Sri Ramadhani ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Serpong, Tangerang   |  Sun, 02/10/2008 12:57 PM  |  Discover

"Aviciena!" Rina Rachmawati, a teacher at Aviciena Islamic Kindergarten in Serpong, Tangerang, called out to a group of students clad in orange T-shirts. "Children, today we will see a rehearsal by the Twilite Youth Orchestra. Before we go, I have some questions for you all."

Holding up a picture of a musical instrument, she asked them: "Who knows the name of this instrument?"

"It's a saxophone!" said Miftah, 6.

"Ok. What about this?" prompted Rina. "Viola!" said 5 year-old Nasywa.

"Good, children. Now, we will see how these instruments are played together by members of the Twilite Youth Orchestra," said Rina.

This exchange between students of Aviciena Islamic Kindergarten and their teacher took place not in the classroom, but at the entrance of Plaza Kemang 88, South Jakarta.

That Sunday morning, 14 students, six teachers and an assistant of the school, as well as parents, visited the Twilite Youth Orchestra's rehearsal studio on the top floor of the plaza.

The Twilite Youth Orchestra is a youth symphony made up of musicians between 10 to 27 years old, and is led by music director and noted conductor Addie M.S. The orchestra was founded in August 2004.

"We have brought the students to see how the Twilite Youth Orchestra rehearses, and what kind of instruments they play," said school principal Waldiyanti Permanasari.

She added: "To encourage students' musical talent and to enrich their music knowledge, we give music lessons twice a week at school. In class, our students learn how to play the angklung (Sundanese bamboo instrument), keyboard, guitar, timpani, triangle, seruling (Sundanese bamboo flutes) and others.

"We believe that through music, their intellect can develop well," said Waldiyanti.our students need to see a real rehearsal so they can learn about music first-hand."

Before the Aviciena students, teachers and parents entered the orchestra's rehearsal studio, one of the teachers reminded students not to make noise while watching: "Let's go to the music room now. Don't make loud noises there because your voices can bother the orchestra members' concentration," said Rina.

In the wide room were about 50 young musicians with their instruments, their conductor Eric Awuy and two technicians.

More than 20 youths were tuning their violins while three cellists were going over some musical bars. One was playing a contrabass and two others were playing bassoons. Other musicians were playing a flute, an alto viola and an oboe.

Eric, an Indonesian-French conductor, began instructing the orchestra with his baton, sometimes tapping it on the music stand before him. "Ok, guys! One, two. Tap, tap, tap.," he called out.

While most of the Aviciena girls appeared to be watching the Twilite Youth Orchestra seriously, several boys were happily joking with each other in their seats. Their teachers were busy shuttling students here and there to get a better look. All seemed to be enjoying the live rehearsal of the Twilite Youth Orchestra.

"Look! That's a big guitar," said a boy, pointing to the contrabass played by a young man.

Meanwhile, several parents had accompanied the field trip, watching their children from the studio door or taking photos.

"I think this is a good experience for my son Irfan," said his mother, Nurhayati. "He will learn about musical instruments. I want him to take piano lessons, but he doesn't want to yet."

Separately, Hendi, the father of an Aviciena student named Akhsya, commented: "This is a good activity for Aviciena students. Students can see musical instruments directly and learn how they are played."

Aviciena's field trip early last year was part of a school program the orchestra runs to spread music knowledge and appreciation among students.

"We have welcomed student visits from some schools that aimed to introduce symphony music to students -- from kindergarten to university (levels). We also go to schools to show Twilite Youth Orchestra perform, and to attract their interest in joining us or another orchestra," said the operational manager of Twilite Youth Orchestra, Stefanie Adityaparna.

Since the program began in 2005, the orchestra has visited two schools each year, from Global Jaya to Tiara Bangsa and, most recently, in July 2007, St. Theresia Menteng.

Stefanie, who is a violinist herself, said the Twilite Youth Orchestra planned to perform at least two shows at schools in this year.

Aviciena's visit to the orchestra appears to have left a lasting impression, as seen in the students' comments gathered at the school last week.

"I like watching the orchestra. They all are good at playing music," said 6 year-old Shabrina Yasmin Ramadhani.

"I saw violins. I like watching them but the sound is too loud, but that's ok," recalled 5 year-old Akhsya Yusuf Rizqullah. Meanwhile, Faiz Syawel Avenzhur, also 5, said, "I like that (kind of) music because there are some good instruments," and 4 year-old Nadhira Alysha Putri remembered that "There were elder brothers and sisters who are good at playing violin".

As for 5 year-old M. Gilyen Fidanza, he said: "I'm happy watching them, but I don't like the music lessons in my piano class."

These kindergartners, aside from listening to and watching the orchestra, also enjoy playing music themselves.

"I like playing the piano and drum at home together with my older brother Hanan and little sister Naura," said Shabrina.

"I like playing piano. Mom bought a piano for me," said Nadhira.

"I like the violin," said Faiz, while Akhsya said he liked the keyboard and playing the seruling at school.

The orchestra's school program, which is free, seems to be a good means to uncover and develop students' musical talent and appreciation. Who knows that one of these students might grow up to become a noted violinist like Maylaffaiza or a renowned conductor like Addie M.S.