The violinist Margo Lathuraz launched a series of performances in Neuchâtel for a very young audience, and the success is there. The offer is rare in Switzerland, although the beneficial effects of music on toddlers no longer need to be demonstrated.
A violin duet by Boccherini, a sonata by Vivaldi or even a duet by Leclair. Here is the program of the last concert which was attended by a very special audience, whose youngest elements were between 0 and 3 years old.
The idea germinated with violinist Margo Lathuraz when she became a mother: “I went to see a concert with my daughter when she was very small. Being a musician, I wanted to share that with her. But we didn’t “Didn’t really enjoy the concert, because I stayed close to the exit door, in case she started crying. I didn’t want to bother everyone. In the end, it was a bit of a stress,” said she told in the 7:30 p.m. of the RTS.
Crying allowed
The musician therefore goes in search of concerts suitable for toddlers. But she finds very few of them in the whole of Switzerland. Only one annual program in Lausanne. Not much more in Zurich.
She then launches with her ensemble, The Musical Variations, in a series of 30-minute concerts in Neuchâtel. During these performances, crying, moving around and covering on the ground are allowed.
As for the repertoire, nothing has been adapted to infantilize the melodies: “It’s chamber music at its most classic”, specifies Margo Lathuraz.
Beneficial for the language
Several scientific studies have demonstrated the benefits of classical music for children. The last, published in 2016 by the American Academy of Sciences (PNAS), showed beneficial effects on learning to speak.
“Children have their own attention. They say they are unable to concentrate, but that is not true. They have phases of concentration which are intense. Then, yes, they are children, so they look elsewhere and do something else. They move a little, then get back into the music. It’s great, that’s really what I want to bring to them”, enthuses Margo Lathuraz.
The violinist nevertheless specifies that the primary goal is not to “do good” to them, but to offer a moment of pleasure, where the children can be themselves. The rest comes with it.
A success for parents too
Beyond the beneficial effects on the little ones, the meeting is also a success with the older ones: “Usually, it’s difficult to go to a concert or a show with such little ones. We always have to put near the exit so you’re ready to go. It’s nice to be able to do something like that,” says one mum.
“Our son loves music, he loves dancing. It’s a great opportunity to introduce him to classical music,” adds another mum, while a dad savors “the freedom to be able to relax, sit on the ground and to live up to him. It’s interesting to see things from his perspective.”
Elodie Botteron/fme/vic
