The Glasshouse

Earlier this year we introduced you to Giulian, a violinist on our Young Musicians Programme.

Day to day practical things can be hard for the nine year old, who has cerebral palsy, but music has given him new found confidence and ambition. Over the last few weeks, he has been keeping up with his playing at home through a music project he’s been doing with his mum Elisabetta, which has been a comfort for him during this time.

Giulian said:

“When we have breakfast in the morning we like to listen to classical music on the radio. Sometime I recognise the music but often I’d like to know more about the composers. Unfortunately, when I have to go to school I don’t have the time. But during the lockdown we decided to actually do it. So my mum gave me a book, an old music dictionary from our library, which we now keep near our breakfast table. When I hear music by composers I do not know, I check them in the book and learn facts about them.

“I’m learning about different styles and periods within classical music and I’m starting to make connections. Today for example I heard a piece by Franz von Suppé, who I had never heard about before, and whose music I thought was by Rossini! So we asked ourselves, who came first? Who was inspired by who? And we looked for the answer in the book (Rossini!).

“Next I plan to draw a timeline of the music, adding to it each time we learn something about a composer we like. My mums says that as a child visualising the different periods through drawing helped her to make connections between composers and I’d like to do that too. It’s a fun project for me during the lockdown!”

Giulian is also enjoying the natural sounds in the garden. He has decided to learn to identify different birdsong in his garden. With his mum’s help he is approaching this from the point of view of notes and pitch.

“Birds provide music in the morning and now is a good time to learn a lot more about these feathery musicians!” he said.