Education ViVA

Rhythm and Rhyme Celebration Day
Sunday 1st July 2007
County Hall, Matlock

Sunday 1 July saw several hundred children under-five arrive at County Hall, Matlock to enjoy a day making music. This event marked the culmination of the Rhythm and Rhyme project, a project which has been taking place in libraries all over the county, designed to bring music to the under fives working in partnership with Derbyshire County Council's 'Books for Babies' scheme.

" [It] enables children to have enjoyable memories about library which encourages use through life. " - Parent

During these preceding sessions Nick Cutts and Laura Zobel (from Opus Music) led the children in songs and were joined by several ViVA musicians who mesmerised the children, most of whom had never seen orchestral instruments up close before.

"Rhythm and Rhyme sessions at the library really helped my child with her speech and communication and she loved going. We all thoroughly enjoyed today as well. Thank you. " - Parent

The event at Matlock's County Hall allowed children and their parents to explore the different orchestral instruments and meet the musicians from sinfonia ViVA who explained how their different instruments worked. The children also had the opportunity to create their own instruments out of everyday materials.

"Would love to attend something similar again - excellent that children can come into contact with more complex instruments, not just usual infant percussion. " - Parent

Many of the children were transfixed by creating sounds using music technology, having the opportunity to play the Theremin and other weird and wonderful electronic instruments. The children even had the chance to write their own compositions, using graphic notation in the form of musical doodles which were interpreted on the spot by a ViVA musician.

The day concluded with a performance from sinfonia ViVA who played orchestral arrangements of several of the songs the children had learnt during their sessions in the libraries. These included 'Groovy Dude Ted' and 'Spooky Joe' and the children accompanied the orchestra by singing along and playing the instruments they had made earlier that day.

"It was great to hear the orchestra and see the children listening. " - Parent

ViVA also showed the range of the orchestra, playing some more standard orchestral works including Elgar's Chanson de Matin as well as all the bells and whistles of Ibert's Divertissement.

"Lovely not to worry about keeping quiet! There was a wonderful warm, welcoming atmosphere - I was totally relaxed at the concert. " - Parent

This project was made possible through the generous support of Youth Music, Derbyshire County Council and Orchestras Live. ViVA receives funding from Arts Council England and Derby City Council.

Images from the project...