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.

Impression of the first research day

On November 29th 2021 we woke up, 6am, for our first day of experiments. After more than a year of preparations, online meetings and cancelled concerts because of covid, we were extremely eager to get started.

7:15 am, still in the dark, we met at the Classic Express, parked next to the Feyenoord Stadium “De Kuip” in Rotterdam. Ilja and Vivian rented bikes at the railway station. Ilona arrived with a car full of equipment: Three camera’s, 60 pens, piles of coloured stickers and posters with emoticon meters that would be used as example in the instructions. Only for this school, The Meester Baars, also drinks, apples and bananas were needed, because the children had to walk 45 minutes to get to the Classic Express. We were hoping the rain would not pour down while the kids were walking.

Last minute Louise was asked to help to prepare drinks outside of the truck. Fortunately, because we needed an extra person.

The Meester Baars school had agreed on participating in the research, and had been very kind in helping us.

The schedule of the day was a challenge because both researchers and children had to walk and bike from the Classic Express to the school. Next to this, because of the covid protocol, the bus needed to be aired and cleaned in between all the concerts.

Ilja prepared the exact placement of the two camera’s, making sure the angle would be right for filming only the kids that were included. Vivian and Ilona prepared the seats. Elsbet rehearsed with our stand in guitar player Antonio, because our own guitar player just got covid.

Three of us went to the Meester Baars School at 8am to give the instructions in the three classes that would be attending a concert. The classes, Oister, Lobster and Seahorse, needed to be found in the building and we had brought a gift for the school that was offered to the “cultuur coordinator”. We had prepared a list of every age- group connected to the name of the class, to know if the Lobsters were 6 or 10 years old.

The atmosphere in the school was remarkably calm. Children were speaking softly in the corridors, teachers did not raise their voices to the children.

We started with a team of three giving instructions and quickly realized we did not need so many people. Children were attentive in the practice session. In this session they are trained to pick up the concert booklet, answer a question, mark their choice in the booklet and put the booklet on the ground right after. Next to this practice they already answer the first questions that are included in the research on interest in classical music. It seemed that the questions were well understood in every age group, but the youngest group needed more time to fill out the booklet. After all the instructions the booklets were given bak to us, and stored in the bag market with the class name.

After the instructions we swiftly went back to the Classic Express to prepare the arrival of the first class. Because of the huge parking place it was a joy to see the first class approaching.

Kids were happy with limonade and teachers grateful for coffee.

In the Classic Express all shoes have to be taken off, the included kids were assigned to the seats, got a sticker on their sweater, and we made sure the excluded kids were out of reach of the camera’s and they all got their own booklet back.

The concert started with an introduction and an interactive part. Musicians were full of energy. The sound of music is as always miraculous.

To indicate when the children had to indicate their emotional intensity, Vivian showed posters with figure 1 to 5 without interrupting the performance.

3 experiment-concerts in control/story version were played. Many kids got their stickers

The challenge of the day was for sure that so many kids had to pee in the concert. As there was no toilet close to the bus many kids missed part of the experiment, such a pity!

After the concerts two of us went back to the school to ask the last questions on the class room.

Ilja took care of the memory cars in the camera’s and all booklets were collected.

Late afternoon we evaluated the day and were mostly happy with the flow. The schedule was tight but everything was just ready on time. The challenges we had, like a boy that had to pee and inspired all his friends, seemed to be unpredictable.

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