Catching them while they’re young, Manoel Theatre’s Toi Toi programme aims to foster among children a love for the world of theatre and its role in holistic education.
“Music has a magical effect on children,” says Rosetta Debattista, the programme’s education consultant. “They are free and receptive to the beauty of the classical form. Live music stimulates their brains on so many levels and really draws them in. In fact, music is used as a highly therapeutic intervention with people, from its initial pioneering work with autistic children.”
Every Toi Toi project focuses on a more holistic education that brings the young closer to the world of arts. The concerts’ educational element is not the textbook type of knowledge most children are generally exposed to at school.
This is what appealed to Bank of Valletta and why the bank supports the programme, which is now in its third season.
Toi Toi concerts caters for children of different age groups. The Toi Toi 022 programme target children under the age of two. These 40-minute concerts of popular classics are specially designed for little ones, their parents and carers. They provide a unique opportunity to experience live music in an informal atmosphere with new material being presented every month.
For three- to five-year-olds, concerts of popular tunes and different styles of music create a jovial atmosphere during which children are encouraged to sing along.
For six- to eight-year-olds, the Cosmos Wind Quintet present ‘The Story Tellers’ concerts under the Toi Toi 628 programme. Through music compositions by Mussorgsky, Prokofiev, Debussy and other famous composers, the quintet brings some of the greatest works of music and literature to life for the children.
This year’s programme also includes new Toi Toi limited editions – one-off opportunities that bring young audiences up close with internationally acclaimed artists.
Past events have included harpsichordist Beatrice Martin, viola-player Gerard Caussé, the all-female French string quartet Ardeo Quartet and classical guitarist Carlos Bonell.
Forthcoming projects include ‘Send a Song… for the Young at Heart’ during which songs will be performed to people in nursing homes.