On Wednesday 8 November around 250 school students from a number of towns within a 50km radius of Canowindra enjoyed a big musical day out. Cowra, Eugowra and Wyangala Dam Schools joined with the Canowindra High School, Public School and St Edward’s students to enjoy live music at the Canowindra Services Club. This was Baroquefest for kids.
The Baroquefest Committee and Musica Viva in Schools have joined forces this year to enable rural children, particularly those from small schools to attend an entertaining music performance by skilled musicians. At a cost of approximately $2,000 to the local Baroquefest committee they were able to tap into the Musica Viva Schools Program. Not only did that provide an entertaining concert, but it provided class room resources based on the live performance, providing teachers with ideas and activities that extend the learning experience of each child.
A great deal has been written in recent times by paediatricians and specialists in music about the value of music in the education of children, not just for the enjoyment of music itself but for the cross over value whereby learning music seems to sharpen a child’s learning ability in other subjects.
The performance in Canowindra last week was music of the Mediterranean, from places such as Turkey and Greece. The Musicians, a visiting group known as “Akoustic Odyssey” playing Violin, Cello, Drums and Guitar have performed all over the world. “Akoustic Odyssey” had the children up belly dancing and seat dancing and even singing at the top of their lungs “Shift the Telly”.
When the children are back in their classrooms there will be songs to sing, dances to do and a myriad of other activities available to them, extending the learning process.
By Judy McLaren