Art director: Sunčica Milosavljević, PhD, BAZAART, Belgrade
"Welcome of the World / WOW" is a project of developing music and theater pieces for very young audiences – children from 3 to 5 years of age. In order to target this age group with its specific developmental requirements, the work is based on cooperation of creators/artists and experts in the field of pedagogy, developmental psychology, neuroscience and other sciences that study early child development. The support of scientific associates provides the full pedagogical value of music and theatre art and supports a holistic model of artistic creation for children.
Designed as a research and creative interdisciplinary process, the “Welcome of the World” project runs in several phases / steps.
- The initial step is to acquaint the project team with scientific knowledge about the role and importance of sound and music as auditory information and stimuli, as well as the reception of art and creative activities of the child in his development at an early age. In this phase, we use the resources of the „B-AIR“ project network, specifically the webinars realized at the international level, as well as the possibilities for the exchange of knowledge through lectures and workshops held by experts from different disciplines and countries.
- Based on scientific knowledge, we develop a sound / music composition for young children which aims to support the development of the child at the earliest age. An interdisciplinary team consisting of music and, theatre artists and pedagogues. as well as experts in pedagogy and early age education, participates in the creation of this score. The music composition is recorded in the studio, and if the circumstances allow it, it is also performed in front of the target audience.
- The recorded score serves as a basis for developing a theatrical play for the youngest children, where the performing arts are used in a free way, possibly emplying elements of dance, puppetry, shadow theater, animation of objects, new circus, dramatic expression, etc. The play is performed for at least a year and during that time it is monitored how the audiences (children) react, and the effects are recorded, evaluated and published in a brochure that conveys experiences from the process of creating and performing music and stage work.
- Finally, based on the brochure, the scenario of an educational-creative workshop / seminar for artists, educators, pedagogues and other interested professionals involved in the upbringing of children of the early age is developed. The aim of the seminar is to empower the adults to use sound and music as a means to encourage the early development of a child. Through the seminar, research and creative experiences of the project enter the educational practice.
The Learning Dispositions
Nevena Mitranić, MA, pedagogue, Assistant at the Department of Preschool Pedagogy, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade
In our project, given the selected age of the children whom the project addresses (3-5 years of age), the pedagogical focus is on the development of Learning Dispositions – the abilities of a child engaged in learning processes. Basic Learning Dispositions are: Curiosity, Courage, Perseverance, Critical Thinking, Creativity and Sensitivity for others. The sequence of the learning dispositions suggests the concept for artistic creation, so it would conform with the needs of the audience at very early age.
The narrative „Welcome of the World“
Bogdan Španjević, dramaturge
Departing from the structure based on learning dispositions, and in close collaboration with a pedagogue, a dramaturgue-consultant and an art director, a playwrite developed an open narrative on the theme "Welcome of the World".
The main character is the Wind who leads the children through various situations – from those which are pleasant and fun, through those which are unexpected, to the ones which are risky and dangerous – inviting them to be curious, brave, persistent, critical, creative and sensitive to others.
The music composition „Welcome of the World“
In progress
The proposed narative sets a task to the composer to create music that encourages the learning dispositions. The purpose of this artwork is to stimulate active listening, and in order to offer this opportunity to as many children as possible, the score will be performed in public and in addition, it will be recorded and reproduced on radio and online channels, and will also be used in stage work.