Sarah Tudzin started Illuminati Hotties to create a showcase for her studio chops before transforming the project into one of the best shout-along rock bands of the new decade. The production fits like a three-piece suit, but Tudzin and her crew aren’t afraid to get it dirty (2021′s Let Me Do One More bursts forth with the irrepressible energy one might associate with an anime theme song or a late-’90s dance craze more than a self-described “tenderpunk” band). Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St. 8 pm. $20. 21+.
SATURDAY, NOV. 19:
Ana Roxanne and Rachika Nayar challenge the idea of ambient music as something neutral and functional that can simply be typed into an algorithm. Roxanne is fiercely present in her work as a multi-instrumentalist, and her music brims with melancholy and uncertainty. Nayar, meanwhile, recently put out an album called Heaven Come Crashing that’s as earth-shatteringly intense as the title suggests. Their co-headlining Holocene gig promises to be a showcase for abstract, beatless music that’s as powerful as any pop. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St. 6 pm. $18. 21+.
SUNDAY, NOV. 20:
When Let’s Eat Grandma debuted as teens with 2016′s I, Gemini, you would’ve been forgiven for thinking the two shaggy-haired British besties had some sort of psychic connection that allowed them to make spellbinding music at such a young age. On their subsequent albums, I’m All Ears and this year’s Two Ribbons, Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth have honed their sound into a striking take on synth pop that retains all the dark fairy-tale mystery of their early work even as it bangs through the speakers. Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St. 9 pm. $20. 21+.
New Delhi [India], November 16 (ANI/ATK): Delhi-based Sufi singers Dr Jagriti Luthra Prasanna (Founder and Director) and Dr Neeta Pandey Negi are known as Roohani Sisters, recently released their new song titled “Dildaar Sadke” on November 2, the occasion of Bollywood King Shahrukh Khan’s 57th birthday, through Zee Music Company. The song is receiving amazing response from the audience, fans as well as music connoisseurs worldwide. The song is making its mark through its picturesque location, story and the tone of the song which give a soulful and impressive touch to the song. “Dildaar Sadke” has also been successful in influencing eminent artists of the Indian classical music fraternity. Renowned artists like Pt. Rajendra Prasanna (Shehnai and Flute Maestro), Ustad Aftab Ahmed Khan (Hindustani Classical Vocalist ), Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (Mohan Veena Player), Pt. Ajay Prasanna (Indian Flute Player), Smt. Vineeta Jerath Grover (Co-founder and editor of Suburb Magazine), Smt. Charu Menon (Film maker, Actor and Artist Coordinator for SPIC MACAY ), and Smt. Neeta Aneja (Founder of Trend Literature Series) are among the many well-known and popular names in the music and entertainment industry who are praising the sisters and their song. The lyrics of “Dildaar Sadak” are liked by everyone who is composed and written by Dr. Jagriti Luthra Prasanna. Whenever she composes and writes, she tries to ensure that all Sufi elements such as Ibadat, sincerity, remembrance and pure love are completely included in the song. Further, Jagriti says that in the coming time, more songs of Roohani Sisters which have been written by her will be revealed soon, all those songs will be released by the labels of various music companies. This year they gave a spectacular performance at the World Sacred Sufi Music Festival in front of the Queen of Morocco and an audience of 10,000. From there also their song “Dildaar Sadke” is getting a lot of appreciation.
“Dildaar Sadke” is making a mark in the Indian music industry as well as being well received in countries like Morocco, so Roohani Sisters now decided to promote it in countries like Dubai, Canada and USA as well. It would not be wrong to say that like the Indian audience, the international market of music is also wholeheartedly accepting their music because their song “Dildaar Sadke” is receiving a lot of love from the international audience. Their kind of Sufi music, which is considered to be a male dominated field, is slowly gaining popularity and reaching out to the masses through their YouTube channel, showreels, their own composed songs and sufiyana kalam. Empowering women and making them aware of their capabilities is their hidden motto behind entering this male dominated field of Qawwali. They believe in the power of love and determination. Every woman has a divine side to her and the Roohani Sisters are constantly working towards bringing that divinity to the world through their own style of music. Roohani Sisters is ready to entering the Bollywood soon, through their new project and you will soon see their singing style in Bollywood industry as well. Their recent performance at the 4th edition of Udaipur Tales International Storytelling Festival enthralled the audience, where they also promoted their song “Dildaar Sadke”. This story has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/ATK)
PONTIAC, Mich. — A YouTube compilation of video game music titled ‘Donkey Kong Country Music to Help You Chill Out’ has reportedly had the opposite effect on a local man, concerned sources have confirmed.
“Oh my goodness, he just got so fired up,” said Louise Pendleton, husband of Ross Pendleton, who found himself unable to chill out or relax while listening to the compilation of Donkey Kong tunes. “He said he was gonna try to get some work done so he went into his office and put on some music. A few minutes later I started to hear all kinds of screaming and crashing, and then I heard glass shatter! I poked my head in there to see what was going on, and I guess he was just really feeling that Nintendo music. He threw his office chair out the window for some reason. That stuff gets him so worked up, I wish he’d stop putting it on.”
After pleading with Ross to chill just a little bit, he briefly obliged, pausing the playlist long enough to get some water and address the immediate aftermath of the window incident.
“Fuck man, that shit really gets me going,” said Pendleton, applying bandages to several cuts on his hands. “That playlist man, it just took me over. It started with ‘Aquatic Ambience,’ and I was just sitting there vibing, answering emails and stuff like that, no problem at all. Next thing I know a faster song came on and some drums started up and I was up and moving before I even knew what was happening. Fuckin’ music gets me going, dude. I wonder if I should go to the hospital. Damn, I gotta get that window fixed, too.”
Pendleton’s parents stated that this was merely the latest in a long string of incidents related to songs from Donkey Kong Country games that weren’t very chill.
“Oh no, not that Donkey Kong shit again,” said Ruth Pendleton, Ross’ mother. “I remember one year we got him one of those games for Christmas thinking it looked a lot more wholesome than Mortal Kombat or anything else he’d asked for. He was up in his room playing it when after a while, I heard an awful commotion. I went upstairs, and you’ll think I’m making this up, but my son’s legs were sticking out of the drywall. He’d got a running start and jumped headfirst into the wall. I wasn’t sure how or why it happened, but yeah, eventually we figured out it was the game that did it. You can’t let my son hear that Donkey Kong music. There’s no telling what might happen.”
As of press time, neighbors spotted Pendleton chilling out in his car as it sat in the driveway, smoking weed and listening to the ‘DK Rap’.
Recently, the title and first-look poster for the cop drama starring Ponram and Vijay Sethupathi was revealed. The project’s actual name is DSP, which was previously used as a working term for VJS46. Anukreethy Vas, a former Miss India World, will make her acting debut in the December-released film.
The specific release date hasn’t yet been disclosed by the creators, though. Imman, who is writing the music for the film, has revealed that he collaborated with renowned singer Udit Narayan on an important song for it. He has posted a few pictures from the studio and expressed his excitement on his social media pages.
Senthil Ganesh will also offer his voice to the song, which lyrics were written by debutant Vijay Muthupandi. Imman and Udit previously collaborated on the 2009 song Baaga Unnara from Naan Avanillai 2. Udit returns to Kollywood with the most recent song after a seven-year absence.
Wonderful Experience! Recorded Dear Udit Narayan sir after long years with dear Senthil Ganesh for Director Ponram’s DSP starring Vijay Sethupathy in the lead! Produced by Stonebench films! Female lead by AnuKeerthy!Lyric by Debutant Vijay Muthupandi! A #DImmanMusical Praise God! pic.twitter.com/9UPH7B84wW
His previous Tamil song was Machi Machi from GV Prakash Kumar’s Idhu Enna Maayam. Tamil Nadu native Udit’s followers are now eagerly anticipating the release of the song later this month.
Imman has composed the music for the majority of the Ponram-directed films. Some of the songs from their films Rajini Murugan and Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam have gone on to become top-charting hits. DSP is receiving tremendous expectations from music fans as well; it is Vijay Sethupathi and Ponram’s first collaboration.
Vijay Sethupathi, who had a few memorable appearances in 2022, has six films in the works, some of which are in Hindi. He’ll say goodbye to 2022 with DSP.
If you’re bumping Lady Gaga at home there is a chance nearby rats (especially in Chicago and New York) are bopping along too.
That’s right! Just like many humans, rats are proven Little Monsters too.
Lady Gaga performs on stage during The Chromatica Ball Summer Stadium Tour at Friends Arena on July 21, 2022 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)Getty Images for Live Nation
Researchers studied the response of rats to pop music. According to a University of Tokyo study, which has been published in Science Advances, a peer-reviewed journal, rats can indicate and dance along to the beat of a rhythm, USA Today reported.
Researchers played not only Mozart and Gaga’s “Born This Way,” but iconic songs Maroon 5′s “Sugar,” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” and Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” for the rats. Their head movements were measured and the results were compared to humans also in the study.
According to USA Today, the music was played at four different tempos. The news release said animals can be trained to move, but rats reportedly have an “innate” ability to jam.
“Rats displayed innate — that is, without any training or prior exposure to music — beat synchronization most distinctly within 120-140 bpm (beats per minute), to which humans also exhibit the clearest beat synchronization,” said Hirokazu Takahashi, an associate Professor in the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at University of Tokyo, in the news release. “The auditory cortex, the region of our brain that processes sound, was also tuned to 120-140 bpm, which we were able to explain using our mathematical model of brain adaptation.”
“Music exerts a strong appeal to the brain and has profound effects on emotion and cognition. To utilize music effectively, we need to reveal the neural mechanism underlying this empirical fact,” added Takahashi. “I am also a specialist of electrophysiology, which is concerned with electrical activity in the brain, and have been studying the auditory cortex of rats for many years.”
Read more of the report via USA Today and the study here.
For nearly 20 years, the Portland composer Matthew Robert Cooper has been recording gorgeously acoustic ambient music under the name Eluvium. Early next year, Cooper will follow his last two Eluvium albums, 2020’s Virga I and 2021’s Virga II, with the new LP (Whirring Marvels In) Consensus Reality. That new Eluvium album is inspired by the works of TS Eliot and Richard Brautigan and also by the way that algorithms regulate humankind’s interactions with machines. Cooper recorded the album with a number of different musicians, including a full orchestra, working with them all remotely. Read More “Eluvium Announces New Album ‘(Whirring Marvels In) Consensus Reality’, Shares New Songs “Escapement” & “Swift Automatons”: Listen”
Turning down the racket isn’t just for disgruntled parents — a new study has shown it could protect more than 1 billion people at risk for hearing loss.
When it comes to phones, music, movies and shows, it’s common for adolescents and young adults to listen too loud and too long, according to the study published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Global Health.
“We estimated that 0.67 to 1.35 billion individuals aged 12-34 years worldwide likely engage in unsafe listening practices,” and are therefore at risk for hearing loss, said lead study author Lauren Dillard via email. Dillard is a consultant to the World Health Organization and a postdoctoral fellow at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Exposure to sound at too high a volume can fatigue the sensory cells and structures in the ear, Dillard said. If that goes on for too long, they can become permanently damaged, resulting in hearing loss, tinnitus or both.
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of scientific articles regarding unsafe listening practices published between 2000 and 2021 across three databases, the study said.
The unsafe practices were tracked according to use of headphones as well as attendance at entertainment venues, such as concerts, bars and clubs, according to the study.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention limits safe noise levels at around 85 decibels over 40 hours a week. If you are listening for only 2½ hours over a day, that is the equivalent of about 92 decibels, the study said.
Plugged into a smartphone downloaded with MP3 audio files, listeners often choose volumes as high as 105 decibels, and venues often range from 104 to 112 decibels, the study said.
Fortunately, policies, businesses and individuals can put measures into place to encourage safe listening and protect hearing from damage over time, Dillard said.
The analysis of the study was rigorous, and the evidence is compelling that hearing loss should be a public health priority, said De Wet Swanepoel, professor of audiology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Swanepoel was not affiliated with the study.
“Music is a gift to be enjoyed for a lifetime,” said Swanepoel, who is also editor in chief of the International Journal of Audiology. “The message is to enjoy your music but safely.”
What to do with your device
Whether listening on your own device or at a concert, Dillard cautioned that ringing ears is a good sign that the music was too loud.
There are ways to prevent the damage before you notice the effects, however. Some devices allow people to monitor their listening levels in the device settings, she said. Some even will alert you when you’ve been listening too loud for too long.
“If your device says you are listening at unsafe levels, turn down the volume and listen to music for shorter periods of time,” Dillard said via email.
Experts cannot conclusively say which headphones are the safest for listening, Dillard said, but she did recommend using ones that reduce background noise, which may help keep the volume at lower levels since you don’t need to drown out the noise around you.
But you don’t always have control of the volume dial. If you are at a loud concert or venue, you can protect your hearing by standing further away from speakers and taking breaks away from the noise, if possible, Dillard said.
And it always helps to use some ear protection — even the foam ear plugs will do, she added.
“Hearing is the sense that connects us to the people we love,” Swanepoel said in an email. “Taking care of our hearing is key to maintaining healthy relationship(s) and general health and well-being. Primary prevention in early adults is critical to avoid earlier onset and accelerated age-related hearing loss.”
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Newport Classical celebrates the season with two weekends of holiday programs in December – Messiah at the Mansion featuring Ensemble Altera and The Choir School of Newport County in two performances on Sunday, December 4 at 1 pm and 3:30 pm at Rosecliff (548 Bellevue Ave.), and Classical Christmas at Emmanuel on Saturday, December 10 at 3 pm at Emmanuel Church (42 Dearborn St.), which concludes with sing-along carols and a festive reception.
Messiah at the Mansion on December 4 features Handel’s iconic oratorio Messiah performed by Rhode Island’s fast-rising Ensemble Altera, led by Christopher Lowrey, and the Professional Choristers of The Choir School of Newport County, led by Peter Berton. Audiences will enjoy a boldly reimagined chamber version of this timeless classic, including the famous “Hallelujah Chorus,” surrounded by the splendor of Rosecliff mansion. Newport Classical is proud to present the second year of this new, annual holiday tradition, perfect for the whole family. Messiah at the Mansion is sponsored by Cynthia Sinclair through her generous support of The Choir School of Newport County.
Photo Credit: Newport Classical.
Classical Christmas at Emmanuel on December 10 is a community celebration, featuring classical Christmas repertoire performed by Emmanuel Church Director of Music and Events Randy Elkins, conductor and organ; Newport Classical Board President Suzanna Laramee, piano; Lucas Swanson, trumpet; with vocalists (and sisters) Meaghan Kelly Brower, Alison Kelly Hosford, and Kate Kelly Longo;and the Emmanuel Church Choir. The collaborative performance will conclude with sing-along carols and a joyous reception hosted by the Parishioners of Emmanuel Church.
Photo Credit: Newport Classical.
Up next on Newport Classical’s Chamber Series, the Parker Quartet performs at Recital Hall at Emmanuel Church on Friday, November 4, in a concert featuring Beethoven’s Op. 18, No. 4; Caroline Shaw’s Valencia; and Bartok’s String Quartet No. 5. The New York Times has described the Parker as, “something extraordinary,” while The Washington Post has praised the ensemble’s “exceptional virtuosity [and] imaginative interpretation.” On February 17, Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Martinez performs selections by historical and living composers including Caroline Shaw and Viet Cuong, plus Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, among others. Virtuoso 25-year-old violinist Randall Goosby will perform alongside pianist Ann Han on March 10, blending traditional and 20th century works of Beethoven, Grant Still, Ravel and Boulanger. Cellist Thomas Mesa and pianist Ilya Yakushev perform a program on April 21 that unites the music of Bach and Rachmaninoff with contemporary works by Lera Auerbach and Kevin Day. On May 19, the Kenari Quartet showcases the stylistic versatility of the saxophone in a program that features the music of Bach, Mendelssohn, Jennifer Higdon, and David Maslanka. Then on June 9, violinist William Hagen will conclude the 2022-23 Chamber Series with a program featuring rarely heard works by Louise Farrenc, Clara Schumann, Harry Thacker Burleigh, and more. The 2023 Newport Classical Music Festival is slated for July 4-23, 2023 with programming to be announced in late March.
For Newport Classical’s complete concert calendar, visit www.newportclassical.org/concerts.
Health & Safety
The safety of Newport Classical’s audience, musicians, staff, and volunteers continues to be the top priority, and with this in mind, the following precautions are currently in place, in line with industry best practices for indoor performances. Anyone attending a Chamber Series concert will need to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination OR a negative PCR test taken in the prior 72 hours or antigen test taken in the prior 6 hours. Proof of vaccination or testing must be presented at time of entry.
In accordance with CDC and state guidelines, masks are no longer required, but recommended for indoor concerts. Newport Classical’s COVID-19 protocols remain subject to change and NC reserves the right to implement a masking requirement if cases begin to surge in Rhode Island. Any changes will be communicated to ticket holders in advance of their performance.
About Newport Classical:
Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.
Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc. and previously known as Newport Music Festival (NMF), Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity presenting the American debuts of over 130 international artists and rarely heard works and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. The organization has produced more than 2,000 concerts and hosted more than 1,000 musicians and singers. In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music.
Newport Classical is proud to be an essential pillar of New England’s cultural landscape, and to invest in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form. Newport Classical’s four core programming initiatives – the iconic summer Music Festival taking place across Newport; the year-round Chamber Series at the organization’s home base Newport Classical Recital Hall at Emmanuel Church in downtown Newport; the free family-friendly Community Concerts held in green spaces around Aquidneck Island; and its newly expanded Music Education Residency program – illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.”
Miranda Lambert leads the field for the 2023 Grammy nominations, announced earlier Tuesday (Nov. 15) as the only artist to receive a nomination in each of the four country categories — best country solo performance, best country duo/group performance, best country song and best country album.
Her sweep brings her lifetime number of nominations to 27. That’s quite the feat, but it’s dwarfed by the legendary Willie Nelson, who received three nominations this year to add to his 53 previous nods. Nelson’s nominations are all in country this year, but befitting Nelson’s stature as an American icon, over the decades his nods have spanned a number of genres and categories including best pop collaboration with vocals, best Americana album and best traditional pop vocal album. In a fun twist, though he doesn’t receive a nomination since it’s not a songwriter’s category, Nelson also plays a part in “Midnight Rider’s Prayer,” which Brothers Osborne are nominated for in best country duo/group performance: The song samples Nelson’s “On the Road Again.”
More from Billboard
Maren Morris, who last won in 2017, for best country solo performance, also lands three nominations. The two other leading nominees — Luke Combs with three and Ashley McBryde with two nods each — are looking for their first Grammy wins.
Grammy voters, unlike voters for the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards, tend to be more willing to look outside of the current radio charts for nominations — hence the Nelson love — but this year largely fell in step with the mainstream for best country song, best country solo performance and best country album. However, the Grammy voters continue to ignore Morgan Wallen, the biggest new artist to hit the format in the past five years, as Wallen did not receive a single nomination.
As usual, there was some spillover between like-minded musical categories. Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, who received two nominations in the Americana categories, notched a nomination for best country duo/group performance, while country titans Bill Anderson and Dolly Parton were nominated in best American Roots performance.
While country music continues to struggle to become more inclusive, no artists of color received nominations in the country categories after Mickey Guyton received three nominations for the 2022 Grammy Awards.
Mainstream country artists were aced out of the four general categories. While the Recording Academy voters rarely include country artists in album, song, record and best new artist categories, streaming and touring sensation Zach Bryan (who did receive a nod for best country solo performance) had widely been expected to garner a best new artist nod, as had rising star Lainey Wilson.
For the past two years, the voters had included a country name (Ingrid Andress for 2021 and Jimmie Allen for 2022) in the final 10 for best new artist, though a country artist hasn’t won the award since 2010 when Zac Brown Band took home the golden gramophone. The last time a country artist won best album was Kacey Musgraves taking it for Golden Hour in 2019.
A number of country-adjacent artists fared better in the four general all-genre categories, including Americana act Brandi Carlile, who earned album and record of the year nods among her seven total nominations and bluegrass sensation Molly Tuttle, who garnered a best new artist slot.
In songwriter of the year-non classical, one of five new categories added this year, Laura Veltz, who wrote songs for Maren Morris and Andress, received a nomination, and the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach was recognized in producer of the year-non classical, for his work with, among others, Hank Williams Jr.
The members of Vanuatu’s first youth orchestra are not like the children who usually learn classical instruments.
The orchestra’s conductor, Australian Barbara Idieder, sometimes notices her students return to rehearsals with wax drippings on their instruments.
“Then I know, okay, that kid has got a candle at home. Like they don’t have electricity,” she said.
The Ensemble Nabanga for disadvantaged youths has just completed the trip of a lifetime touring in Queensland.
On their arrival in Brisbane, students like Kaina Delrieu were blown away by what they saw.
“I was, like, surprised when I came here. I’ve discovered new things that I never, ever have seen,” she said.
Their action-packed scheduled included a trip west to Toowoomba where the group of 10 students received a workshop with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO), one of Australia’s leading orchestras, at the Empire Theatre.
The trip had been years in the making and the significance of this opportunity was not lost Ms Idieder, nor her students.
“We’re going to play for the musicians and get some lessons, which is nuts, it’s just crazy,” she said.
It was the first trip overseas for members of Ensemble Nabanga.(Supplied: Barbara Idieder )
Kaina, who plays the cello, was ready to show the QSO how dedicated she was to mastering her instrument.
“I’m really excited to learn from those professionals and show them how much I was practising,” she said.
Later in the evening, the group were in the audience at a QSO concert at the Empire Theatre when the conductor asked them to stand and receive a round of applause from the crowd.
Flying the flag for the Pacific
Seasonal workers travelled from the surrounding area to see the performance. (ABC Southern Qld: Georgie Hewson)
The ensemble also hosted a special performance for Pacific seasonal workers at Town Hall in Toowoomba.
Connecting with homesick seasonal workers was important for Ms Idieder.
“I really want for ni-Vanuatu seasonal workers here, and other Pacific Islander workers here in Australia, to see us representing Vanuatu, representing the Pacific, and flying the flag a little bit,” she said.
The seasonal workers wore traditional dress for the occasion and sang along when the orchestra played the Vanuatu national anthem.
Ni-Vanuatu seasonal worker Samangha Kalang said she was proud of the kids.
“The songs were really beautiful. I loved the concert and it’s my first time seeing the ni-Van kids playing the violin and the double bass,” she said.
That is no surprise, considering Ensemble Nabanga has the only double bass in all of Vanuatu.
Seasonal workers Samangha Kalang (right) and Melina Langa felt pride seeing Ensemble Nabanga.(ABC Southern Qld: Georgie Hewson)
Orchestras usually for those that can pay
Orchestras have many barriers to entry, but Ms Idieder has made it her mission to set the record straight.
While teaching at some of Sydney’s most prestigious private schools, Ms Idieder saw how it was only the brightest students – “the crème de la crème” – who made it through rigorous auditioning processes to claim a seat in school orchestras.
“I’m used to being in that environment, but I’m more interested in helping out those who need a bit of a hand,” she said.
Barbara Idieder rehearses with her Ensemble Nabanga students two days a week in their lunch break. (Supplied: Barbara Idieder)
Ms Idieder left the private school world in 2004 when she was accepted into an Australian government-funded program to train music teachers in Vanuatu, which kicked off a years-long journey teaching music literacy in developing nations including the Congo and Madagascar.
“Learning a musical instrument is generally available to those with the means to pay for it. Not just the instrument itself, but the lessons,” she said.
There is high demand for Ms Idieder’s services in Port Vila where students must join a waiting list for her private music lessons.
“But I wanted to make myself available for those who didn’t have the means to pay me, so this is my best way of addressing disadvantage in my school and just in the community writ large,” she said.
Vanuatu’s first youth orchestra
Ms Idieder approached her school principal with an idea to start Vanuatu’s first youth orchestra, specifically for disadvantaged children.
The principal took the idea to a French senator who was in town and it was exactly the sort of project the senator was looking to support, according to Ms Idieder.
The members of the Ensemble Nabanga are local kids who attend an international school on French government-supported scholarships. (Supplied)
The French government handed over 5,000 euros to purchase instruments, and Ensemble Nabanga – named after a native tree species sacred to Vanuatu symbolising community, life and protection – was born.
Six years later, with the help of numerous fundraisers and weekly rehearsals, Ms Idieder’s orchestra has 34 students, and its reverberations are being felt around the community.
“The amount of work I’ve put in, I think, it’s beyond measure,” she said.
The Ensemble Nabanga obtain their instruments through donations and fundraisers. (Supplied: Barbara Idieder )
Ms Idieder said she feels joy seeing her students leave school with their brass and string instrument cases “because that’s a really odd object here”.
The members of Ensemble Nabanga are indigenous to Vanuatu and attend Port Vila’s Lycée Français Le Clézio international school through French government-supported scholarships.
Chrystele Kaltack, the mother of 14-year-old Dominique who has been with the ensemble since the beginning, thinks her son is the first ni-Vanuatu man to play the violin.
“I’ve never, ever seen anyone in Vanuatu play the violin,” Ms Kaltack said.
Willy and Chrystele Kaltack are very proud of Dominique’s progress.(Supplied: Lycée Français Le Clézio)
Traditional Vanuatu music is typically sung and sometimes backed with percussion and flutes.
While Ensemble Nabanga are embracing classical Western instruments, their priority is not compositions from the likes of Mozart and Tchaikovsky.
Ms Idieder writes sheet music for traditional Bislama songs and lullabies, creating instrumental versions for Ensemble Nabanga to play.
When the students visited Toowoomba Grammar School they played a lullaby from the remote Torres Islands of Vanuatu with the local school orchestra.
“It’s a really nice idea that this lullaby was sung to a baby in a little island in the Torres Islands and it’s going to get an audience in Toowoomba,” Ms Idieder said.
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Viola player Anamalia Fiakaifonu was a little nervous to play with Australian students because she thought they were going to outperform her peers.
“I was a bit scared, but then when we came here I felt like we were in the same level so I had more confidence in myself,” she said.
‘Music a right, not a privilege’
There is plenty of research to suggest music learning has a remarkable impact on brain development, especially in school-aged children.
“The studies have been done. We know that music is great for the brain … but I think more importantly it makes good hearts and souls,” said Loreta Fin, a Brisbane-based composer and music educator.
Ms Fin specialises in writing educational compositions and donates her sheet music to Ensemble Nabanga, saving them $100 a piece.
“I think [Barbara] is doing an amazing thing with these children,” she said.
“Music should be for every child. It’s a right, not a privilege. I think every child should be exposed to have that opportunity.”
Music education can improve a child’s spatial, memory, reading, and comprehension skills.(Supplied: Barbara Idieder)
Ensemble Nabanga is not just nurturing an appreciation for musical composition, but an ability to read and understand detail instantly, Ms Idieder said.
“I think being able to switch on your concentration skills when needed, and being able to focus on details, that’s a really valuable skill. That’s what you do as a musician,” she said.
To find suitable ensemble candidates, Ms Idieder will ask colleagues at Lycée Français Le Clézio to identify students who are falling behind due to disadvantage and developmental difficulties.
“Students who don’t necessarily have learning difficulties but are disadvantaged in certain areas or have not completely developed in some areas that we expect by CE1 [late primary school],” said school principal Françis Bacquié.
“That could be shyness, or difficulties expressing themselves orally.
Speaking through violin
One such child is Dominique, who was “the sort of kid who never really talked,” his mother Chrystele Kaltack said.
“When the teacher would ask him to come to the front of the class he would get up and just start crying.”
Dominique plays his violin outside his home in Port Vila. (Supplied: Lycée Français Le Clézio)
Ms Idieder was strapped for time and teaching resources, so to help meet the needs of her growing orchestra she turned to what she knows best – training music teachers.
She created a buddy system where the 10 eldest members – the string ensemble on tour in Queensland – mentor the youngest and newest members.
Dominique was made leader of Ensemble Nabanga, a role he “grew into” over time, Ms Idieder said.
“It’s really, really nice to see kids at 14 years of age take on the responsibility of mentoring another little kid,” she said.
Ms Idieder said parents are incredibly appreciative for the opportunity their children are receiving. (Supplied: Lycée Français Le Clézio)
Improvements in students’ confidence has been noticed at home and school.
“We noticed very clearly an all-over change in the students’ attitudes. They were much more engaged, more positive in their studies,” Mr principal Françis Bacquié said.
Dominique now plays violin for the wider community at Sunday school.
“Now, through the violin, I can see Dominique is able to come out and speak to adults,” his mother said.
