A symphony of learning

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Seeing musicians dressed in formal attire playing instruments, other than guitars and drums, is a totally unexpected sight for most young children. As if that is not enough of a visual curiosity, toss in melodic, never before heard sounds produced by strange-looking instruments, and you have a real learning experience known as Young People’s Concerts. Every year this cultural enrichment exposes a new group of mostly elementary school children to orchestral music performed by the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor John Farrer.

Approximately 3,000 children attended a total of four, 45 minute performances spread out over two mornings on October 6 and 7. Believing exposure to visual and performing arts is important for the educational growth of children, the Symphony has taken part in the performances for many years, receiving support from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. Community support helps make it a reality, and this year Target, the Diane S. Lake Family, East Bakersfield Rotary, Bank of America and Chevron all contributed to its success.

If you compare it to a rock concert, then the main performance was introduced by a warm up act — in this case, the roll call of the instruments. Farrer brought members of the orchestra up on stage to show various string, woodwind, horn and percussive instruments and to give demonstrations of the sounds each produces. The children laughed when the clarinetist removed the reeded mouth piece, blowing into it to make a sound similar to a quacking duck. They “oohed” when the mouthpiece was returned to its rightful place, and this time the musician created a short, energetic Dixieland melody.

There were other enlightening moments during the warm up. As the tuba was displayed, Farrer’s comment that it contained five valves drew interest, but when he mentioned it also weighed 23 pounds, that caused some audible gasps from the students. Amazed laughter occurred after Farrer pointed to the bunched up tubing on the French horn, revealing that, if unwound, it would stretch to about 16 feet and extend well into the audience.

Once the concert began, the students soon realized they were in for more than musical entertainment — that there was lots of history associated with the tunes. Before they heard the first note of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture,” Farrer had already taught them that the Count of Egmont was a hero of the Netherlands’ resistance against Spain. Egmont did not fare well. He was caught and executed, but Farrer pointed that his resistance inspired the Dutch to rise up and drive the Spanish out. Egmont’s legend led Beethoven to compose the overture.

The varied array of music included Leroy Anderson’s “Bugler’s Holiday” with featured performers Mike Raney, Steve O’Connor and Sal Panelli. Composer John Williams was an immediate hit, after Farrer mentioned the orchestra would be playing a medley of Williams' “Harry Potter" songs. Students even got to participate themselves, when they joined the orchestra for a patriotic sing-along. The concert may have ended with Edwin Eugene Bagley’s “National Emblem March,” but the education continues. Teachers often incorporate the concert experiences into their classroom curriculum.


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