[Visit] I'm a Young Artist, Even Playing an Ensemble with Self-made Instruments'Arte Children Arts Creation Education Program' music camp a huge success

Written by: Hong Mi-kyung, mkhong@joynews24.com
Photos by: Jeong So-hee ss082@joynews24.com |

It's deep in the leaf-strewn hills of Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province. From a European-style resort 'Little Alps', children's chatter and laughter rings out - unusual for this time of the year. Their laugher is diverse - the shrill type, the bellow type, the shy type... Faces are all different, and so are their characters. Something is making them continuously chatter and laugh.
 

Kids do everything by themselves, even when making instruments

On 28th November, children who had participated in the 'Creative Instrument' class in September as part of Arte Children Arts Creation Education Program went on a camp, as a finale to their 3 months' course.

The Arts Creation Education Program, co-organized by KACES and Mui Mui School, aims to provide creativity and diversity in music education for children from low-income families, who are usually deprived of cultural privileges.

When I visited the camp, the childrenwere busy trying out the instruments they had made. Every one was showing off his or her instrument, saying it was more unique than others.

"The kids made them purely from their imagination. They decided by themselves what kind of instrument they were going to make, with what material, in what size, making what kind of said Ye-min, representative of Miu Mui School, who planned the event.

He added, "They learn that they themselves can make instruments which can make a story out of music and that it's art.

Ye-min is a famous singer who sang 'A Hillbilly Boy's Lovesong'. Based on his successful tour of 100 small rural village schools across the country to hold music recitals, he spearheaded the children's education program.

He said, "I was surprised to see such shy and introvert, rather than bright and cheerful, kids. In the beginning, they couldn't even say what was on their minds, but as time went by, they became more confident. I realized how important music is in developing sensitivity in kids, after I saw them enthusiastically make instruments and look for sounds."

The children were able to learn for themselves the relationship between sounds and music, by making their own instruments and experimentingwhat kind of sounds they make, and searching for the sound they like best. Thus, they came to naturally learn what 'riding the flow of music' was all about what it's like to feel music.

Proper emotional intelligence education, building uniqueness and creativity

That day, the kids got a chance to show the skills they had mastered for 3 months. There was even a competition between the girls and the boys. The boys team was headed by Ye-min and the girls team by the pianist Chong Park, who was a special guest for the event.

The girls, who had gathered in a large concert hall, were boasting their instrumental abilities using the instruments they had made. Their instruments were small, delicate and colourful, reflective of their feminine sensitivity. After a playful argument between the girls and Chong Park, they agreed on 'Fur Elise' as their accompaniment music. The familiar 'Fur Elise' turned into a brighter version through Chong's fingers, and the kids played their instruments along with the piano music. They had developed 'an ear for music' during the past three months.

The pianist Chong Park, who had explained to the children how to keep to the beat and rhythm, said "Elementary school children are very honest about what they feel. Their innocence and purity are reflected in what they express. So sometimes, I am pleasantly surprised when I hear them expressing something adults can't. Also, because different instruments and music come out of different personalities, they learn to express what's inside their minds. It's a good emotional intelligence education that fosters originality and creativity. "

On the other hand, the boys, who had made louder instruments that the girls, made a nursery play, under the leadership of Ye-min. They had made a children's story and inserted background music to it. The usually naughty boys were sincere in their task and showed unusual, heartwarming sensitivity. Some were making strong beast-like sounds and some calm bird-like sounds.

A more moving performance than the best orchestra

It was finally time for the competition. Tension filled the air, and the children staged the performances that they had practiced hard for 3 months. These performancesof the kids, who were more sincere than ever, were more moving than the concert of world's best orchestra and more exciting than a famous Broadway musical.

After the event, Ye-min, representative of Miu Miu School, commented,"The experience of past three months might easily be forgotten by the kids, but I really think that the memories will influence their lives as they grow up. They had just performed their one-and-only ensemble, which I think will enrich their lives."

After the camp, the instruments kids hadmade will be exhibited at KACES for a year, as well as stories relating to the making of their instruments. On my way back from the short recital, the skies were filled with heavy grey clouds, but my heart felt light and clear as a warm spring day.