Feel the music

Feel the Music opens the world of music to deaf and hard of hearing children, encouraging them to discover music on their own terms. In interactive workshops at schools for the deaf and at the concert halls, children and musicians explore how music can be experienced with all their senses.

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The programme was developed in 2012 as part of the Beethoven Journey with Leif Ove Andsnes, tying in with Beethoven’s hearing loss. Since then, projects have been carried out in 10 countries and each workshop has been very enriching for both the children and the MCO musicians. The ongoing interest of promoters and schools for the deaf has allowed Feel the Music to live on after the conclusion of the Beethoven Journey in 2015.

With Feel the Music the MCO aims to make a difference, setting an international example for inviting and integrating deaf people into the music world. We hope to inspire many more musicians, ensembles and promoters to create such opportunities for the deaf.

To learn more about the structure and the different workshops of Feel the Music, please click here.


Thinking Big – Feel the Music Festival Project

In addition to the individual projects, the MCO aims to initiate and foster exchange among our partner schools for larger international projects.

In September 2014, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Beethovenfest Bonn presented a Feel the Music Festival: 50 deaf children from previous projects in Brescia, Cologne, Prague and Dublin travelled to Bonn to reunite with the MCO. There they all got to know each other and made music together. On World Deaf Day 2014, the children performed a signed song family concert, accompanied by the MCO. Leif Ove Andsnes and Paul Whittaker, the two founding partners of Feel the Music, also participated in this concert. The 5-day festival project included a leisure programme for the children and teachers, a 2-day symposium on music and deafness which called upon the arts and education sector to discuss present and future concepts of deaf music education, and of course the exciting rehearsals and concert.

The Mahler Chamber Orchestra is dedicated to the development of further such projects in partnership with promoters and festivals around the world.

To learn more about the Feel the Music Festival 2014, please click here.


PROJECTS

Dortmund, Germany (2019)
Dortmund, Germany (2019)

Project 20

Partner
Konzerthaus Dortmund
Rheinisch-Westfälische Realschule
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Nürnberg/Neumarkt, Germany (2018)
Nürnberg/Neumarkt, Germany (2018)

Project 19

Partner
Neumarkter Konzertfreunde e.V.
Zentrum für Hörgeschädigte Nürnberg
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Frankfurt, Germany (2018)
Frankfurt, Germany (2018)

Project 18

Partner
Alte Oper Frankfurt
Schule am Sommerhoffpark
Gustavo Dudamel
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  • Having Fun before the Rehearsal

    © Holger Talinski

  • Rehearsal with The Mädchenchor Am Essener Dom

    © Holger Talinski

  • Kids from Prague signing Czech Folk Song

    © Holger Talinski

  • Feeling the Music

    © Holger Talinski

  • Czech Children Signing "Ants' Lullaby"

    © Holger Talinski

  • Feeling The Double Bass

    © Holger Talinski

  • Signing A Song with the Audience

    © Holger Talinski

  • Discovering The Timpany's Resonance

    © Holger Talinski

  • After-show Boat tour on the Rhine

    © Holger Talinski

  • Big Applause after the Evening concert

    © Holger Talinski

  • Exploring The Beethoven-Haus Bonn

    © Holger Talinski

  • Fashion Beethoven-style

    © Holger Talinski

  • Studying Scores

    © Holger Talinski

  • Signing Choir "Die Gedanken sind frei"

    © Holger Talinski

  • All children signing with Paul Whittaker

    © Holger Talinski

  • Enjoying the rehearsal

    © Holger Talinski

  • "May the Road Rise to meet you"

    © Holger Talinski

  • Fun Games in the Foyer

    © Clare Keogh

  • With Leif Ove Andsnes at the Grand Piano

    © Clare Keogh

  • Feeling The Strings

    © Clare Keogh

  • Among the winds

    © Clare Keogh

  • Feeling The Double Bass

    © Clare Keogh

  • Conducting the Orchestra

    © Clare Keogh

  • Conducting the Orchestra

    © Clare Keogh

  • Inside the Orchestra

    © Clare Keogh

  • Testing Dynamics

    © Clare Keogh

  • Taking the lead

    © Clare Keogh

  • At Dublin National Concert hall

    © Clare Keogh

  • A Signed Song for the Orchestra

    © Clare Keogh

  • Fun Games with Emma and Joel

    © Holger Talinski

  • Discovering the grand piano

    © Holger Talinski

  • With Leif Ove Andsnes

    © Holger Talinski

  • Under the Grand piano

    © Holger Talinski

  • Sensing vibrations

    © Holger Talinski

  • Talking about music

    © Holger Talinski

  • A New Player in the Orchestra

    © Holger Talinski

  • Fun With Anna

    © Holger Talinski

  • First-time Encounter

    © Holger Talinski

  • With the Cello

    © Holger Talinski

  • Conducting the Orchestra

    © Holger Talinski

  • Surrounded by Music

    © Holger Talinski

  • Applause and goodbye

    © Holger Talinski


Recalling the Feel the Music Festival 2014

29 January 2016

In September 2014, 50 deaf children from four countries met up with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra at the Beethovenfest Bonn. They rehearsed signed songs together and performed them in a concert on World Deaf Day 2014.


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