Kids’ Music Club educates youth
Campus Times
March 12, 2004
Valerie Sato receives some personalized instruction from Timothy Durkovic,
artist in residence and adjunct professor of music, while playing in a trio
with Lorali Mossaver-Rahmani and Scott Farthing, assistant professor of music.
Saturday's Kids Music Club concert provided an interactive music learning experience
for children.
Children from La Verne and surrounding communities filed into Founders Auditorium
on Saturday for the third concert of the Kids’ Music Club concert series,
hosted by the music department.
Led by music department chairman Scott Farthing, the “I Love the Piano”
event allowed children from La Verne, Claremont, Pomona and Montclair to learn
a little more about the beauty that is this instrument by asking questions and
even having the opportunity to go onstage and tickle the old ivories.
“I absolutely love any chance to share what the piano is about,”
Farthing said as he introduced the program to the 100 or so attendees in the
audience.
Children ages 1 to 12 sat astounded, eyes peeled, as they paid attention to
every detail presented, including how a piano works and the differences between
a harpsichord and a piano.
Farthing’s energetic personality kept the children at full attention,
with his animated explanations of how a piano creates sound and how to manipulate
it as well.
Farthing was joined by world famous pianists Jacqueline Petitto and Tim Durkovic,
both Southern California residents who have played the piano since early childhood.
Petitto and Durkovic both played a musical piece and explained what makes
a piano so popular.
“You can make it sound like any instrument you can imagine, if you just
use your imagination,” Durkovic said.
Volunteers were taken from the audience to answer questions and, like 9-year
old Paul McQueen, demonstrate their piano playing skills onstage.
McQueen has been taking professional lessons for two years, after having played
by ear since age 5.
“He is gifted. We had to force him to actually read his music notes when
he first started playing,” McQueen’s mother, Victoria, said.
McQueen’s love for the piano is evident in his facial expressions and
his attachment to the instrument, especially after the concert when his mother
could barely pull him away from the piano that sat onstage.
“It sounds lovely,” McQueen said. “When you play the piano,
it sounds like a dream.”
Children and parents alike seemed to enjoy themselves and the program, especially
appreciating the educational value of it.
“We always try to educate them about music. Music cultivates everything:
character, temper, everything,” Julia Xue said.
Xue brought her 1-year-old son, Justin, along.
“These programs are so important,” Farthing said. “You have
to educate them early, especially with music. They become active participants,
not just passive listeners.”
Many parents who found out about the Kids’ Club and what it offers to
young children, stumbled upon it in their local newspaper.
“I was looking through the paper and saw this,” Victoria McQueen
said.
“It was convenient and close to home. It is hard to find programs like
this, that are free.”
The Kids’ Music Club, although only in its first year, has already managed
to hold three events. The fourth, “Drums From West Africa,” is scheduled
for May 8.
“These events keep growing,” Farthing said.
The first concert drew a crowd of 50 spectators, the second brought 60, and
the third nearly doubled previous attendance.
Those involved with the program expect the trend to continue.
“It is really catching on, which is great because events like these help
us build connections with the community,” Farthing said.
“One of ULV’s missions is to be life-long learners, that isn’t
just out of college, but before college as well,” Farthing continued.
“That is what this program aims to do.”
For more information call (909) 593-3511, Ext. 4918.
