As part of their music education program, CE2C pupils enjoyed a visit that was both musical and instructive: a conductor who introduced the pupils to the world of music, notes and rhythms, but also to the world of creativity and emotions.
The students took it in turns to answer the guest’s first questions, before discovering the concept of the conductor.
They learned that a conductor is first and foremost a musician.
And an extraordinary one at that, since he conducts all the musicians in an orchestra.
The story began with musical symbols: the notes, the staff, the treble clef, then moved on to the definition of a conductor and his or her role.
Students learned that the conductor is the highest-ranking person in an orchestra’s hierarchy, and that his or her primary role is to lead the musicians effectively so that they play in time and in tune.
They also learned that when performing a musical work, the musicians don’t all have the same score in front of them, because they don’t necessarily all play at the same time or to the same scores.
The conductor himself has them all… all the scores of all the musicians… a real challenge!
The students noted with interest that a conductor’s body plays an essential role: it communicates the intensity of rhythms, expressions and emotions, it helps to correct any mistakes made by the musicians during the concert, to catch up with a slowed-down rhythm and finally… to tell the story that is being played out… its movements are in fact a real spectacle in themselves to behold!
In the end, the students were delighted to see just how much can be conveyed, known and experienced through music: multiple sensitive experiences, exploring and knowing specific gestures, looking at things differently.
We’d like to thank Mr. Spohr for accepting our invitation, and we’re convinced that his teachings moved the students’ spirits, and who knows… maybe he sparked a passion for music in one or more of them.
