A series of presentations has been launched for schools by violinist Zoltán Mága on the design, special features and sound of a musical instrument and its role in an orchestra. His aim is to bring music closer to school children and encourage them through this experience to take up musical studies.

The violin virtuoso, holder of the Prima Primissima award, presented various genres of music in a playful way at the “irregular” music lesson organised for school children from the 11^th district of Budapest. He did not only use his own violin for demonstration but also other string and brass instruments played by the artists of the Budapest Primarius Symphonic Orchestra.

More than 100 school children from different schools of the district had the chance to learn about the different parts of the violin, viola, cello and double bass and were also told how to tune their strings. Moreover, they were also presented the sounds of a clarinet, trombone, flute, horn and a cimbalom and they were even allowed to try them. At the irregular music lesson Zoltán Mága launched a music competition to find out which of the school children could recognise the works of Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, Brahms, Zoltán Kodály, Béla Bartók and other world famous composers. The kids had the chance to request any piece of music from the musicians in a “Make a Wish” programme. The most different “wishes” did not only include classical works and folk songs but some children asked for film hits and AC/DC hits from the hard-rock genre. The musicians, of course, played the requested tunes. In addition to rhythmic exercises, the school children also sang and they were given the opportunity to show their knowledge of music of musical instruments.

At the irregular music class of one and a half hours Zoltán Mága’s intention was to make the kids become acquainted with musical instruments rather than composers and to encourage them to learn music. The violinist said that positive experiences may have an impact on children’s life and further studies and he has confidence that they will feel like learning to play on an instrument. “Learning music brings a positive change into children’s lives and their performance, and it promotes the development of skills, change of their mindset and with a different approach it can give a much more meaningful and colourful life and vision”, said the violinist.

In the following weeks Zoltán Mága will hold another ten irregular music classes, presentations of musical instruments for the school children of the 11th district of Budapest. He is planning to expand his series of presentations next year to a national level and convey the love of music even to the smallest villages of Hungary.