This time last week I was invited along to a CBSO Notelets event by their animateur Catherine Arlidge. These events are orchestral concerts for early years children and their families by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. There are a series of these events taking place over christmas at the CBSO centre, and the Notelets are also available for private events. We were lucky enough to be able to attend one such show at the stunning Middle Temple Hall, in London.
I went along to the show with my musician husband and my 18 month old so that we could get a real flavour of the concert and see how our little one responded. Our first challenge was to find the venue. We found that despite arriving at our tube stop 30 mins early we almost circled the grounds twice before finding the entrance, but boy was it worth the effort, the setting was spectacular. It really evoked a feeling that this was something special right from the start yet also had a warm and relaxed feeling, so set the scene perfectly for what was to follow.
The orchestra consisted of 10 musicians who created an wonderful sound, perfectly balanced and blended. The sound of the strings was so sweet it led me to turn to my husband and express that for a child to experience this was just gold dust. I do have to point out that by coincidence it turned out we knew two of the musicians in the ensemble. My husband had worked with the double bass player and I with the drummer, but in no way have these acquaintances flavoured our view of the sound, it truly was special, and the best orchestral sound I’ve yet heard from the smaller ensemble early years offshoots of the major orchestras.
The show took the form of an interactive concert. Catherine Arlidge presented the show directly to the children who were mostly seated on the floor in front of the parental audience and so close they were almost within the ensemble. Unexpectedly there was a mixed repertoire all especially arranged and including some classical, some nursery rhyme, and some TV themes thrown in for good measure. Everything that was included had a purpose though, from showcasing individual instruments, singing along to familiar songs, dancing, marching round the room en masse, or my personal favourite – can you recognise this tune before Granny. The children knew within 2 bars when they heard their beloved In The Night Garden, and it is moments like this that just reinforce the importance of music in childrens life and the value of events like this one.
As this was a private event the children’s age span was from under 1 up to I would estimate around 8 or 9. A large age range to attempt to engage by anyone’s imagination, and certainly broader than the usual 3 – 5 age group that usually attend Notelets events. However Catherine undertook this with apparent ease. In fabulous dress complete with red feathers (the whole orchestra were adorned colourful costumes just another touch to captivate their audience)
Catherine led the children in dances, singing where they were required to turn and sing to their mums and dads (thus providing the experience of performing with the orchestra), the presentations about the instruments, and introductions to pieces, with charm and genuine enjoyment. What was most astounding was that she also somehow managed to play her violin and lead the orchestra too. Sometimes there were only seconds from her smiling and saying ” we’re going to play…” to her being in her chair, radio mic off, violin under chin, slight raise of scroll to bring the musicians in…..now considering Catherine’s own young children were in the audience there was never a flicker of mummy brain forgetfulness, a very very impressive lady.
What I really loved about the concert was that at the end the children got to come and try some of the instruments. Not the musicians’ precious valuable ones I hasten to add, but some child sized violins, cello’s, flutes, drums etc which Notelets had brought in specifically for that purpose..so it wasn’t a case of the music being intangible with children looking and listening and then going back home to their tambourines and xylophones, this concert enabled the children to become a part of it, and get tactile with the instruments.
My summary. This is certainly the best early years concert I have been too thus far. Perfectly pitched, engaging, splendid sound, fantastic animateur, truly interactive. 10/10.
The CBSO family concert is on February 5th at the CBSO centre, and is described as Lemony Snicket’s orchestral whodunnit.
