Classical music: Family friendly Concerts | Lauderdale House | Arts Council Chairwoman Dame Liz Forgan

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The Review - CLASSICAL & JAZZ
Published: 28 May 2009

Harriet and Caroline Adie

The antidote to ‘defeatism’

PREVIEW: FAMILY FRIENDLY CONCERTS
Lauderdale House

ARTS Council chairwoman Dame Liz Forgan ruffled feathers among the education fraternity when she said the prevailing attitude to classical music is “defeatist”.
It’s seen as being inaccessible, out of reach and to be approached in disguise, she said at the recent Royal Philharmonic Society’s wards ceremony.
Her prescription for getting children hooked on classical music is to let them listen to Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.
Give youngsters Birtwisle, Buxtehude, Ockeghem and Beethoven as soon as possible, she said.
If Dame Liz wants to see how her prescription is already being ladled out, she should visit Lauderdale House on Highgate Hill any Sunday morning when its Family Friendly Concerts are in full swing.
“Very simply, we’re trying to encourage parents to bring children to classical music concerts,” says Carolyn Naish, director of Lauderdale House.
“We believe all children can enjoy classical music if they get to hear it well played in the right surroundings.
“At our concerts, children get to hear the real thing, string quarters, woodwind, harp and guitar. We don’t have a policy of playing only children-friendly music.
“Children, and we have some as young as one, stay as long as they can concentrate.
“To start with, that may not be for the full one-hour concert. But it’s surprising how a child builds up the ability to concentrate.
“More and more parents are coming back with their children and staying longer.”

The concerts are sponsored by Marksons Pianos and the Elias Fawcett Trust.
Future Sunday concerts include:
May 31: Escher Quartet playing Haydn and Beethoven quartets.
June 7: Guitarist Georgina Whitehead presents Spanish and Latin American Programme.
June 21: Sisters Harriet and Caroline Adie play arrangements on harp and oboe.
July 5: Christina McMaster gives piano recital of music by Franck and Schubert.

• All concerts start at 11.30am.Ticket prices are £7/£5 concs/£1 schoolchildren.
020 8348 8716

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