Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

Around 250 students from three music schools in Serbia, Ćuprija, Jagodina and Paraćin, as well as kids in the programme of the Novi Sad Centre for Social Work, are attending musical workshops by “El Sistema Srbija”, implemented by the Music Art Project. The best among them had the opportunity to participate in concerts in late August at “Milan Expo 2015”, at the third gathering of youth orchestras working in accordance with this model of education.

– “El Sistema” was created 40 years ago in Venezuela, with the mission of enabling poor children to gain primary education in music. Through musical notes, children from a poor background are enabled to get off the streets, avoid vice, but also hang out with their peers, and develop as persons. It is present in 60 states, and if an imaginary international orchestra was to be put together with all the kids, it would have four million young musicians, explains Marijana Milošević Simić, programme director. It was initiated in Serbian schools in the autumn of 2014; it involves work with children from seven years of age to those in the final grades of music schools. It is free, and children play in orchestras, despite being educated as solo players. (Previous) musical knowledge is not required for the children. (…)

– Music is a universal language. When a child conquers a note, sings successfully or plays a sequence, you cannot measure their happiness, feeling of self-confidence, says Marijana Milošević Simić and continues explaining why this programme has multiple benefits. – Not only children from economically poor families are vulnerable. A child attending music school without having its own instrument is also in some way poor, she adds.

Global networking provides for having renowned artists as guests. – You cannot imagine the smile of a seven year old’s face, not quite a virtuoso on the violin, when an international conductor places him on the post of first violin in the orchestra, says our interlocutor. Children from Serbia thus had the opportunity of being conducted by the famous Gustavo Dudamel, along with Zubin Mehta one of the most sought-after conductors of today. It is interesting to note that he, as a boy in his native Venezuela, was introduced to music precisely through the “El Sistema” workshops.

The programme is free, and professors have to complete training to be able to work with kids from vulnerable categories. The plan is to increase the number of schools where it is accessible in Serbia. Negotiations are under way with principals in Vranje and other cities in the south of the country. Also, one idea is to form a baby orchestra with children aged up to nine years. Another wish is to obtain instruments so that as many young musicians as possible can learn to play.