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

Why did I start Classic Expression Research Group?

My motivation to start the Classic Expression Research Group is that I have seen in Morgenstond how performance techniques like storytelling can affect the audience involvement as welll as my own and my students playing. I initiated this research to understand, use and optimize the processes in both listener and musicians.

The research question on the impact of storytelling on attention has led to making a coding construct to be able to quantify how involved children are when listening. It offers an objective way to measure how long children are concentrated, and how engaged they are, attending a musical performance.

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