Children and classical music remain a difficult combination. Children simply prefer pop music. Or not? This week the Classic Express is in Tilburg: a mobile concert hall in which young musicians introduce children to classical music: “You have to present it in a way that they understand.”
There is a stretched semi-trailer on the Pater van den Elsenplein in Tilburg South. Outside you can already hear the sounds of classical music. Inside are pianist Michel Xie (30), cellist Jitske Wildemans (18) and violinist Eline van Dijk (13). The truck is equipped with all kinds of light and sound tricks to impress the children.
When the children of group 6 from De Alm primary school enter, Xie asks if they are looking forward to it. “No, because I don’t like music,” a child sulks. But others are more enthusiastic. When Xie asks if there are any children who play an instrument themselves, several fingers go up in the air.
“At a concert you only see older people.”
Wildemans understands the aversion of some children. “When you go to a concert, you only see old people. And it usually takes a very long time. Concerts are long, pieces are long. And you have to be quiet.”
Things are different in the Classic Express. The children still have to be quiet when the musicians play. But the pieces of music are short and they can ask questions in between. They have their shoes off and are sitting or lying on the cushions.
The setup works, because the children like it: “The rhythm was very good,” Mustafa says afterwards. Elena: “And the violin and the cello too. They also sounded a bit the same.” But the cello does have a different rhythm,” says Teja.
“I might take drum lessons.”
When asked if they would like to play an instrument themselves, all three fingers go up in the air. “I might take drum lessons,” says Mustafa. Teja wants to play piano and Elena wants to play violin: “That’s a beautiful instrument.”
It all sounds like music to Daphne Snelaars’ ears. She is a culture coach in Tilburg South and very enthusiastic about the Classic Express formula. “It will only be ready if the children come back to school now. So we have ensured that the children receive a lesson at school in which they can try out instruments. And children who are enthusiastic can still develop their talent after school. This way they can really do something with what they have now seen.”
So that perhaps new children will emerge like Jitske Wildemans: “I am lucky that my father is a huge fan of classical music. So it’s always on for us.”
This is how Jitske became accustomed to classical music: “I took cello lessons and entered the world of classical music. And I think it’s a beautiful world. It is music without lyrics, which not everyone understands. Everyone thinks something different about it. I am convinced that everyone can like classical music.”