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EDUCATION PROGRAMMES

For a number of years, the National Orchestra has been organising outreach programmes with the aim of familiarising schoolchildren with the different instruments of the orchestra as part of the activities within the Ministry of Education's Skolasajf, as well as establishing a closer rapport between the National Orchestra and the community. 
 
This programme has now been resumed on a regular basis on the orchestra management's own initiative.  So far the orchestra has experimented with various formats and venues in order to accommodate the particular requirements of individual education institutions.

The National Orchestra has visited various schools in Malta and Gozo in order to allow the children's encounter with the orchestra to be experienced on their own 'home ground'.  Presentations have been ably made by Christopher Muscat aided by the orchestra musicians themselves who participate actively by animating the proceedings in various - sometimes humorous - ways which demonstrate the mechanisms of the orchestra in a manner to which the children could easily relate. Over 5,000 children have since come into contact with the orchestra's professional musicians, experiencing to their delight the mechanisms of a symphony orchestra.

Other programmes have seen the schoolchildren themselves visiting the orchestra's rehearsal rooms. On these occasions musicians from the four main sections of the orchestra demonstrate the various instruments and explain the different methods of sound production.  

In the near future, visits to the Manoel Theatre, St. James' Cavalier Centre for Creativity and other venues are being planned whereby it is intended to illustrate the role of an orchestra within performance spaces, possibly adding a historical touch regarding the specific location being visited.  

It is the intention of the Board of Directors of the National Orchestra to make this experience accessible to other sections of the community. Enquiries from interested parties representing different age and/or social groups are welcome.

NATIONAL ORCHESTRA VISITS DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

During the last scholastic year, the Junior School at De La Salle College has had various encounters with the National Orchestra.  A special Christmas concert was held at our school and later on a class from year 6 was treated to a highly successful visit and workshops at the orchestra's premises in Valletta.  Following these experiments in getting together the world of our youngest pupils and the world of classical music, the National Orchestra and the administration of the college got together once again to provide our youngsters with another enjoyable and highly educational morning.

The event was set for the 13th of October, when a special concert was held at the St. La Salle Hall at our school.  The pupils were first led in a series of exercises to the tune of native African rhythms by Alison Cox who leads a musical educational programme at the Purcell School.  The hall vibrated to the rhythmic clapping of the children whose enthusiasm was fuelled by animators from the National Orchestra.  Then it was the turn of the musicians themselves who entertained the children, first to a drone of sounds of the jungle and then to a brilliant performance of Mendelssohn's Nocturne.

All the school was transported as if by magic to the deepest jungle in darkest Africa.  The elephants trumpet their way through the dense foliage as a pride of lions prowls for its prey.  Owls hoot in the night and the tropical birds flutter their wings in alarm.  Hundreds of pupils (and their teachers) sat in enthralled silence as the eerie howl of the wind and the chorus of jungle voices sweep over our heads.  It was hard to believe that we had not been transported to a brave new world where the feelies have supplanted 3-d imax screens.

After a short break, the orchestra led the Year 4 classes in a set of workshops in which our children were treated to a hands-on-experience in the world of classical music.  The different sections of the orchestra contributed to make this a memorable experience for our youngsters.  Our special thanks go to Mro. Chris Muscat, and all the members of the National Orchestra, particularly Mr Stephen Zammit, whose stage antics have endeared him and his violin with all the students of the Junior School.