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.

Ilja Venema

Research design

Does storytelling affect the perceived emotional intensity of a piece by children between the age 6-10? There will be two versions of the experiment: one “story” group and one control group. Both groups will attend a concert of around 45 minutes in the Classic Express where they will hear either a story or some general information without a story shape. The story will be interspersed with classical pieces so that the whole forms a logical structure. Both the story and the general information were written specifically for this research. The same pieces of music will be played in the same order in both groups, so that the only variable is the spoken text.

Before the concert, the children will fill out a baseline questionnaire in class and receive instructions about the experiment. During the pieces that will be played, an emotional intensity (EI) measurement will be taken, where the children are asked to indicate 1) which emotion they feel and 2) how intensely they feel that emotion. As we believe that there is no right or wrong emotion to feel in music, we are less interested in the chosen emotion. This was put in the questionnaire to make it easier to answer the second question. To ensure accuracy, the measurement will happen at an emotionally strong moment during the piece, where a fermata will give the time to fill out the questionnaire. Then the music and story continues. This research will look at the differences in intensity rating between the story-group and the control group.

All results will be analysed anonymously and permission in writing of all parents will be obtained before the start of the experiment.

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