CONCERT FOR TINY TOTS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 29, Issue 738, 4 September 1953, Page 6

CONCERT FOR TINY TOTS

I: *VERY performance of the Washington National Symphony Orchestra is not played for serious adult audiences, properly dressed for an evening at the concert. Occasionally, members .of the Symphony, under the direction of Howard Mitchell, go on the stage before younger groups. Only once, though, has the orchestra given a concert entirely for tots under six years of age, Before the "Tiny Tots’ " co.cert began, everyone was wondering just what would happen when a group of exuberant youngsters found themselves seated before a symphony orchestra. The question was answered shortly ater the music started, as the children clapped, sang and applauded in the right places and generally alg a wonderful time. The noises they did make were merely normal children’s reactions to an enjoyable experience. They listened soberly to the serious pieces and danced along the aisles to light numbers like the Mosquito Dance. When the concert was over, the children . swarmed around the orchestra, singling out their favourite instruments. The bassoon player was coaxed to play the part of the Grandfather in Prokofieff’s , Peter and the Wolf. The piccolo player had to play the Weasel from the American folk tune Pop Goes the Weasel. Providing free concerts’ for school childrén has been a policy of the National Symphony Orchestra for the past three years. The "Tiny Tots’ concert" this year was an experiment to bring good music to pre-school children.