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Starting In The Middle…

Posted by Bruce Gaston on 27th November 2007

Bangkok Rehearsals‘First’ doesn’t always mean the beginning of something. The music project with the children of BaanGerda has been going on since April. In subsequent weeks I will be telling some of the stories about the children’s musical adventures in that early period.

But for now, let’s begin in the present. Since the children are on a vacation from school for about a month or so, we have brought fourteen of them down to Bangkok for intensive study in music, singing, dancing and acting. As you may already know, we are going to perform a children’s opera. The plan is to stage it during the first part of next year, and perhaps even take it to Germany.

The Opera emerges from various methods that I have developed over the years (this is my third children’s opera), whereby the children’s creative input is an important part of the finished product. The work is centered around the Orff Schulwerk method, although I modify the approach considerably so that the music relates more to the Siamese musical heritage. For singing we use Kodaly Method; for dancing and acting I rely on names like Dalcroze, Laban, Slade, Spolin, Littlewood, Heathcote, Johnstone and in the area of theatre education, I am perhaps most indebted to Augusto Boal. Forgive all these names, but it just a habit among Thai artists to remember their teachers at the beginning of every new endeavor.

The story is based on Yann Martel’s wonderful novel, “The Life of Pi”. It’s not an easy story and certainly not a children’s book. I shall have more details in future postings.

Photos from the Rehearsals


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One Response to “Starting In The Middle…”

  1. manfred broenner Says:
    March 27th, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    1. manfred broenner Says:
    March 27th, 2008 at 12:16 pm

    the orff instrumentarium was brought over when dr regenberg and I as his deputy were convinced of the advantages beneficial for (the not only music- and rhythm-related)for any child anywhere in the world. that it found its way to baan gerda is a great achievement, especially with bruce gaston as the probably most knowledgeable person in thailand where asian and western music language are concerned.
    I would be keen to observe one day when bruce will ever do another session of teaching/rehearsing. Could I please be informed about that well in advance?
    thank you - manfred broenner

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