Education ViVA

Beanbag Proms: Screech! Beep! Ding!
Saturday 24th March 2007
Royal Concert Hall Foyer, Nottingham

Over 360 children under 6 and their families joined sinfonia ViVA, Beanie Bear and Alasdair Malloy for the third in the series of the innovative Beanbag Proms with 'Screech! Beep! Ding!'

"Great representing children's music in this way. "

The opening of the Beanbag Proms always creates a stir from the beanbag-resting audience, as musicians gradually appear from all around the foyer of the Royal Concert Hall, playing their instruments as they arrive. This time they all played Maestro Alasdair's Top Transporters as they journeyed to the front!

"I liked the gradual build up at the beginning, thought it was all very well done and effective."

Beanie Bear then made her entrance, entering to her own Beanie Bear Song (which is featured in all the concerts in the series). Beanie then took her place amongst the children to enjoy the rest of the performance.

"Beanie Bear was voted 'the best'! "

'Screech! Beep! Ding!' continued with a trip over and under the ocean with the Sailor's Hornpipe and Yellow Submarine, followed by an excursion through the countryside on the one and only Thomas the Tank Engine, before jumping on the saddle to the Bicycle Galop!

"Very good introduction and a chance for children to play instruments, very effective indeed."

As always at the end of the performance, the children were encouraged to meet the musicians and have a go on some of their instruments. This was particularly popular as the children were able to see and in some cases play the instruments up close.

"Lots more please, its so difficult to get tickets to family friendly cultural activities. "

And lots more will follow, Alasdair Malloy points out that our Beanbag Prommers have really started to get into the routine of the Beanbag Proms.

"I get a definite feeling of familiarity, especially today for the third one. I think having the opening routine, where all the musicians come in individually, playing the different tunes linked in with the theme is working. Certainly the audience enjoy where is the next musician coming from, what's their instrument, what are they going to be playing. " - Alasdair Malloy

And the musicians are also really getting into the unique performing opportunities that the Beanbag Proms provide.

"It's the closest you can get to a formal concert for children of this age that actually works. It's important for this audience to be clear that I'm having a really great time out there!" - Tim (percussion)

This work would not have been possible without the support of: Royal Centre, sinfonia ViVA, Arts Council of England, Nottingham City Council and EOB. We would like to acknowledge the generous support of John Lewis, Nottingham. This work was supported by the following Trusts: The Lady Hind Trust; The Jessie Spencer Trust; The Whitaker Charitable Trust.

Images from the project...