Comments on: Critic makes good speech, no pans for Peter

By: Peter Wilson

Peter Wilson — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:05:59 +0000

You’re right about schools exposure to music. Here in Norwich we’ve been running the Norfolk Schools Project twice yearly since 1997, trying to ensure that every primary schoolchild in the county has the opportunity to be involved in their own creation and performance of an adaptation of a classic opera. So over 2,000 children have made their own versions, using tropes from the scores, of Cosi, The Ring, Makropulos Case, Bartered Bride, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Figaro, Fidelio, Giovanni and a host of others. They’re led by Howard Moody, Jonathan Dove is the patron and the kids get to see, at our expense, the Glyndebourne or Opera North versions of the originals. Not trying to create Michael’s alliterative do-gooders; just trying to give them new horizons and tastes which they’ll come back to when they’re ready. But in spite of Michael’s assertion that there’s no problem with money, every project is a battle.

By: Philipa

Philipa — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:21:26 +0000

Excellent well written post.

I agree with you that music is important in primary education. Exposure IS the key. I have two children at primary school. They both play instruments, I have to pay for lessons and rent instruments but lessons are in school time, and we are well serviced with a free group after school of either woodwind or string one evening a week. Both children have performed in these groups on stage at the town hall and it was a wonderful experience for them. As I was waiting with my son, for my daughter to finish her group practice, I commented that the music they played seemed very boring. My son, who sings in the church choir, agreed emphatically and went on to list his favourite music, most of which was written in or before the 16th century. He’s rather pleased with himself that he not only sings his favourite piece in latin but can understand it (something the choirmaster is very particular about). Of course they are exposed to pop music too but why is it that educators automatically assume that children will only want mass marketed trash? How on earth can you encourage their own musical taste and genuine appreciation if you only serve up the musical equivalent of MacDonalds??

And music is important. As is literature, poetry, history and art. I got a talking to from their headmaster recently - they were not exactly pleased that I had taught my daughter what a noun, verb etc. is. They consider it too soon and are teaching them ‘wow words’. I cannot understand, when there is a perfectly good and useful collection of grammatical terms, thinking up new ones and making them un-learn those later.

Your adecdote about Hitchens was hilarious and I can imagine the scene. But I do think he has a point about education in this country. Although I’m sure he would not be in the least interested in my view, allow me to share my findings with you that in church my son has found the exposure to music, language and poetry that have only delighted and benefitted him. He joined the choir aged 8 and it was a very good thing - he loves it. And the choir is not made up of pious little angels but normal ordinary folk. You don’t have to be a religious fanatic for music to lift the soul.

Sorry about the length of my comment here.

By: Michael Coveney

Michael Coveney — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:00:27 +0000

Thanks for info update, Mark.

By: Mark Shenton

Mark Shenton — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:18:58 +0000

Yes, Ciaran Kellgren is indeed the son of director Ian — we met him at that launch lunch for the production at the Kensington Gardens Hotel a few months ago, and he told us (though you were sat on the other side of the table, so may have missed that bit of the conversation!).