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Photos by Alexei Michailowsky
Music & Beyond is working to connect children to music, and their annual Family Music Expo on July 16th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. will give children the opportunity to explore their musical interests.
Ottawa Life talked to seven year-old Emily’s Dad, Rob Gentles about how the Expo encouraged Emily to take her piano skills further.
“Our daughter Emily had already done a couple of years in an excellent group music class. However, Emily was learning faster than the group, so we decided to try to find a music teacher to work with Emily one-on-one.
We attended the Music & Beyond Festival in 2015, when Emily was five and saw a lot of great musicians. One pair in particular was a singing and piano combination. Emily was very excited to listen to them and after they finished their recital, she asked if she could play her piece for them.
They were both impressed with Emily's playing and I decided to ask if they knew of any good teachers who would take someone as young as Emily. On the basis of their recommendation, Emily began studying with a great teacher in our neighborhood. Emily has continued to progress very quickly and will hopefully complete her Grade 1 with the Royal Conservatory sometime this fall.”
Like Emily, other children will also have the chance to find their music teachers, says Music and Beyond’s Special Events Coordinator Alexandria Givens.
“Many music teachers around the Ottawa-Gatineau region have donated free lessons as prizes for our Amazing Musical Scavenger Hunt so that some kids can have the experience of private instrument lessons – an opportunity they may not normally experience. Many kids find a passion for music and most find something at the Ottawa Family Music Expo that sparks their creativity and allows them to discover the benefits the arts can bring to themselves as well as to others.”
Besides winning free music lesson, there will be over 200 entertaining & educational, music-based activities and performances by musicians around the world, which will spark your child’s musical interests. Your child can build their own musical instrument with fruits and veggies, they can take home their own penny whistle that they hand-crafted with the help of of woodworking instructor Jonathan Crone, and there will be a music and yoga class!
On July 16th don’t miss the chance for your child to have the opportunity to foster their musical talents.