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A global music lesson

Joining the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ SSO in India for their special schools concerts

Musical education was at the forefront of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s tour of India. In each city the SSO staged special concerts for schools, and held a series of workshops to allow young people to get up close with the musicians and instruments of the orchestra.

Through the Commonwealth Class project schools in India, Britain, and around the world joined in an online debate about the benefits of musical education for young people. ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ director Donald MacInnes filmed the SSO workshops in India and met some of the youngsters involved.

β€œThey really loved the music and appreciated the fact that the SSO had come to perform for them,” says MacInnes. β€œI was struck by how they embraced western classical music, which many of them hadn’t heard before. They were so open, articulate kind and enthusiastic.”

MacInnes also met Indian classical violinist Kala Ramnath and was invited into her home to film. β€œShe played and sang for us with a tabla. That was a wonderful experience,” says MacInnes.

β€œIt gave a real insight to their music which is almost completely improvised and uses a different scale to western classical music.

β€œMy expectations of India were that it would be busy, noisy, hot and a bit mad. It did live up to those, but I also found it to be exciting, friendly and full of character.”

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