On August 9, the Year 1 students from both campuses boarded the buses and headed to the Arts Centre to watch the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) perform Prokofiev’s classic story, 'Peter and the Wolf.' Prokofiev composed this musical tale to introduce children to the different instruments of the orchestra, and our Year 1 students have been studying this story in class. In the performance, each character was represented by a different instrument:
Peter: The String Family
The Bird: Flute (Woodwind)
The Cat: Clarinet (Woodwind)
The Duck: Oboe (Woodwind)
Grumpy Grandpa: Bassoon (Woodwind)
The Wolf: Three French Horns (Brass)
The Hunters: Timpani and Bass Drum (Percussion)
This special MSO performance was designed to bring the imaginative world of music to life for young audiences, and the children enjoyed seeing and hearing the instruments up close. The performance, narrated by Dr Richard Vaudrey, featured three puppeteers who used their skills to dramatise the story with puppets made from recycled items. The show was very funny, with highlights including the lady puppeteer’s humorous wig and her portrayal of Grandpa scolding Peter for playing in the meadow where wolves might be lurking. It was also surprising when Peter’s head flew off across the stage!
Overall, it was a wonderful excursion where the children learned about musical instruments and how each one has a unique voice and personality, much like the characters in the story.