Classical gas for primary kids with Melbourne orchestra

CLASSICAL music has replaced the sounds of everyday pop tunes in schoolyards at primary schools in Geelong’s northern suburbs.
Melbourne Symphony Orch-estra’s growing outreach program visited the schools this week with hopes of inspiring creativity and self-expression through concerts starring the students.
Children at Lara’s St Anthony’s at Lara, Norlane’s St Thomas Aquinas, North Shore, Bell Park’s Nelson Park and Corio West primary schools spent a full day each with musicians from the internationally acclaimed orchestra.
Orchestra education and community manager Katherine Kerezsi said the Shell-sponsoredworkshops were different to the average classroom.
“This program is about allowing opportunities to happen in music-making inside the school,” she said.
“We’re not there to find the next genius but we’re there to give an opportunity to students who otherwise wouldn’t.
“If we discover the next Mozart that would be amazing but that’s not our primary aim – it’s about making music as a community.”
The orchestra taught students in years two to six to “improvise, compose and jam” musical pieces together, she said.