In the municipality of Tigre, a community cultural educational project has been developed since 2009 children’s youth orchestrasthrough which this population is approached to musical learning.
The program it is fostered by the municipality’s Undersecretary of Culture, today directed by Marilina Silva, and by Mayor Julio Zamora. In addition, the project children’s youth orchestras It is directed by Walter Castro, musician, teacher, bandoneon player, winner of a Latin Grammy, who, in an interview for Minuto Argentina, told us about how this initiative has transformed the community of Tigre.
From his role as director, Walter coordinates the seven children’s youth orchestrasthrough which children and adolescents are taught to know and interpret different musical genres.
In this way, each of the groups are distributed in different neighborhoods of the municipality, which is why each one is also given its name: Orquesta y Camerata de Cuerdas de Rincón del Milberg; Ricardo Carpani Latin American Popular Music Orchestra led by Ricardo Rojas; Benavídez String Orchestra and Camerata.
In addition, there is the Baires-Bancalari Latin American Popular Music Orchestra; the Delta Popular Music Orchestra; Almirante Brown Neighborhood String Orchestra in Tigre Sur; and the Latin American Popular Music Orchestra of Troncos del Talar.
Each of these musical groups is made up of children and young people between the ages of 6 and 18, although there are some talents that are just over this age. What the objective of the program is to bring this audience closer to different musical stylesfour of the groups interpret popular genres, that is, Latin American music and Argentine folklore.
For their part, the other three groups perform classical music, although Walter points out that these orchestras “they are not enough to be symphonic, because they lack the winds”, that is, instruments such as the clarinet and the flute.
The musician explains that, from the municipality, they wanted to create this program with the purpose of promoting an educational and cultural experience among the youth and children of the community and that, thanks to its success, over the years, those who were previously students, growing up, have become, for example, teaching assistants.
Likewise, this initiative has become, for many of its participants, an approach to the path of music, which has not only transformed their lives, but also that of their families and the community in general, which every day supports and more involved in this work.
As the program has grown, so have the classes; even new chairs have been incorporated to provide students with a more complete and comprehensive experience and teaching.
In addition, the municipality has purchased instruments, which are given to students as loans. so that they can practice everything learned in class and, thus, have a deeper approach with their work tool.
Additionally, today, each orchestra It has a tutor, a position held by an adult student, and who serves as a bridge and link between teachers, students, parents and all the agents that make up the program.
For this reason, Walter highlights the scope that this initiative has had, for the entire community, because, in addition to the musical and cultural approach that students have, many have also turned this opportunity into a source of work or inspiration for their project. of life.
“Not only is music a containment ceiling and, of course, it has to do with culture and quality of life, with a different vision of the world and of reality; but also, this program has social containment, ”said the musician in dialogue for this newspaper.
This, since musical education in orchestras addresses an approach that is not only artistic, but also social and, thanks to the impact generated on all those who are linked, also has promoted the sense of belonging to the community and the municipality.
For this reason, with the aim of reaching more children and young people, the program gives priority to populations that have less possibilities of accessing training of this type; Well, in addition to being able to participate in orchestral rehearsals as such, they also receive instruction on the instrument they play.
Although some students come with some experience to the orchestras, the vast majority do not have it, so they learn to play the instrument of their interest from scratch and all that it means to be part of a group like these; always accompanied by highly trained teachers and staff.
“I believe that music opens a door to culture and that changes not only the behavior of children, but also that of families. So, there is a radical change, not only from the point of view of learning music, of an art, but also from a social point of view”, underlined the bandoneonist.
The director of ProgramIn addition, it highlights not only the impact that the orchestras towards its members and the community in general, but thanks to this initiative, many students today dream of preparing to be professional musicians and make music their life project.
But regardless of whether these dreams come true or change, Walter highlights that the most important thing about the groups is that they have become “a fundamental pillar for the growth of the individual and the collective.”
The groups have managed to consolidate so much that not even the coronavirus pandemic managed to stop them; For this reason, while mandatory isolation was decreed, classes continued virtually and, despite the distance, what seemed like an obstacle made them grow and overcome difficulties stronger.
For this reason, after resuming face-to-face activities this year, there are so many interested in belonging to the project that some even remained on the waiting list, which demonstrates not only the growth of the program, but also the scope it has generated throughout the community.
It should be remembered that, to be linked to this initiative, those interested must communicate directly with the Undersecretary of Culture of Tigre. Once contacted, they are referred to Walter, who, as director, contacts families to determine where orchestra it is more appropriate for the student to be there and then be redirected to each dean to start classes.
The orchestras have transformed the life and culture of the municipality
Thanks to the support of the local government, the dedication of teachers and students, the project has not only been consolidated over the years, but has also become a cultural symbol for the entire community of Tigre.
Even, the program is a leader in the entire Buenos Aires suburbs, since no other municipality has an initiative of this type and size, which, according to Walter, is a source of pride for him as a director, even an inspiration.
Likewise, to the extent that the groups have grown, collaborations with the province and the nation have also been developed; In addition, presentations are made permanently in schools, among other events; they even recently opened for the Symphony Orchestra.
For this, the support of the families has been fundamental; this, since parents are not only committed to teaching their children, but also to the present and future of each of the orchestrasbecause they too have been touched by the magic of music.
Likewise, from the social point of view, the students are exposed to another reality and find, through this project, the possibility of having a different future, directed, why not, towards art and culture.
In addition, they learn to share, to connect with others through art, which also motivates the residents of the municipality to support this initiative and promote it, since, in addition to being a space that includes everyone, it is a legacy that the community leaves for itself.
Therefore, for the program to grow even more, one of the future objectives is to institutionalize it, so that, no matter who is in charge, the project always exists and, thus, provides for many more years to the students and the community, a space for learning and cultural artistic promotion.
