What did they say...?

The participants

“I feel privileged to have been able to join this workshop. In fact, I don’t know who learned more, the children or the musicians, nor whether we taught music or simply a different way of posing solutions to small and large problems. Canòlich Prats, OSV violinist

The students made music, they quietly learned a melody, and they composed and practiced with instruments for 6 hours. They were highly concentrated, happy and satisfied.”

Canòlich Prats, OSV violinist

"The workshop turned out to be an exercise in the authentic living of music: sharing, learning and teaching. Such was the power of the educative optimism of Professor Spencer that we were infected with an abundant sensation of peace, liberty and joy.

Thinking about what I had always known intuitively: isn’t this the real significance of education? Where these values exist, it is logical that there is less room for hate and ignorance; not that vulgar attitude to new technological tools or marketing techniques (without denigrating their benefits), but the vulgar attitude towards the basics of any learning: affection. That is what allows us to build instead of destroy.

Music is a tool and a powerful strategy for anyone who wants to build up our society and for the general good. In this sense it seems easy to understand and / or play, but hard to experience; the task of whoever receives it is to learn to give.

This kind of experience, as in school, strengthens the conscience and reaffirms the meaning of our lives."

Pablo Pérsico, OSV Technical Support

I thought it was a very interesting activity. I didn’t expect it to be such fun, but when we began it was very lively and entertaining.

We learned the song by Samaguaza and we could sing it and teach it to our friends. We have learned to play the Orff percussion instruments, how to create a piece of music, understand its structure and finally perform it before an audience. Highly recommended.

Laura Montero Gordo (6th year student)

It was a very interesting activity on account of the diversity of the aspects covered. On the musical level, we worked on song, practiced with Orff instruments and were also able to become involved in the creation of a piece of music.

On a personal level it was very interesting to see the relationship established between the orchestra musicians and the children taking part in the activity. The musicians guided the pupils as they discovered how to organize their work and solve the problems that came up.

Without any doubt it is a highly recommendable activity by virtue of all the elements involved: personal development, relationship with companions and musical expressivity.

Joan Obradós Múria (music specialist)

From my point of view it has been a very interesting activity because it has captured the attention of the children from the first moment.

The children have experienced the composing and playing of music from in a playful atmosphere, but at the same time in a responsible way. They have had to make decisions for themselves which has meant that they felt the final result belonged to them.

I believe it is a highly recommendable activity from the educational point of view; the methodology applied by Michael Spencer and the musicians could be applied to other subjects on the curriculum.

Miquel Pérez de Domingo (Headmaster of the school)