Concerts, dancing, workshops and sing-a-long's. All things musical are to be celebrated in this fun children's festival at the
Melbourne Recital Centre. Timetabled across twenty-five different sessions from Wednesday, January 18th until Sunday, January 22nd, 2012, there is something for all kids, infant to school-aged, to enjoy. A selection of many colourful concerts, to begin with.
'
Animagica' is one of these and will be soundtracked by
Aniima, an Icelandic string quartet. While the musicians play, beautiful, animated scenes from well-known fairy tales will be projected up onto a large screen. '
The Race for the Chinese Zodiac', another concert, uses traditional Chinese instruments and images to deliver the story of how the animals of the zodiac secured there places. '
Lah-Lah's Musical Wonderland' will have the audience jumping with their fun and happy bop tunes.
'
Spikey and Friends', is a performance by an Australian Rock Band and they will sing about the special animals from the rainforest near Byron Bay, whereas '
Whoa Tilly's Tea Party' let's children in on all the fun of big band swing music.
There are hands-on workshops as part of the festival as well so children can have a go at
Japanese Taiko Drumming and learn how to make instruments using household objects. They can also further their investigations into Chinese culture, arts and painting styles in various locations across Melbourne.
Lah Lah's Musical Wonderland will be there (source:www.lah-lah.com)
Babies are not overlooked at this event, with three very specific parts of the MusicPlay Children's Festival designed just for them. There's the '
Little Opera Arias' where they can babble and gurgle along to performances from
The Magic Flute,
The Sound of Music,
Carmen and
Rigoletto. There's '
Cradle Songs' which offers them dreamy, classical guitar lullabies or, there's a loud, brass ensemble performance to have them bouncing along to bold rhythms, marches and fanfares.
Tickets for most of the MusicPlay Children's Festival sessions are $20.00 although, children under one year of age are admitted free if there is no pram brought along with them and they are able to sit in their carer's lap. All children are to be accompanied by an adult
Instrument Making Workshop - Wed, Jan 18th, 11am
(*held at
ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr)
Little Opera Arias - Thurs, Jan 19th, 10am & 11:30am
Instrument Making Workshop - Thurs, Jan 19th, 2:30pm
(*held at ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr)
Animagica - Thurs, Jan 19th, 11am
Spikey and Friends - Thurs, Jan 19th, 1:30pm & 3pm
Shrewd Bass Trio - Fri, Jan 20th, 10am & 11:30am
Nadia & the Blue Flamingo - Fri, Jan 20th, 1:30pm & 3pm
Taiko Drumming Workshop - Fri, Jan 20th, 1:30pm & 3pm
Lah-Lah's Musical Wonderland, Fri, Jan 20th, 11am
Cradle Songs, Sat Jan 21st 10am - 11:30am
The Race for the Chinese Zodiac, Sat, Jan 21st, 11am
Chinese Painting, Sat, Jan 21st, 1:30pm
(*held at ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr)
Chinese Culture and Music, Sat, Jan 21st, 1:30pm
(*held at the
Chinese Museum, Little Bourke Street)
Dragon Tales, Sat Jan 21st, 3pm
(*held at the Chinese Museum, Little Bourke Street)
Whoa Tilly's Tea Party, Sat, Jan 21st, 1:30pm and 3pm
Chinese Painting, Sun, Jan 22nd, 11am & 1:30pm
(*held at ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr)
There are also foyer installations to experience and face-painting available at the recital centre on most days. Bookings are
online or by calling (03) 9699 3333
