September 9, 2003
By Tammy O'Reilly
IT takes years of assiduous practise to master the art of the violin, and the audience at the performance of "The Art of the Violin" at the Wits Great Hall on Sunday 21 September will be able to experience this process.
Children as young as three years old will be taking part in the celebration of "The Art of Violin", performing alongside the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra chamber ensemble and the Motswako String Quartet.
The performance by 65 students of the Violin Academy, whose ages range from three to 18, will be based on a repertoire of classical pieces, folk music and nursery tunes.
The programme will have something for everyone: the Motswako String Quartet will be playing kwela; the ensemble will accompany the children in some of the classical pieces and the klezmers (Jewish folk songs).
Director of the Violin Academy, Lee Marais, has adopted the Suzuki method of teaching, in which children start to learn the musical instrument from a very young age. "The children are too little to read, so they are first trained to listen to the music," Marais says. The children acquire an ear for the music in the same way they learn to speak their mother tongue from those around them.
All the time they play music, starting from simple nursery tunes to the more complex classical pieces, Marais says. "Children start playing by ear and memory and when they are old enough, learn to read music."
"The Art of the Violin" performance starts at 3.30pm and tickets cost R40 for adults and R20 for children. Tickets can be obtained by calling 011 784 1351 or bought at the door.
