Almost 6000 State primary school children have attended a series of concerts by University of Queensland resident ensemble Perihelion.
The ensemble recently captivated 175 Camp Hill primary school children with a musical program designed to take the students on a journey from a bustling city streetscape to the Australian landscape.
Perihelion visited 22 schools and presented 44 performances during July and August for the Musica Viva in Schools program.
The national music education program offers live performances, teaching resource materials developed from works included in live performances and professional development courses for teachers.
Perihelion cellist Nicholas Bochner said it was rewarding to perform for young children who had no preconceived ideas about classical music.
'It's been satisfying to broaden the horizons of children, who have responded directly to our music and have asked intelligent questions,' he said.
'School teachers have been delighted with the program and say that the concerts bring the teaching material to life.'
A teacher's resource book, Setting Young Hearts on Fire, details the music, and advises how to introduce children to musical concepts and notation. It also suggests how music can be integrated with English, science, mathematics, studies of society and environment, health and physical education and the arts.
Mr Bochner said that in the concerts Perihelion explored different playing techniques and imagery in music as well as other concepts in key learning areas.
Before the program commenced, Perihelion recorded a CD for Musica Viva, and contributed to the teaching kit and a workshop for school teachers.
The group has been invited to participate in the program next year.
Musica Viva Australia in conjunction with the Queensland Arts Council and the State Education Department offered the education program in Queensland for the first time this year.
More than two million children have participated in the program since it began in 1981.
Mr Bochner and other Perihelion members Philippa Robinson (clarinet), Patricia Pollett (viola) and Carson Dron (piano) are on the staff of the University's School of Music.
- Perihelion will perform at Montville Hall, 3pm, September 14; Nickson Room, University of Queensland, 8pm, October 18; Lismore's Star Court Theatre, 6pm, October 26; and the Nickson Room, University of Queensland, 8pm, December 12.
For more information, contact Jennifer Roberts (telephone 07 3365 7368).
