Pianist and music educator Rosetta de Battista is embarking on an innovative initiative, AcCompany, aimed at providing the young with learning opportunities through music, instilling a deeper understanding of musicians in children and training singing actors at her Swieqi studio from next month.

The realisation of a dream, AcCompany stems from her "desire to emulate the high artistic standards imparted by the professionals, who inspired my own musical education".

Among Ms de Battista's projects in the pipeline for 2004-2005 is a novel Learning Through Music course, designed to enhance child development and education from as young as six months.

According to the pianist, "music is the ideal medium through which to 'rehearse' the gifts of communication... Pre-verbal skills closely correspond to the elements of music. Musical play is, therefore, an ideal instrument for the development of the infant's psychological, social and emotional faculties".

Aimed at infants and toddlers, accompanied by a caregiver, the idea is to stimulate them through creative, action-based activities, such as sounds, songs, movement and mime, instrument playing, listening, turn-taking, interaction and sharing to expand their social and interactive skills.

Meet the Musician is another project dealing with the musical education - not just classical - of children aged between five and 12. The idea is to get them to appreciate and understand music through first-hand encounters with musicians through mini-recitals, quizzes and other entertaining means to enhance their appreciation and lead to an informed taste as they grow older.

"Before we expect local audiences to grow in number, we must familiarise children with the musicians... Only through a closer connection between them can we hope to encourage younger members of society to enjoy art and culture and integrate these important aspects in their everyday lives," Ms de Battista explained.

About to start her fourth scholastic year as music teacher at St Martin's College, Ms de Battista is well versed in the UK music curriculum and is keen to create encounters between students and musicians to allow them to get to know the person, the instrument, the musical repertoire, the styles and sounds through live, interactive recitals and workshops, held once monthly. She has already secured the collaboration of Maltese and foreign professional musicians for the course.

But her ideas are not only aimed at children. Ms de Battista's recent involvement as vocal coach for FM Productions' version of Chicago and Actinghouse's On the Seduction of Angels has helped her identify a need to improve singing actors' musicianship skills. She is currently working on an intensive course, Musicianship for Singing Actors, to educate adults in theatre who have no formal musical training.

"Many actors feel the need for a deeper understanding of the musical aspect of their performance. The aim of the course is to equip performers with the necessary tools to tackle a musical score."

Ms de Battista trained in performing and teaching at the Royal College of Music and furthered her studies in music therapy and education at Surrey University. Since her return to Malta, she has worked extensively in the fields of piano teaching and performing, music teaching and therapy and has organised a number of events and workshops for actors and musicians alike.

rosdebat@waldonet.net.mt