Aurora children's concerts

[french frank]

Interesting article in the latest Kings Place magazine. The Aurora Orchestra is working on a new way of engaging even very young children (0-6 year-olds as well as 6s+) with classical music.

Their Writer-in-Residence behind much of it, Kate Wakeling, says: "There's been this idea that there is some music deemed 'suitable' for children, and that adventuring beyond that is 'too risky' or difficult for them. We don't subscribe to that at all so our starting point is always the greatest music, even if it's in miniature form."

They've covered the Goldberg Variations (! ) and the Well Tempered Clavier; next they tackle Chopin's Preludes. In the WTC, they imagined the melody as being in search of her 'family' and ending in a fugue, so the music is the starting point for a story. All very interactive ...

It sounds very imaginative and is the opposite of leading children from what they know (e.g. the theme from The Simpson, à la Making Tracks). Most important, children get to hear the stuff, and in a context that will keep them interested.

If only the BBC had a bit of that dedication.

[french frank]

I take back my comment about the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/cbeebiesgrownups/posts/Melody-classical-music-and-imagination-on-CBeebies

[MrGongGong]

All good stuff indeed

One thought I have, which is in NO WAY meant to diminish good work at all which this is
is why does almost everyone resort to narrative as a way of encouraging children to listen to music?

It is ONE way of thinking about music
but not the only one by any means.

It's a question that has been discussed many times in relation to how composition is taught in schools (Sound And Music has just published a report on a piece of research into the teaching of composition in secondary schools).

Sometimes thinking about music as a "story" gets in the way of listening to the music. In a compositional context the over reliance on narrative forms can lead to students rejecting really interesting material because it "doesn't fit the story".

Sometimes music is a "place to be" rather than a "journey to go on".

[Beef Oven!]

All good stuff indeed

One thought I have, which is in NO WAY meant to diminish good work at all which this is
is why does almost everyone resort to narrative as a way of encouraging children to listen to music?

It is ONE way of thinking about music
but not the only one by any means.

It's a question that has been discussed many times in relation to how composition is taught in schools (Sound And Music has just published a report on a piece of research into the teaching of composition in secondary schools).

Sometimes thinking about music as a "story" gets in the way of listening to the music. In a compositional context the over reliance on narrative forms can lead to students rejecting really interesting material because it "doesn't fit the story".

Sometimes music is a "place to be" rather than a "journey to go on".

Very well put, and very interesting.

I've always believed that there is a fundamental problem with how we engage young people with music (but not been able to explain it, as a professional such as yourself can).

My instincts have always told me that we should use fascinating, curious and diverse 'sounds'. Sadly at school, I could never relate to Peter or that wolf or any of the animals is any carnivals. But I was fascinated with the sound that an egg would make if it was rolled on a wooden table and you pressed your ear down on the table! Ok, I'm weird.

How many children have we lost to 'the cause' because the narrative just does doesn't relate?

The problem is that whilst it is difficult for adults to see the world as a child does, it impossible if unenlightened adults are the ones doing the educating.

Keep rocking MrGG!!

[MrGongGong]

But I was fascinated with the sound that an egg would make if it was rolled on a wooden table and you pressed your ear down on the table! Ok, I'm weird.:

I know just the piece for you

It's a French acousmatic one, you can tell it's French because there's only one egg in it!



As you say "fascinating, curious and diverse" SOUNDS are what we need.

P&TW is interesting but not enough time to go into that today, got some young folks heads to mess with first !
(doing 100 people with bubble wrap and 3 orchestral musicians)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Sometimes thinking about music as a "story" gets in the way of listening to the music. In a compositional context the over reliance on narrative forms can lead to students rejecting really interesting material because it "doesn't fit the story".

Sometimes music is a "place to be" rather than a "journey to go on".

This attitude to "The Narrative" hampers a lot of students' creative work in Literature, too.

[french frank]

All good stuff indeed

One thought I have, which is in NO WAY meant to diminish good work at all which this is
is why does almost everyone resort to narrative as a way of encouraging children to listen to music?

It is ONE way of thinking about music
but not the only one by any means.

In this case, I take it that it's because the 'Writer-in-Residence' is playing a large part - and she writes stories. In principle, I agree with you - since I never see pictures connected with the music (though if my attention wanders I might start visualising the aisles in the Coop, trying to think what I need to buy).

And classical music, because it's an orchestra for whom that's the specialism. And that seems a good thing in itself, unless one happens to believe such music is an irrelevance and children shouldn't be bothered with it. Whereas the Doctor Who Proms don't trouble me too much (I don't have to go or listen to them), I do feel it's a cop-out by the BBC to be using 'their' classical music festival in what seems to me (opinion coming!) a pretty unimaginative way to 'introduce' children to - what, exactly?

[doversoul1]

All good stuff indeed

One thought I have, which is in NO WAY meant to diminish good work at all which this is
is why does almost everyone resort to narrative as a way of encouraging children to listen to music?

It is ONE way of thinking about music
but not the only one by any means.

It's a question that has been discussed many times in relation to how composition is taught in schools (Sound And Music has just published a report on a piece of research into the teaching of composition in secondary schools).

Sometimes thinking about music as a "story" gets in the way of listening to the music. In a compositional context the over reliance on narrative forms can lead to students rejecting really interesting material because it "doesn't fit the story".

Sometimes music is a "place to be" rather than a "journey to go on".

Very glad that I didn’t jump in too soon. My confidence in music educators has been thoroughly restored . As a child, I hated having to make up a story or a picture about the music I’d heard. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that this is a beginning of ‘text us and tweet us’, but almost.

As for babies, although I have no doubt in the organiser’s sincerity, I am not quite convinced. If parents believe that classical music is a good thing in life, why don’t they just play it at home? If parents have no idea what is available, i.e. they have no interested in classical music themselves, why bother (older children are different matter)?

Babies, or more precisely, mothers on maternity leave who are going out of their mind with boredom are one of the fastest growing markets. These women are constantly looking out for somewhere to go and something to do: baby yoga, baby sign language, baby tough & feel sense class… these activities may convince parents that they are helping their babies but in practice, this is more likely to be a way of preventing mothers from becoming depressed. Hard work for babies.

[Beef Oven!]

I know just the piece for you

It's a French acousmatic one, you can tell it's French because there's only one egg in it!



As you say "fascinating, curious and diverse" SOUNDS are what we need.

P&TW is interesting but not enough time to go into that today, got some young folks heads to mess with first !
(doing 100 people with bubble wrap and 3 orchestral musicians)

[teamsaint]

This attitude to "The Narrative" hampers a lot of students' creative work in Literature, too.

And there are similar issues, in my opinion in Maths, Science, technology, life skills, other arts, whatever.

In fact, as Mr GG often says about music, it begs the question, "What is education FOR"?

What it shouldn't be for is as a weeding out process.

[teamsaint]

Very glad that I didn’t jump in too soon. My confidence in music educators has been thoroughly restored . As a child, I hated having to make up a story or a picture about the music I’d heard. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that this is a beginning of ‘text us and tweet us’, but almost.

As for babies, although I have no doubt in the organiser’s sincerity, I am not quite convinced. If parents believe that classical music is a good thing in life, why don’t they just play it at home? If parents have no idea what is available, i.e. they have no interested in classical music themselves, why bother (older children are different matter)?

Babies, or more precisely, mothers on maternity leave who are going out of their mind with boredom are one of the fastest growing markets. These women are constantly looking out for somewhere to go and something to do: baby yoga, baby sign language, baby tough & feel sense class… these activities may convince parents that they are helping their babies but in practice, this is more likely to be a way of preventing mothers from becoming depressed. Hard work for babies.

and then they are dumped in nurseries at some desperately young and inappropriate age, as the first step on a process that after 13 or so years of full time (ish) education will leave many of them functionally illiterate and innumerate.
And their parents looking down both barrels of a working lifetime that will stretch towards age 70 and beyond.

Calamitous. But planned that way .

[Beef Oven!]

"......... I do feel it's a cop-out by the BBC to be using 'their' classical music festival in what seems to me (opinion coming!) a pretty unimaginative way to 'introduce' children to - what, exactly?"

Something that will open doors/minds to other musics?
Events?
Concerts?
120 people sitting in front of you making amazing sounds?
An alternative to going to McDonald's for recreation?

Isn't the list endless?

[french frank]

Isn't the list endless?

Yes, but all seem fairly unambitious objectives for, specifically, the 'world's greatest classical music festival'.

[Beef Oven!]

Yes, but all seem fairly unambitious objectives for, specifically, the 'world's greatest classical music festival'.

I don't see it as an ambition or aspiration - more a necessity. Lest classical/serious/whatever music will be no more than an entry in Wikipedia in 150 years time.

[Beef Oven!]

and then they are dumped in nurseries at some desperately young and inappropriate age, as the first step on a process that after 13 or so years of full time (ish) education will leave many of them functionally illiterate and innumerate.
And their parents looking down both barrels of a working lifetime that will stretch towards age 70 and beyond.

Calamitous. But planned that way .

Sod living in Hampshire