Classic Express Research project by Ilona Sie Dhian Ho

In a combined qualitative and quantitative research the influence of storytelling in concerts for children is analyzed. In a controlled setting, The Classic Express (mobile concert hall), groups of schoolchildren attend either a concert with or a concert without storytelling. The groups, similar in socio- economic background and age, are compared. In a quantitative research the involved listening, the felt emotional intensity, the interest in classical music and the interest in actively playing an instrument, will be measured. For quantification new grading systems are developed by scientists and musicians in a collaborative process. In a qualitative research on the influence of storytelling the focus is on children with severe learning disorders. The emotional responses of these children in concerts with and without storyelling, and in combination with participatory elements (moving, gestures) are observed by teachers and caretakers, They compare their observations in the concert to the normal behaviour of their pupils. Both Interviews with the teachers and their grading of arousal, attention and emotional levels in the concert will provide data that will be analyzed by the reserachers. This research is the first study of The Classic Expression Research Group, a group of researchers from the Royal Conservatoire and Leiden University, collaborating to provide new insights on the impact of presentation techniques in classical concerts.

Ilona Sie Dhian Ho is professor of Violin at the Royal Conservatoire and chamber music player at several festivals. She has given masterclasses in Europe, USA and China. She is jury member of several violin competitions and since 2018 member of the artistic board of Dutch Violin Competitions.

In 2013 she started an outreach project, Music Around the Corner, in which she developed ways to perform classical music in the Morgenstond district, The Hague. With students she formed a ‘district orchestra’, Orkest Morgenstond. This orchestra collaborates with local partners to create tailored performances. To generate a better understanding of presentation techniques that increase the impact of classical music, she extended these practice-based studies to a scientific research project. She started The Classic Expression Research group in which musicians of The Royal Conservatoire and scientists of Leiden University collaborate. By designing controlled experiments in the Classic Express, a mobile concert truck, she will analyze the impact of presentation techniques that were developed in Morgenstond. The aim is to provide insights in how to reach specific groups within the population, as well as to reflect on the artistic consequences of such presentation techniques. The first study on story telling in musical performances for children will take place in 2021.

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