Category: Music

Lah Lah’s Adventures

January 16, 2009

Proms for Little People

Definitely worth an outing with the under 7’s. This show finishes on Saturday at the Seymour Centre, Sydney.

This was a fast moving production, very interactive, with dancing, hide and seek, a chance for audience participation. My daughter commented that not even the babies cried, which for those of you who regularly attend children’s performances will know that is quite an achievement.

The show is about bedtime and sleep. The instruments come to life for a 4 year old girl. The musician’s are top of the range and a big plus is that they can actually act and are part of the piece.

On until this Saturday, if you miss them this time around, keep your eye out for when they are next on. It’s a great show for the kids.

Joanne Kee

Sydney Festival 2009

November 12, 2008

by Arts Rocket

Tickets are now on sale for the 2009 Sydney Festival. The majority of the family events take place in Riverside, Parramatta. If you wanted something closer to the city you can check out Kids in the Garden at THE FAMOUS SPIEGELTENT or get the kids up early forDawn Chorus.

Other family highlights include:

Dan Zanes and friends : all ages – Jan 11-12
Join Dan Zanes, former lead singer of rock group The Del Fuegos, his Brooklyn-based band and eclectic music guests as they perform irresistible grooves inspired by all kinds of music from folk roots to early rock ‘n’ roll. Having incited a pint-sized Beatles-like mania throughout the USA, now Dan Zanes brings his rousing family gig to Sydney.

The tragical life of cheeseboy: 8 year and over – Jan 11- 12 + Jan 13-15
Inside a magical travelling theatre tent, discover a storyteller who shares an enchanting and timeless tale.

The Promise: 6 year and over – January 28-31
The Promise is a spectacular fusion of circus and puppetry – dive into a young boy’s imagination while he travels to the far-flung edges of the world with his toy elephant and favourite book. Sparked by a tragedy, he leaves behind the dusty Australian outback, finding new friends and adventure along the way.

Sydney Youth Orchestra

June 30, 2008

by Arts Rocket

On Saturday I gathered my family together for an afternoon of culture at theConservatorium of Music for the Sydney Youth Orchestra Winter Family Concert. The afternoon started well as the building looks like a castle and castles are big in our house at the moment. It continued to go well as the boys (3 & 5) proudly clutched their tickets and headed for their seats. Fortunately we were in the back row so the squirming of the three year old didn’t disturb anyone’s viewing.

The first band arrived and played two movements of a symphony. (I apologise for my lack of details but between the tickets, the castle and the trips to the toilet I neglected to pick up a programme). My boys were rapt. My partner and I held hands and felt proud to be exposing our children to such wonders. The band finished. We all clapped.They left and another arrived. This one was predominantly violins and they proceeded to play charmingly. My eyes were drawn to the little ones whose toes couldn’t reach the floor. They finished. We all clapped again.

The second band left and the third arrived. This was too much for my three year old. He took his father outside to play castles while my older son and I continued to watch. The fourth band was a real band, lots of brass and very loud. Too loud for my sensitive five year old who began covering his ears and asking when we could leave. We left at intermission.

In the postmortem discussion it was suggested that it’s probably better to expose children to music by getting them doing it rather than watching it but I thought it would be exciting for them to see young people playing a variety of instruments. And I think it was. For a little while.

The concert was a fairly casual affair and it was perfectly acceptable to leave between orchestras so I did not leave feeling we were badly behaved but instead that we gave it a good try.

I think youth orchestras are always worth a listen. The quality of performance is usually high and the music is often approached in a more lighthearted manner. Sydney Youth Orchestra Family concerts are an inexpensive and casual way to introduce your children to orchestral music and I recommend you also give it a try. Particularly if your children are over five or like castles.

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Upcoming SYO performances
SPRING FAMILY CONCERT
Sunday 13 September 2008 at 3pmVerbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium
Presented by Sydney Youth Orchestras
Tickets Adult $22 Concession $12 Family $58 (2 adults and 2 concessions)
Bookings City Recital Hall Angel PlaceBook online here or call 8256 2222

Toddler Proms
Sunday 16th November 2008 9:30AM
Sydney’s best orchestral experience for young people aged 2-7!
$9 (groups of 4 or more)Under 2s admitted free of charge
Bookings City Recital Hall Angel Place Book online here or call 8256 2222

Sarah Brill and family

AIM | Music

June 6, 2008

by Arts Rocket

Music lessons for 3-5 year olds.

My three-year-old son and I trekked off last Saturday morning for a music lesson at the Australian Institute of Music (AIM). AIM is located near Central Station and was easy to get to although a little harder to get away from.

The music lesson was run by Bronwyn, a very charming and enthusiastic woman, who allowed me to sit in on the class even though parents are usually ushered out of the room for all but the last few minutes of the lesson.

The lesson ran for almost an hour and included a story about Mozart, singing, rhythm games, instrument recognition games and playing music blocks which are a bit like a xylophone that you can take apart. My five year old would have loved it.

Unfortunately this was not a lesson designed for three-year-olds so my son spent much of the lesson on my lap. Three-year-old and four-year-old lessons were previously held on Fridays with five-year-old lessons held on Saturday mornings.

After the class Bronwyn explained the three-year-old class structure which is very different and involves one narrative theme per term through which basic music elements are then taught.

There are weekly concerts for students to participate in and many avenues for musical growth whatever your child’s musical interest.

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For more information visit YAIM or contact Tony Ingersent
AIM
1-51 Foveaux Street,
Surry Hills, NSW, 2010.
(02) 9219 5436

Kids at the House 2008

December 4, 2007

by Arts Rocket

Kids at the house 2008 tickets go on sale Wednesday 5 Dec. The program features regulars such as Little Big Shots, Baby Proms and an exciting line-up that will keep your family busy for the whole year.

We are looking forward to the Danish theatre company Gruppe 38 in May with A Sonatina – a reworking of Little Red Riding Hood. Gruppe 38 presented the little Match girl earlier this year and it was wonderful.
Set as a story within a story, a band of travelling players tells the tale of Little Red Riding Hood from the back of its pick-up truck. But this take is rather different: the main characters are a newly laid egg, a potato with a cold and a nasty potato masher. Even better, the star performer is a live chicken and nothing can happen until she produces the egg.

A Babies Proms highlight is The Drum in April.
A young Indian boy dreams of owning a drum. His mother, who can’t afford to buy him one, gives him a piece of wood instead. What follows is an inspiring journey in which the young boy learns he can fulfil his own desires by being kind and helpful to others.
Based on a traditional Indian folktale, The Drum is a charming musical adventure with Indian dance, percussion and a sitar.
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Visit the Sydney Opera House to download the program and book tickets.

Sydney Festival 2008

November 2, 2007

by Arts Rocket

The Sydney Festival have announced their exciting program for 2008. The program features plenty of wonderful opportunities to engage you and your children of all ages in theatre, dance, music and visual arts. The full Sydney Festival program is available online.

Highlights for families include:

The Famous Spiegeltent– kids program

Throughout the festival they will run a special daytime program for kids within The Famous Spiegeltent. The series will feature free workshops, performances + activities that allow younger audiences to get up close and meet Festival artists, find out how the shows are made and learn some of the tricks of the trade.

Full program and details will be announced in mid-December

Haircuts by children

This January, ten-year-olds will be offering the public free haircuts at salons in Parramatta and Darlinghurst. After a team of children participate in a series of training workshops with local professional stylists, you are invited to get a free haircut. A trim or a totally new look – it’s entirely up to you and your young stylist.A whimsical performance that playfully engages with the enfranchisement of children, Haircuts by Children pits our trust in the younger generation against the thrills and chills of vanity.
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Where Salon Noir 251 Church Street, Parramatta (cnr Church and George Streets)
When January 17-18 at 12noon-4pm
Where Grand Royal Barbers 397 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst
When January 20-21 at 12noon-4pm
Price FREE
Bookings For bookings call 02 9247 9686 between 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday Availability is limited. Booking line will close once capacity is reached.

Au Revoir Parapluie
Au Revoir Parapluie is an intimate tale of love that winds backwards through time. Expect surprises, strangers, smiles and frowns, setbacks and triumphs and a heartfelt celebration of love, life and hope. Acrobat, violinist, dancer and mime, Thiérrée is acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest and most creative contemporary circus performers, conjuring worlds of endless invention and fantasy and inviting imaginations to soar.

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Where Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
When January 8-13, 15-20, 22-27 at 8.00pm Duration 1hr 30mins, no interval
Price A reserve $70 / $60B reserve $60 / $50Child $35
Bookings Sydney Theatre 02 9250 1999 Festival Ticketek 1300 888 412 Onlinehttp://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/

Kin
Stephen Page brings together three generations of his own relatives in KIN, a contemporary story of family, community and history.
Told through the eyes of seven young Aboriginal boys aged between nine and 14, KIN dramatically explores the contrast of their ancestral history and their urban upbringing influenced by popular culture, hip-hop and football, and investigates their own beliefs about the world and their place in it as young Aboriginal men.
Recommended for children eight+
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Where The Studio, Sydney Opera House Bennelong Point, East Circular Quay
When Preview: January 23 at 6.00pm January 24-25 at 3.30pm & 6.00pm, January 26 at 3.30pm Duration 30mins, no interval
Price $25
Bookings Sydney Opera House 02 9250 7777Festival Ticketek 1300 888 412 Online www.sydneyfestival.org.au

Baby Love | Carriageworks

October 16, 2007

by Arts Rocket

Climb aboard a giant teacup and glide into a futuristic fantasy with a dummy-sucking baby doll clone to your favourite love song at Sydney’s new home for contemporary arts, CarriageWorks.

CarriageWorks’ cathedral-scale foyer will play home to 6 giant teacups, each with a larger-than-life baby doll clone. Baby Love is a wi-fi mobile installation by New York based Taiwanese artist, Shu Lea Cheang, who calls cyber-space ‘home’. Shu Lea is a multi-media artist working in the field of net-based installation, social interface and film production.

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Carriage Works 245 Wilson Street Eveleigh NSWCnr. of Codrington Street
DATES 1 Oct – 2 Nov Mon – Sat 10am – 12pm & 2pm – 5pm
TICKET PRICE Free

Music at Lennox House

August 20, 2007

by Arts Rocket

Last week I took my 3-month-old baby to Lennox House in Newtown- NSW for their Tiny Tots music session. Lennox house is a parent and child learning centre in Newtown run by the Department of Education and Training for children from birth to 5 years old.

They have lots of different activities throughout the week like playgroup, baby gym and occasional care and also have a toy library which only costs $15 a year to join. The music session is every Tuesday afternoon at 2 and costs $2.50. Michelle who runs the session makes it really interactive, she plays guitar and has books and toys to accompany the songs.

The children attending usually range from 3 months old to preschoolers, but I think songs and nursery rhymes are great for language development and creative play for children of all ages. The children are also invited to dance along try out some of the Lennox House instruments.

If you’re looking for something to do on a Tuesday afternoon the music session is a drop in program.
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You can contact Lennox House on 9519 3839, they are at 229 Australia St in Newtown.

Lisa Clark and family

Bollywood at the Powerhouse

July 9, 2007

by Arts Rocket

We thought that Bollywood dancing would be a great activity for the girls, Arran, Eliza and Matilda – ages 7, part of the Art of Bollywood program currently taking place at the Powerhouse Museum.

First off, the Mango dance choreographer’s did a great job for a “dance along” scenario. Simple moves, fun, with lots of encouragement. Were they taken aback by the popularity of the dancing by the adults!

Yes the adults crowded out the kids, my daughter tells me she was kind of embarrassed, but what the hell I had fun, and it is certainly a great work out.

There are also dress ups, a winner for all ages. Two Bollywood poster images form a backdrop which makes for some fun images showing on the wall. Definitely take your camera.

The sand/coloured powder artwork was beautiful.

Unfortunately we missed the dance performance, which is on at 12.15.
However, the playground near the cafe was a winner with the kids. Cafe was good, the Powerhouse seem to have lifted its game, as it was looking very weary last time I visited.

Joanne Kee
Ceres Solutions