Classically Inspired

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children

 
30 March, 2010
 

CD's and Children

I've just had a thought. Well I get a few of those, but this one has me pondering.

When I was a child, part of what introduced me to classical music were the CD's my parents had. They didn't have a huge collection, just a few of the compilation CD's that I picked up and played. I didn't do this often, but I listened enough to learn a bit about Tchaikovsky and Beethoven, Mozart et al through their famous pieces.

Now that CD's are becoming less common in favour of mp3's I wonder how children can do the same thing I did. They would have to physically use their parents mp3 player or computer to listen, and that to me seems less likely to happen.

All this depends on people having classical music in their collection anyway, in whatever format. Television has now classical music channels and maybe these are a way to introduce some children to classical music, given a child's need for visual impetus: short and sweet pieces, perfect for when channel surfing between breaks in programmes.

Filed under  //   children   music   outreach  

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21 January, 2010
 

Giving every child a chance

Some good news, more an more orchestras and concert venues are holding outreach programs for children and a few are even seeking to attract adults to concerts. All of this can only be a good thing; investing in classical music for the future. With the advent of the internet and more technological advancements, how soon will it be before going out to listen to music (of whatever style) is the exception rather than the norm. As long as music still has a place in the National Curriculum, you will always have a few children growing up to become either professional musicians or concert goers.

However...

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Filed under  //   Hull   children   outreach  

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18 December, 2009
 

Why did you attend a classical concert?

It wasn't until I was in my 20's that I first attended a classical concert. Prior to this very few thoughts of going to a concert existed due in large part to a lack of resources in my city (if they don't advertise how do people know they exist?) and a preconception that I would stand out from the crowd (i.e not fitting their target demographic). It was very off putting.

When I moved to London, things changed, quite quickly. The most import part of this change, was my decision to start learning to play the violin, I had previous lessons when I was very young, but gave up at the time. In finding a teacher I met my neighbour, who just so happened to be a conductor and there it began. He helped and made classical music seem slightly less elitist, and through him and my violin teacher I began to learn more about the music and started to go to concerts. I wont pretend that before moving to London I had no interest in classical music, but my knowledge was limited to Nigel Kennedy, Beethoven, the 1812 and the proms. I like classical music because I like it, I have no music degree and my knowledge of the technical side of music making is limited but I love it and love going to concerts. In London the tickets are cheaper than in Hull, which I find slightly strange, but maybe thats due to so few concert being played in Hull that they have to charge more.

Charging more than I trip for two or three to the cinema for just one concert ticket puts people who have never been before, it's as simple as that.

What I'm most interested in finding out about are what orchestras are doing to attract new adult audiences. I'm aware that there are a number of outreach programmes, catering for children which is brilliant, see the London Symphony Orchestra's get involved page and  and the London Philharmonic's educational information page, the Philharmonia's educational page as well as the Royal Philharmonic's page This is all great work and yes some of it does focus of adults, this is something I'd like to look further at in the future.

Disregarding those orchestras who plan outreach events for adults, lets face facts, outreach for children is future planning, not the present. Children relay on their parents to take and pay for them, even school trips have to be paid for, so what perhaps is equally important if not more so, is to engage the parent and future parents to foster a love of classical music that may inspire their children to become interested. It is no use to an orchestra now to have a child love classical music but their parents not understand this and pay little attention to it.

In the new year I'm going to look at all these outreach programmes that cater for adults too and see how they do it.

Filed under  //   children   classical concerts   outreach  

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