YAMsession 2016: Children review Concerts

The Norwegian YAMsession 2016 host Marked for Musikk and Rikskonsertene/Kulturtanken are developing the project "Music Antennas" where YAMsession 2016/Marked for Musikk participants can “borrow” a child or youth to watch a concert with and talk about the concert afterwards.

"Music antennas" are local students who experience the concerts and gives the YAMsession participants their reviews of the concerts! Two local schools participated in YAMsession 2016, all from the 5th grade. 

All Music Antennas have attended a course in art criticism ahead of YAMsession 2016. Below you can read their reviews of a selection of YAMsession concerts.

Each YAMsession 2016 venue had a Music Antenna meeting point where the students could be "picked up". For the international guests, the students wearing purple T-shirts could be slected as they the ones speaking more English.

For more concert interviews (in Norwegian), check out the Marked for Musikk website.

The interviews were translated as part of the Blackboard Music Project 

Answers by Marius (9), Erika (10), Wiliam (10), Thyra (10) and Leah (10)

How would you describe the concert?
Marius: - A concert for those who like instruments and comedy
Erika: - It was pretty much a party. It was a bit like a disco show.
Wiliam: - It was a very funny show
Was it a concert or a show?
Wiliam: - It was more like a comedy show, or a stand-up show.
Leah: - They mostly played the drums, so I think it was a drummer show.
The jury speaks together a while and agrees that it was a "comedy-music show."
Choose one thing from the concert that made a special impression on you and that you remember particularly well, what would it be?
Leah: - When they danced salsa, I remember it very well, it was fun.
Thyra: - I remember best when they sang songs that I already knew (Medley ed. note.)
Marius: There were two persons who acted like they were one person. And who played xylophone together, I think that was cool.
What do you think was good in the show?
Erika: - I think the first welcome dance was very nice. And then they did the same in the end, I liked that.
Was there anything in the concert that was difficult to understand?
Wiliam: - It was little difficult to understand the English parts.
Leah: - I did not quite get their expressions. I did not understand whether they were happy or annoyed and severe. They were very explicit,  but I did not understand the meaning.
Erika: - I didn’t quite understand the gestures;  f. ex when he waved his arms and looked at us, and it meant that we should give applause? I was a little unsure about that.
What does the music remind you of?
Erika: - It reminded me of the circus, both the music and the costumes.
The others nod in agreement.
You know what awards mean?
No one in the jury knows it.
Do you think this concert is suitable for children or young people of your age, and would you recommend it to others?
Marius: - It is suitable for everyone, because it has humor for both young and old.
Erika: - I would recommend it for younger kids also, but then they would have to turn down the volume, it was very loud.
Wiliam: I highly recommend it for 10 years or older. I don’t think younger children would understand the humor, or the talk in English.
Leah: - I think it is best suited for older children, for smaller kids might not know get the humor. If anyone should see this performance, they must be very interested in humor!

Answered by Thyra (10), Leah (10), Daniel (10), Varscha (10) og Dario (10)

How would you describe the concert?
- There was classical music that was a little fast and a little slow, a little merry and a little sad. Some of the music went very quickly.
Choose one thing from the concert that made a special impression on you and that you remember particularly well, what would it be?
Thyra; - I remember the children tabbed the shoulder of those who played. That was funny!
Leah:  - It was fun to see that they smiled while they played.
Daniel: - I think it was funny when the music went slowly and then suddenly very quickly.
Varscha: - I remember that they said in English that we should close our eyes and dream. It was quite weird. It sounded like troll music.
What do you think was good in the show?
Dario: - I think everything was good. It was fun, we got to do something too, like tapping on their shoulder as they stopped playing and started again. They played really well.
Was there anything  you didn’t like?
Leah: It may have been a bit boring and old-fashioned, but I'd recommend it if you like classical music.
Was there anything in the concert that was difficult to understand?
Dario: It could be difficult to understand when they spoke at the same time.
What does the music remind you of? Did you think of anything special during the concert?
Leah: -Some like slow music, and when they closed their eyes and dreamt, I don’t know what people were thinking, but I thought, I was in a forest and when I opened my eyes, I felt safe and at peace.
Dario: -When it went fast, I felt it was a landslide to a dangerous place.
Varscha: - I felt like I was somewhere and a dragon was my friend.
Leah: - When it was quiet, I felt like I was sailing. Suddenly, the music went fast, it was like I fell into a hole. The hole was very deep, it was as if I never reached the bottom. When I finally came down, I didn’t come out. When the music was fast again, water came through the hole and I felt that I drowned, because I can’t swim. Then I woke up at home. I lay still and cried. Then I woke up for real in a field of flowers on the beach.
Do you think this concert is suitable for children or young people of your age, and would you recommend it to others?
Thyra: - I think the concert is suitable for 4-100 years.

Answered by Marius (9), Vetle (10), Varscha (10), Daniel (10)

How would you describe the concert?
Varsha: - They played many instruments; violin, accordion, piano and harmonica.
What kind of music did they play, you think?
Varsha: - Old-fashioned music.
Daniel: - It was folk music. From Denmark
Did you understand what "Svøbsk" means in Danish? -
No. No-one understood.
Choose one thing from the concert that made a special impression on you and that you remember particularly well, what would it be? Daniel: - That they had two spoons they made rhythm with, and then they went down to us in the audience and hit us on the head with spoons.
Marius: - Yes, I thought of that too. They used the audience as rhythm instruments. It was a little fun and a bit odd. It was probably part of the performance.
What did you like about the concert?
Daniel: - I think they were very good at playing the instruments.
Marius: - Yes, they made many fine rhythms.
Daniel: - They played the mouth organ and pretended they chatted using it. It was a bit strange, so I noticed it.
Was there anything in the concert that was difficult to understand or that you did not like?
Vetle: - It sounded strange when they sang, I did not understand it. I think it was Danish.
Marius: - Yes, it was hard to understand what they said. I think the concert was a bit boring. It was not my type of music. It was a bit the same all the time. Vasa: - I did not like it when one man kissed the lady on cheek. It was embarrassing. And I think the concert was a bit long.
What does the music remind you of?
Daniel: - I thought of the old days, because I think the music was a bit like, old-fashioned.
Do you think this concert is suitable for children or young people of your age, and would you recommend it to others?
Marius: - One should understand a little Danish to enjoy the concert. I highly recommend it for those who know Danish. Perhaps those who are older. Vetle: - One should be more than 10 years, and preferably understand Danish. But you can hear music without understanding the language well, really. Vasha: - I think the concert is best suited for adults, perhaps over 50 years, because it reminds you of the old days, and I think the adults would like it best.

Answered by Leah (10), William (10) and Erika (10)

How would you describe the concert?
Leah: - There was a man who sang in a strange language. It sounded like lullabies.
Erika: I think it sounded like Spanish. He played in something that looked like small guitars, violin, or ukulele?
Leah: - He said he sang in a fantasy language, and that you could use your imagination.
William: - I thought that the language was called "Waganda»
You know what Silent Music means?
Erika: - I think that it means quiet music.
Choose one thing from the concert that made a special impression on you and that you remember particularly well, what would it be?
Leah: - He had a bag he crackled with. I thought it was weird. I did not quite understand why
Erika: I wondered if it was supposed to be the sound of the wind.
Erika: - I think it was strange that he was barefoot.
Why do you think he was?
Erika: - Maybe it had something to do with religion?
Leah: - Or maybe it made it easier to move?
Erika: - Maybe he has always done it, that is his style.
William: - His clothes were kind of clownish.
What did you like about the concert?
Erika: - I think he was good. And he created a mood of calmness. I noticed that many closed their eyes. It was soothing
Was there anything in the concert that was difficult to understand or that you did not like?
William: - I thought it was a bit repetitive and boring.
Leah: - I almost fell asleep. And I thought it was a bit the same all the time.
Erika: - But it might be nice, even if it is quiet. It's relaxing
Do you think this concert is suitable for children or young people of your age, and would you recommend it to others?
Erika: -If you lay in bed, could suit all, for one could perhaps fell asleep to it.
William: - I think this music is best suited for the elder, I think kids will get bored and become restless. I did.
Leah: I also think it’s best suited for adults - who are patient.
Erika: - I don’t think it has an age limit. Either you like it or you don’t. I don’t think age matters that much.

Rated by Liv Iza (9), Leah (10), Tyrah (10), Vetle (10), Marius (9), Erika (10)

How would you describe the concert?
Leah: - They were three who played violin and so they played different roles.
Vetle: - It was kind of an old fashioned story.
Erika: - Yes, it was a fairy-tale that was rearranged and reassembled.
Do you know which story or fairy tale it  was?
Marius: - I don’t remember what it's called. But something about a tin soldier. ( "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", ed note.)
Thyra: They used violins to make noises, and they danced and moved
Choose one thing from the concert that made a special impression on you and that you remember particularly well, what would it be?
Liv Iza: - I remember especially when the kids put the soldier in a paper boat and left it to sail down the gutter. That was dramatic.
Marius: I remember best the troll. When she jumped up in front of the audience with a funny hat and had a very deep voice. It was surprising and funny. Erika: - I remember the ending the best, when the tin soldier was melted into a heart, and the ballet dancer to a coal lump. I really enjoyed that.
Was it a good or a bad ending?
Erika: - They were together at the end, but it was sad because they died. But it was kind of nice too.
What did you like about the concert?
Marius: - I enjoyed the costumes and movements.
Erika. - I think they were good actors, and they were good at dancing, especially the ballet dancer.
Leah: - You could see that they were sweating, they were moving and there was a lot that happened. They were good. There was lots of variation.
Thyra: - I liked that they told what happened in the story, so you could follow.
Erika: - It was good that they involved the audience in the dancing, and that we helped make the sounds of the rain. It was fun.
Was there anything in the concert that was difficult to understand, or that you did not like?
Leah: - I didn’t always understand where in the story they were, or what happened.
Erika: - It was nice, but maybe a little too much violin, or fiddle. There could have been some other instruments as well, so it wasn’t so much the samealike.
Do you think this concert is suitable for children or young people of your age, and would you recommend it to others?
Marius: - I would recommend the show to children over 9 years. It could be a bit scary for young children.
Erika: - I believe the smaller kids can get a little impatient, because it was very much violin and dance and perhaps difficult to follow. Suitable for age 10 and up.

Håvard (18), Eivind (18), Hannah (18) og Mathea (18)

How would you describe the concert?
- There was a Finnish woman who played the national instrument of Finland, kantele. It opened very traditional with cattle calls and Finnish "bunad". The traditional evolved into something quite contemporary, both with regards to music and clothing. She went from traditional kantele with 11 strings to a concert kantele with 39 strings, microphones and percussion effects, summarizes the three.
Choose one thing from the concert that made a special impression on you and that you remember particularly well, what would it be?
Eivind: - When she went from being Finnish "milkmaid" with folk music to modern pop music and the song "Happy."
Havard; - I liked that she made the audience sing along, it was fun. Always fun when the audience is activated! But I think the concert was great!
Mathea: - The way she presents herself is great; down to earth and inspiring. She told it in a nice way, - not superficial at all.
Hannah: - That she told the story about why she started playing. That was nice.
What did you like about the concert?
Havard: - It was most exciting to hear about the instrument - how it works technically and how she uses it.
Mathea: - I liked the room we were in. It was an intimate space. We came close to her when she talked about her life and music.
Hannah: She really got into the music. Each tone was important, every note had meaning.
Was there anything in the concert that you did not like?
Mathea: - The concert should have been longer. I could have heard much more.
Hannah: - I thought at first: this could be "interesting" to hear. But I changed my mind fast: It was amazing!
Eivind: - The start was very strange, but really cool. The introduction lasted maybe a bit too long.
Havard: - This was a great concert. She could have played more, but it was also interesting to hear her talk. The concert could have been longer.
Was there anything in the concert that was difficult to understand?
Eivind: - Finnish is difficult to understand, but it did not matter. It was only one Finnish song. She told what the song was about. It was basically cool to hear her sing in Finnish.
What does the music remind you of?(Did you think of something special during the concert?)
Hannah: - They well-known songs I have a relationship with. Now I have a new relationship with them.
Eivind; - She said she had been inspired by a youtube video. I get that. It reminded me also of a film I've seen on youtube.
Havard: - The famous pop songs I've heard many times. It's really fun to hear familiar songs in new dress - when it's good. It's exciting to hear what can be done with what is already known. She did really well!
Do you think this concert is suitable for children or young people of your age, and would you recommend it to others?
- We recommend it to people of all ages, old and young, said all four.
Havard: - I was never bored at this concert. A boy of eight years would think it was fun. - Also a man of 80.
Mathea: - She played contemporary songs that people can relate to. Had she played only Finnish folk music, then it may not have been as cool for everyone.
Eivind and Hannah: But it’s suitable for all ages, old and young.

Answers by Celine (14) and Madelen (14)

How would you describe the show?
Madelene: - There was a brass band, a band orchestra. It was about the planets, the universe and Star Wars.
Celine: - It was a youthful presentation, with a lot of pictures and visual stuff, and dancers.
Choose one thing from the concert that made a special impression on you and that you remember particularly well, what would it be? Celine: - Then I will point out the planets. Mars and Venus and so on. They came up fine on the big screen and I enjoyed how it looked - the presentation and pictures.
Madelene: - I would like to highlight the dancers or acrobats. They were incredibly talented and inspiring. It was nice that they were there; it gave the concert variation, and made it so youthful.
What did you like about the concert?
Madelen: - I think that they managed to make everything go well together, so that it became a great whole, with music, photos and dancers.
Celine: I think the instruments - the band - and the music were well suited to the theme: Star Wars and space.
Was there anything in the concert that was difficult to understand or that you did not like?
Madelene: - There was a part, I didn’t understand completely. It was a little hard to keep up with everything, some text and some of the pictures. I do not think I understood everything.
Celine: - They could maybe involve the audience in a way ?
Do you think this concert is suitable for children or young people of your age, and would you recommend it to others?
Madelen: - I think that Star Wars and planets can captivate our age group. But we had this concert once before at our school, and there were many who were restless and weren’t looking.
Celine: - Maybe you're not so used to hearing the band or orchestra concerts without having someone singing (vocals). But I think many will find this to be very catchy and exciting. Most people know Star Wars. And many are interested in space.

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for young audiences. We hope that you have found it interesting and please feel free to drop us a comment to let us know what you think.