg
Peter and the Wolf – Sergei Prokofiev
Pastoral Symphony – Ludwig van Beethoven
Flower Duet – Léo Delibes
Waltz of the Flowers – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Moldau – Bedřich Smetana
Le papillon et la fleur – Gabriel Fauré
Le jardin féerique – Maurice Ravel
Spring in Dresden – Chen Yi
Summerland – William Grant Still
✨ Why This Resource?
I created Adagio Adventures to make classical music feel accessible, relevant, and joyful for children, and just as empowering for the adults guiding them. While many classical music books for children focus primarily on passive listening, this resource offers a more immersive and well-rounded experience. At Sound Garden, I’m committed to creating materials that are not only highly educational, but also developmentally appropriate, creatively engaging, and genuinely fun for learners of all ages and levels of experience.
You do not need a musical background to use this resource. It’s designed for real-life settings, whether you’re working with children at home, in 1:1 music lessons, or in group environments such as classrooms or workshops.
🎯 Recommended for ages 4 to 8, with flexibility to adapt for younger or older children depending on their interests, needs, and stage of development.
📥 How to Get It
You can purchase Adagio Adventures: In the Garden as a digital download through my Etsy shop.
You’ll receive:
A printable PDF (A4 format)
Access to the playlist
10 stories + 40 themed music activities
A flexible resource you can use again and again
🛍️ Explore More Sound Garden Resources
This is just one of a growing range music education resources for both adults and children in my Etsy shop.
Just a few of my other products:
The Composer Activity Guide series for early learners, focusing on specific composers
The Classical Inspirations workbook series for school aged children
Resources for music teachers, homeschoolers, musicians, and creative individuals and families
Online courses (available through Payhip)
🌸 I’d love to hear how you use it!
If you try out this resource with your child or students, please feel free to tag me on social media (@kaylacollingwood), or send your photos and stories to contact@kaylacollingwood.com.
Every child’s musical journey is different, and I’d be honoured to be a small part of yours!
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