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.

Vivian de Graaff

musician and psychologist in the CE Research Group

The Classic Expression Research is going very smoothly. We had some setbacks with primary schools cancelling because of Covid, but the experiments which do take place are progressing very well. I notice that we are working extremely good together as a team. I really feel that we are already collaborating for 1,5 year, we know each other’s strengths and we can count on each other at all times, which makes us a very strong team. It feels special to be part of this excellent group and pursuing such an ambitious and big research. Even thesis colleagues from the university are surprised about the size and aims of this research, while the start of this research does not even lie in a scientific school. I feel proud that this investigation is possible at the Royal Conservatory and am very happy to be part of it. Although I also follow education at a university, which focusses explicitly on science, this is my first research in the field. Very easily field researches become quality driven and I am glad and surprised we can keep our experiments so quantitively, which has a lot of future implications and prospect for researchers in the field of music as well as psychology.

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