How should I bring classical music awareness into the primary school?

[dora96]

Recently, a friend of mine asks me to give a talk about classical music in the primary school. I thought to myself, it is rather awkward because I have never given a talk about classical music to young audiences. I don't mind playing some Master piece of classical music. I want to demonstrate some classical music, the styles, period, and different composers but I don't want to make it too boring for young kids sitting down and listen music they might not know anything about them.

In the past, I have given concert to high school, but it wasn't that successful and interesting. However, some kids do express the love of music, the struggle to learn the piano.My aim is to bring awareness  and bring attention to young kids the wonderful world of music.

Does anyone have any experienced about giving a talk and show interest of classical music to young kids? What should I say and how should I present a talk or demonstration but not getting too boring or uninterested to young kids? Please help
 

[m19834]

Well, I have a few different kinds of experiences with this.  Thinking on some of them, there are actually some pretty funny (to me now) ones.  The first experience with this that I ever had was when I was a counselor for a summer kids program with the YMCA.  We were holding some kind of show where groups of kids were supposed to get together on stage and do something with music.  Well, this was during a time when I was very seriously engaged in school and my own study of piano at University, so I encouraged the idea of us doing a skit of some sort to a Classical piece of music.  Each of the kids made their own cardboard cutouts of musical instruments and then they stood up on stage in front of all the other kids playing their Classical cardboards while we all listened to some Mozart Concerto of my choosing ... ha ha ... I can't remember anything about it except that I knew the mom of one of the kids and even years later she told me that her son had actually kept the cardboard string bass until it disintegrated !

Then, at some point I sprung the idea of giving a little piano concert to an elementary school.  Boy oh boy !  I did my best with what I knew back then, putting together some kind of script about contrasting pieces, and trying to involve them, but I played a lot of pretty classical stuff (Hadyn, Shostakovich and I can't quite recall what else).  The program lasted for about 25 minutes and I was still a bit too serious.  They were polite and for the most part I could say they were interested, but I had kindergartners through second graders in the first few rows and the 4th and 5th graders toward the back.  At one point in the Shostakovich fugue (which I had played the subject for before hand and tried to have them listen for how many times it was played in the piece), I became keenly aware of this intense movement from all of those k-2nd graders, moving as one entity as though they had fire ants underneath of them, and I made the executive decision to end the piece early ... hee hee.  I think I even ended the entire program early ! 

My next experience was last year when I did a program called "Opera in the Schools" where three singers (one of them being me) a pianist and a flutist went around to the area's schools giving about 120 shows.  This was a very quick-paced program with minimal costumes and minimal props, but definite characters.  This was by far the most captivating and well-recieved program and I learned quite a bit from that experience.  Whatever the program is that you end up doing, it needs to be varied and pretty fast-paced.  Talking needs to be less dominant than demonstration (and questions that involve them are a good idea) and whatever the demonstration is, it needs to be very engaging.  For example, instead of just talking about guys in white wigs, perhaps wearing a white wig and acting like a specific composer is a good way.  Funny in general is a good way to go with them, I think.

I will actually be planning to give some kind of presentation this year again at my husband's school at least, and I am thinking along the lines of what I have just mentioned to you.  Right now, I am thinking there needs to be some kind of "act" involved and that I will have to commit entirely to whatever my character(s) would be.  That is a little tougher as a one-person show, I think, and as a solo person whom is not actually a part of a company that makes up the script and act... in the case of the individual, whatever happens it's been the individual's deciding for better or for worse, and I think that fact can prevent individuals from committing entirely to the moment.

Now, with all of that being said, it is not to say that costumes and a fast-paced program will always do the trick, because it isn't the magic recipe necessarily.  And, I suppose there are some kids whom are willing to just be lectured to and they may be perfectly intrigued.  What really matters is that they can somehow relate to the music itself and that whatever is truly attractive about music -- be it classical or any other type -- is at the forefront of the presentation.  For the most part, I think, anybody who listens to music wants to be somehow transported to another experience.  Obviously, talking about that vs. providing the opportunity for music to work its magic are very different presentations.  The trick is that we all relate to music slightly differently and whatever is brought forth within the music to those kids needs to be extremely accessible to them.

Well, I may be back as I come up with different ideas.  Cheers and May the Schwartz be with you  !

[faulty_damper]

Addressing the "awareness" part:

Awareness means understanding at a very basic level.  Giving one concert to a group of elementary school students will never bring awareness - it only brings a moment away from the labors of their regular schedule.

If you want awareness, you first must expose them to the target stimuli (in this case, "classical music") from an early age on a regular basis.

Everyone is aware of the popular music that proliferates.  It is played on the radio and in the background of TV shows.  We are exposed to it on a daily basis and many choose to listen to it.

Popular music is real music because there is a common understanding of it.  In this context, Classical music is not real music because there is no common understanding even among "classical" musicians (who mostly do not listen to classical music.)  These musicians are more interested in playing their instrument than in making music.

You can't bring awareness of "classical music" into any school, even music schools, because that requires something one person is incapable of doing.

One person can, in fact, create interest in "classical music".

[dora96]

Addressing the "awareness" part:

Awareness means understanding at a very basic level.  Giving one concert to a group of elementary school students will never bring awareness - it only brings a moment away from the labors of their regular schedule.

If you want awareness, you first must expose them to the target stimuli (in this case, "classical music") from an early age on a regular basis.

Everyone is aware of the popular music that proliferates.  It is played on the radio and in the background of TV shows.  We are exposed to it on a daily basis and many choose to listen to it.

Popular music is real music because there is a common understanding of it.  In this context, Classical music is not real music because there is no common understanding even among "classical" musicians (who mostly do not listen to classical music.)  These musicians are more interested in playing their instrument than in making music.

You can't bring awareness of "classical music" into any school, even music schools, because that requires something one person is incapable of doing.

One person can, in fact, create interest in "classical music".

Faulty _damper have hit the nail right on the head. Before I posted this thread, I have the same feeling and opinion about introducing classical music to people, classical music is not that sort of music ordinary people will crazy about or fond of  listening. Even though, I play a lot in the retirement villages, month after month, I will play the same repertoires to the same audiences. They still have very slight idea what the music or even composers are. They are there because it is better to listen to someone playing the piano than looking at four walls at their room.

I love to play the piano, it is good practice for me especially for my performance diploma exam or any other major exam in the future. It is excellent to practice in front of a group of people. Since the primary school, there is no curriculum about music. They have a band in the school, only the kids are really wanting to do and currently taking instrument lesson. I feel really hard to make up a plan. Firstly, I don't want to bore them, secondly I want to give meaningful talk or demonstration, even entertain the teachers and kids which will be my goal.

I don't intent to spend too much time. Properly 10 - 15 minutes playing some masterpiece and then asking the students do they know the name of the music, who composes this piece of music. What do they feel when you listen to this kind of music? etc...

I know it is hard because I have never done this before, and I want to make it interesting and entertaining for the kids. Should I more focus on the playing the music and then asking question, maybe starting off like this for my first attempt. Afterwards, I hope I will have more idea what do they expect me to do?

Thinking back, at my primary school, we had piano concert every three months to give the opportunity to show students' skill and other talent outside the school curriculum. We had quite lot of opportunity to show off, but it is different nowadays, there are plenty to do sports or acting in the school assembly, but not much for kids to show as an individual.     

[dorfmouse]

Firstly, I don't want to bore them, secondly I want to give meaningful talk or demonstration, even entertain the teachers and kids which will be my goal.

I don't intent to spend too much time. Properly 10 - 15 minutes playing some masterpiece and then asking the students do they know the name of the music, who composes this piece of music. What do they feel when you listen to this kind of music? etc...

If you're talking about primary school kids, typical age 5-11, then I'm afraid you've got the best plan ever to bore them!
They are young, they are classical-musically illiterate, the school doesn't have a music curriculum, they haven't chosen to be there ... yet you want to play 15 mins worth of probably incomprehensible music to (at) them, and ask them questions which, most likely, none of them can answer. That's not exactly a recipe for engagement. (It wouldn't be for a captive audience of adults either!)
Unfortunately, with the best of intentions,you can't "bring classical music awareness" in a vacuum. A one off event like this needs to be exciting and involving for small children in the kind of ways karli is suggesting. Otherwise you risk reinforcing the idea that classical music is boring and you will feel disppointed and undermined.

[faulty_damper]

The easiest way to help bring interest is to play something that is recognizable.  It may be a common tune from a popular TV show or an oft-watched movie.  It should also be musically simple for ease in comprehension.  A fugue would not be musically simple to the ears but Fur Elise would be.  Also, many 'atonal' compositions are relatively simple and children generally like its novelty.  They think it's "cool".

[Bob]

Short pieces.  And short for an overall presentation. 

Maybe a mix of pieces?  Some pop, some classical.

Or a piece that tells a story? Then you have a something to speak out briefly.  "Some music tells a story.  This piece is about  a horse ride..."

[Petter]

Something like this might help. 

[kaitlyn7]

haha. thats cool

[cherub_rocker1979]

Ok, so combining classical music with disco is so like a 70s thing.  We're in the 21st century now, I think Dora should make a rap song that gives biographical info on different composers and the genres/styles in which they composed. 

[Petter]

You mean something like this? 

[cherub_rocker1979]

You mean something like this? 

haha, this vid

Yes, but make it less racy, since this will be for elementary school children.

On second thought, this video would work better for sex ed. 

[dora96]

Wow, some of you guys are enthusiasm about it. Honestly, I don't feel that classical music is boring to talk about. Not everybody will be interested in classical music, but if there is one person is happy and feel the connection with the classical music. It is worth while. Honestly to me, I feel there is no different 50 people listening to my performance or 2 to 6 people listening.

Before I felt sad, if I gave a performance, there hardly anyone turned up. But now, I don't give a damn about it any more. Classical music either you like or you don't. It is really black or white.

Come back to the primary school, you guys have given me some ideas, I will play some novelty   in my Midi control electronic piano. At least, there will be more sound, I can give an orchestral effect. Like other members said " it is hard to be sole player, I can't play and act at the same thing, or even do something funny. anyway, any more idea and I am all ears. Anything to make little people happy, it is worth while. If I never never go, I will never never know. 

[quasimodo]

Although I'm not the greatest of his fans, I think Mozart's history as a child-prodigy as well as his music is something that can be a good start to introduce classical music to kids.
The variations on "Twinkle twinkle little star" is most likely to catch a kid's attention, the theme is obviously familiar, and the variations afterwards would keep their attention. If that doesn't do the trick, then I don't believe anything else would.

[Bob]

Hooked on Classics?  Maybe they can combine music with gym class then.  Make more room for testing that way.

There must be successful examples, but some styles shouldn't be mixed.  You just end up with cheese.  Unless you wanted cheese in the first place, and in that case the mixing was successful.

[momopi]

music education was compulsory for us in Grade school and High school. they made us sing songs. grouped us into soprano, mezzo soprano, bajo etc... those who take private lessons were invited to play

we were also forced to memorize notes, keys etc., we familiarize ourselves with different instruments. (there are lots of instruments in the music room, which is not surprising) of course we also study traditional Asian music.

my favorite part of class are music history (western) and making fun of the teacher (she had a weird haircut wahahahaha).

of course this is just music appreciation class. I prefer private lessons where I can actually learn. music classes in school are fun nevertheless. keep teaching them!

and yeah, we had monthly exams too, it sucked because I had to study but I got good grades which was nice. unlike PE where I always fail because I'm clumsy and absent-minded hahaha