Orchestra empowers young people through music
Legendary music teacher at the school who started teaching in 1974 Jennifer Gaul believes music is tailored to suit the ability of each individual.
WHEN the North Durban Youth Orchestra was started, the aim was not only to teach young people that music is for everybody but also to make it tangible for them.
Represented by pupils from various schools, the orchestra is conducted by veteran music teachers, Jennifer Gaul and Chantal du Toit.
Born in Durban to Scottish parents, Jennifer Gaul started teaching music in 1974. She holds a licentiate from the Trinity College in London. She is also a member of the World Who’s Who of Women, a member of the international fellowship as well as the South African Society of Music Teachers.
Gaul said she believes music is tailored to suit the ability of each individual. The performers play a wide range of instruments.
“My ambition has always been to teach children that music is for everybody, no matter how old or young you are as long as you were willing to learn. I wanted to make it tangible for everybody,” she said.
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The orchestra is divided into the junior and the senior orchestra. Each group has 15 members and the youngest member of the juniors is eight years old.
Gaul said rehearsals happen once a week and the orchestra welcomes anyone who would like to learn.
“It does not matter where they’re from but it is important to have their own instrument.”
“We teach them how to listen carefully and we encourage them to come to the orchestra even if they can only play one note. Some have played since they were four years old. Teaching children is easy because they are like sponges. They are not afraid to make mistakes and they are always willing to try new things.
“The pre-schoolers are our step one and they have entered and won the Queensburgh Festival of Arts for the past 17 years in the Orffs category. Once they get to primary school, they join the juniors.
They are first violinists with the juniors but they become the second violinists in the seniors just to prove the good work that we do,” said Gaul.
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Gaul said they play at shopping centres, old-age homes, music festivals and some of the children’s parents invite them to play at their wedding anniversaries.
Along with the Orff’s trophy, they won the senior trophy and the chamber ensemble trophy at the Queensburgh Festival of Arts last year.
Gaul said there were many highlights that have been a fulfillment of her goal.
“To see a child that was afraid to play in front of people joining the group and gaining the confidence to stand infront of an audience and play is priceless.
“Some of them go on to join the Durban City Orchestra and the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra. One of them is my 17-year old grandson Julian Gaul who has joined the Durban City Orchestra and he has been playing the clarinet and the percussion since he was nine,” said Gaul.
Gaul said she was proud that two of their former students were now in the UK and Amsterdam respectively.
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