Living in a musical environment during childhood and adolescence helps the body and mind to work together and learn more. But also to relate better with colleagues. At school and college, music is more than a component of the show.
The initial educator Irene Ycaza explains why an adequate musical education is very important: “Children develop and improve areas such as language, socialization and attention. It is also proven that it helps in memory and retention in the area of mathematical logic.
An adequate musical education, establishes Icaza, enhances talent and a possible inclination to continue developing musical skills through singing or an instrument.
How is the experience of school education with a musical component in Guayaquil? The architect Parsival Castro Pita, director of the Republic of France schooltalks about the case of this institution, where the time change is not announced by the bell, but by a fragment of the eighth symphony, by Schubert. In addition to having a children’s and youth choir and orchestras, this center incorporates music into recess and math classes.
“First, music has taught them to listen, and that is very important: the child and the young person learn to listen to others and to themselves. This has allowed us to improve care” and boost creativity, he mentions.
But the school has also chosen to combine music with moments of great silence. “This has given them a lot of peace. Science and music or science and art come together. In the Mathematics class, once the teachers have given an explanation, there may be a three-minute pause in silence, to then vocalize or solfage the scale, and then the class resumes; do it generates a state of tranquility, true attention and a better capture of knowledge”.
For this reason, music cannot be seen by the school as a mere show, but as a shared experience. “At school we have a children’s orchestra, a children’s string orchestra, a wind orchestra, a children’s choir; and among the youth there is another string orchestra, a double bass group and a youth choir”.
These groups have a schedule of public presentations, and this too has a purpose. “They feel accepted and stimulated by the public. Music fills part of his great interests. We have been tributaries of many orchestras; For example, some of our former students are in the Guayaquil Symphony Orchestra, in the Municipal Philharmonic Orchestra, and others receive advanced courses in conservatories in Europe”.
Music also makes mutual understanding possible. “Aggression decreases for several reasons; by stimulating the right part of the brain with good music, the human being understands life and becomes calmer and more serene. I could say that society goes where education goes, and then we ask ourselves: what kind of education have we had, that we live in a dangerous society?” reflects Castro, who invites us to invest energy and resources in art in general.
Opportunities for vulnerable children and youth at the Zumar Projects Unit
Under the direction and advice of Guillermo Loedel, Argentine composer, conductor and producer, who has lived in Ecuador for several years, the Zumar Project Unit started three months ago with free musical training for 75 children and young people from vulnerable sectors of the city with the aim of creating the first child and youth orchestra of Guayaquil. Everything is part of the program that they have called Acercarte.
Since last April 3, the students, who are going from 10 to 17 years old, they receive piano classes as a basic tool, so that they can later master other percussion, wind or string instruments, and thus begin to cultivate a professional career in music if they wish. Classes are held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., twice a week.
“To choose them, we held a series of auditions in which, beyond talent, we also looked at their enthusiasmin who would take advantage of these quotas, ”says Romina Zeballos, director of the Zumar Projects Unit. “We wanted to make a fairly deep selection so that the kids we have signed up can really live, in the not too distant future, from art and music.”
The municipal institution also trusts that the program works as a positive social intervention in the community and in the families of their students. “Having this orchestra gives us the opportunity for the kids from those sectors to see other realities and to have other types of occupations, because, in addition to the class hours they receive, they have to go home to practice, they are sent chores, and all that time that they invest in music keeps them, to put it in a way, from being in the streets, of having vices; besides that we always emphasize the need to make an effort to become true music professionals”, continues Zeballos.
Each student also has a personal file that is evaluated by the center’s counselors and psychologists to monitor their environment and emotional support if necessary.
A positive indicator of the acceptance that this project has had among young people is the high level of class attendance. “And when they are missing, they bring their justification. And that is also a way to teach them commitment and discipline, because they can only have a maximum of three fouls, or they withdraw from the project. But they are happy and excited.”
The orchestra plans to perform their first concert in December this year. (F)
Source: Eluniverso
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