Accessible music training at the Athens Concert Hall

Our collaboration with the Athens Concert Hall continues for the second year and goes even deeper. The educational program “Discovering Musical Instruments” will be accessible for children with hearing disabilities from October.

A calabash is placed in an upright position with its metal plates pointing downwards. At the bottom she has painted eyes, frowning eyebrows and a tightly closed mouth that make the plates above look like bangs on a person's forehead. A yellow bow tie adorns this strange figure who raises his left hand high to his forehead as if to call attention. Above the image in white letters is written "For families with children from age 6 and up".

In the process of expanding the inclusive approach in its educational programmes, the Athens Concert Hall in collaboration with liminal made the workshop “The Instruments of the Symphonic Orchestra: discovering musical instruments” accessible for children with low vision or blindness and children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. This year, we are taking it a step further with an innovative design of the workshop so that it is also accessible to children with auditory disabilities.

The Instruments of the Symphonic Orchestra: discovering musical instruments

In a carpeted room, a child of about 10 stands upright on a cushion with his hands up in motion as if conducting an orchestra. In front of him, four musicians with stringed instruments watch him and play.

The musical instruments give an ” appointment ” to families with children 6 years old and above, for an “informal” meeting, through the educational programme “Discovering musical instruments”. The groups of musical instruments that make up the symphonic orchestra will come to life before the children’s eyes with the musicians of the Underground Youth Orchestra and under the guidance of its artistic director and conductor Kostas Iliadis.

Why, how, from what, when… each musical instrument is a small labyrinth of technique and knowledge that excites the curiosity of young and old alike: all our questions will be answered, as the musical instruments give us an appointment for a first meeting, where we can approach, touch, interrupt, ask questions, laugh out loud, understand, applaud. This and much more happens when the instruments come down from the stage and at a breath’s distance… reveal their secrets.

This programme includes two cycles and will conclude with an interactive concert in the spring.

The workshops will be interpreted in Greek Sign Language.

Children with disabilities are encouraged to arrive 20 minutes before the start time of the workshop, in order to have a touch tour, meet the participants and get acquainted with the venue.

Useful information

Dates: 06/10 Strings 13/10 Piano – Harp 03/11 Woodwinds 01/12 Brass 22/12 Percussion

Duration: 60’ Start time: 12:00 pm Touch tour – introduction to the programme: 11:30 am Location: Hall of Educational Programmes – Athens Concert Hall (MAP)

Participation in the programmes can be booked by telephone at 210-7282348 & 210-7282363 (Monday-Friday 10:00-17:00) or by sending an email to [email protected].

Cost of individual participation €15.00 (1 child & 1 accompanying person), additional child: €8.00 Participation fee for the cycle of 5 meetings €60.00 (1 child & 1 accompanying person), additional child: €32.00

Pre-sale opening: Tuesday 17 September 2024

More information about the programme can be found HERE.