News

Classics Go Country

[ The University of Melbourne Voice Vol. 3, No. 10  8 December - 12 January 2009 ]

By Genevieve Costigan

When a trio of young Melbourne classical musicians noticed their audiences were largely middle-aged or elderly they began to wonder: “Where are the children – where is the next generation of audiences?”

Such musings led the trio on a tour of country Victoria and New South Wales to entertain and educate young children about classical music.

The Yarra Trio, Holly Piccoli (violin), Chris Howlett (cello) and Stefan Cassomenos (piano) – a University of Melbourne-based ensemble – recently won a University-sponsored Dreamlarge Knowledge Transfer student grant which will help them to continue their regional touring, giving evening recitals and Proms for Preps children’s concerts.

Proms for Preps focuses on giving primary school students a positive, often first-time experience of classical music. Apart from learning about the different instruments, the children are engaged in using their imaginations by guessing which animals a piece of music represents or learning how to conduct by using colourful plastic straws.

Yarra Trio mentor Dr Stuart Greenbaum, Head of Composition in the University’s Faculty of Music, says that for some children in rural schools their interaction with live classical music is peripheral or non-existent.

“To hear classical music played at a professional level is for some students life-changing. For others, who may not be musical, the experience shows them how classical music can be part of their lives,” he says

“In an environment where the world has so many problems music can seem like a luxury, but music contributes to how we define ourselves as a society – it is part of how we feel, who we are and how we think about ourselves,” Dr Greenbaum says.

Chris Howlett discovered that primary school children in regional areas do not have the negative perceptions of classical music which the Yarra Trio has sometimes found in metropolitan Melbourne.

“The children had so many questions for us, after one performance the girls flocked to Holly while the boys surrounded Stefan and me wanting to ‘have a go’ on the instruments and even asking us about our suits and shoes,” he says.

Holly notes that: “The teachers were surprised by the children’s delight and were very keen to have us back.”

Stefan recalls that: “Watching the kids conduct was interesting because they didn’t have to be particularly musical, just confident, and it attracted both the naughty kids and the angels.”

The Trio uses music both from its normal repertoire and music which the children may have heard before such as Mozart’s Eine Kleine NachtMusik, Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld (Can Can) and the much loved Teddy Bears Picnic.

“An inspiration for us is the fact that we’ve had so many opportunities ourselves with teachers helping us and going out of their way to give us extra lessons that we feel we should give something back too. We want to show the world about the dimension music can bring to people’s lives,” says Chris.

Arts Across Victoria, Regional Arts Victoria’s performing arts touring program, is the Yarra Trio’s partner in the regional touring project, providing managerial support, advice on touring, assistance in negotiations with presenters regarding scheduling and sell-off fees and help with applications for State government funding.

For more information about the Yarra Trio visit www.theyarratrio.com.au