janet griffiths on Violinist.com

Listen for Peace

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:52:59 GMT

Listen, said Simon Fischer in the Austa videos on youtube.This is for me the most important piece of advice that he gave because its the one thing many of us forget to do. This word was & nbsp;also used by Daniel Barenboim in & nbsp; a BBC interview outlining his vision of the Middle East and the orchestra he has created in order to try to bring down barriers.If & nbsp; the musicians learn to listen to each other whilst making music they will listen to each other when talking, they will listen to their inner voice and will also learn to analyse situations better whether musical or otherwise. I recommend the interview & nbsp; the first part which is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddI4WTEAqDA & nbsp;

However the interviewer also wasn't listening as he insinuated that the orchetra had not achieved its aims as there was still much unrest in the region. Even if only 30 individuals learn to listen the achievement is great as those 30 will hopefully teach another 30 individuals how to listen.The world wasn't built in a day and neither will the seemingly unsurmountable problems in the Middle East be solved in a day but as the slogan goes 'Make music not War or Walls'.So & nbsp;my New Years resolution is quite simple and there is only one because as Simon Fischer points out in his video it solves a host of problems. I am going to LISTEN more. My New Years wish & nbsp;is to be able to return to Palestine again this & nbsp;summer for the musical summer camp & nbsp;although problems with funding make this unlikely. & nbsp;

Make Music not Walls

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:48:11 GMT

For the last two summers I have had the good fortune to be invited to teach at the summer school for the outreach programm of the Edward Said Conservatory in Birzeit, Palestine. The outreach programm was started under the auspices of the European Commission and in collabaration with the Edward Said Conservatory, Accademia Musicale di Firenze and Ucodep to bring music to the children in isolated and cut off villages and refugee camps. A short documentary was made of the first year ,the summer of 2007.The possibilities of music bringing peace are being explored from beginners to the highest level I just keep my fingers crossed that it will succeed.

There are lots of problems teaching these children on a regular basis and lessons can be few and far between if the teacher isn't allowed through the checkpoints. Getting children together for concerts and courses has similar problems. Last summer they had a national competition and had to use the Web cam to allow all candidates and parents to participate.Candidates from the Gaza strip had to perform via computer and were screened for all to see. There is however an enourmous enthusiasm and I hope that the project gets all the funding it requires in order to continue.

Mendelsssohn at the Beethoven Festival

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:00:41 GMT

After a long overnight journey by coach we arrived in Bonn to participate in the opening festivities of the Beethovenfest at the end of August.Taking a youth orchestra on tour is always great fun and this year was no exception.We had been invited to participate in the opening day of the festival where youth orchestras and ensembles play on various outdoor stages set up around the city.It was a bit of a rush getting everyone on and of the coach and assembled on the stage for our two venues and also surprisingly it was very hot.The following day we gave a matinee concert in the Collegium Leonium.Here is the Mendelssohn Symphony III in e.minor which he wrote when he was an adolescent and is among a group of symphonies written for strings alone.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWZhc66B6Os
These are wonderful repetoire for youth orchestras

Hit the repeat on the head

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:55:08 GMT

So Drew has hit the nail on the head, hit the nail on the head, hit the nail on the head...... I've often thought that the Suzuki method is based more on repeat hits rather than on mother tongue.How many peanut sanwiches are consumed before the first Twinkle variation has been digested.Many years ago I read a series of articles about brain patterning which was a technique used to enhance the capabilties of brain damaged children.These experiments were being carried out in an institute in Philadelphia.Patients were treated around the clock by a squad of volunteers.The idea was to repeat movements in order to reprogram the brain ,so for example a leg would be straightened and bent continuously for some period of time and then another limb would be given the same treatment.Older people are now being encouraged to attend gymnastic classes where again repeat movements are on the agenda.It seems by repeating movements we are also expanding our brains , hence brain damaged people can regain control of their lives and the aged can stay younger and more alert.Whatever form repetion takes whether in the excercises that Drew has mentioned or in dear old Sevcik (endless repetetive fun for all) or in scales ,or in sections of scales or in a bar of repetoire that we must endlessly repeat in order to perfect we all increase our brain capacity and thus become more intelligent???? durr....