The CBSO have done it again! Last Sunday they performed another children’s concert to a packed hall (see How Would You Like to Drive a World Class Racing Car? for an article about the previous one). And the music this time was out of this world!
I know, I know—it’s another one of my riddles. Perhaps it would help if I said that the theme for this children’s concert was ‘To Infinity—and Beyond!’. So we had music about planets, music about the moon, music about a sunrise, music from the film ‘E.T.’, music from the film ‘Star Wars’ and, of course, music from the film ‘Toy Story’.
But I’m not going to say any more about the music itself. Instead I want to tell you a little bit about one person I took to this concert. She is nine years old and the best friend of one of my daughters. She likes music, is learning to play the piano, but had never been to a concert with a live orchestra before.
So what did she think? Well, she loved it! In fact, she said it was ‘really impressive’ when I asked her what she thought about it afterwards. But I didn’t really need to be told this. She had a huge grin on her face throughout the whole concert. Not only that, she couldn’t sit still. She just couldn’t stop herself jigging in time to the music!
In the interval she was also excited to see some of the musicians up close demonstrating their instruments. She was even able to stick her hand in the top of a tuba while it was being played so she could feel the sound being made! (See the article on the last family concert for more about the tuba. Some young bright spark on Sunday even asked the tuba player if he could play ‘Flight of the Bumble Bee’ again!! I don’t think the tuba player is going to be allowed to forget that in a hurry!)
My daughter’s friend was so happy. And when she got home, her parents told me she couldn’t stop talking about it. In the end she had to be told to be quiet and go to bed!
So why have I told you all this? Well, because I want to show you how exciting music can be for children. I strongly believe that music can fire children’s imagination and fire their enthusiasm.
And I know it can change lives.
I just wish every child had this opportunity.
If you’re a parent, don’t be shy. Take your child to a concert. If you’re a kid, nag your parents to take you to one.
And if you’re near Birmingham, go to the next children’s concert. It’s on Sunday 20th March and the theme is ‘The World at your Feet’.
Oh, and by the way, the presenter next time is Alasdair Malloy. He is simply great! His concerts are really special. He’s even going to play his glass harmonica on the 20th March (you’ll just have to go to find out what this strange instrument is!!!).
Just hope that the little person you took to the concert didn’t jig too much that disturbed others!
But now I think she would nag to her parents to take her to the next concert, especially after reading your encouragement! So well done and a million thanks!!! (considering that both parents are music blind).
No she didn’t jig too much at all! It was so wonderful to see someone enjoying music so much that she just couldn’t contain her joy! Long may that continue.
wow I am speechless