How Music Saved Venezuela's Children (B2/C1)

Before you watch

Look at the photos above and discuss the questions.

• Do you play any musical instrument? How long have you played it for?
• How did you start playing it?
• What are the advantages of teaching children to play musical instruments? Are there any disadvantages?
• What is the best age to learn how to play a musical  instrument?
• Have you ever heard about the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra? If so, what do you know about it?

Reading & speaking

Cut these slips of papers on the different benefits of learning music and give out one to each student. They should read it and try to memorize the main idea.  Play a song and let them move around the class sharing what they've read with their classmates. Then, ask them to go back to their seats and take turn to say what benefits they remember.

http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/twelve-benefits-of-music-education/


Look at the mindmap below. What information do you expect to learn from the video?

Watch

A. Watch and make connections with the images and information in the mindmap. Then, share your findings with the class.

 

Focus on Language

Match up and provide examples related to the video

 

Other Collocations you can use:

An ambitious scheme

Excluded children                         

An unlikely setting   

Amazing results  

Classical music                          

Now, write a short summary of the video, using the collocations above. Then use the mind map again and try retelling the video using the collocations you've learnt.

Sample Summary: 

In the unlikely setting of Venezuela, an ambitious scheme called the 'Sistema' was set up in 1975 by the acclaimed musician José Antonio Abreu. This extraordinary project, utilizing the power of classical music, aimed to fight poverty and have a big effect on the lives of excluded children in the nation. By providing free instruments and lessons through after-school centers, the Sistema successfully kept kids away from drugs and gangs, turning the community into artists. The results were absolutely amazing, with the creation of 30 professional orchestras and the enrollment of approximately 275,000 children in El Sistema schools. At the forefront stood the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra, led by Gustavo Dudamel, one of the best conductors in the world.

FOLLOW UP: Choose 3 questions and discuss them in small groups. Then, share your conclusions with the whole group.

• How does music have the power to transform lives?How does music contribute to emotional well-being and mental health?
• Can you identify any examples from history or current events where music has been used to inspire social change or promote important causes?

• How does participating in music-related activities, such as playing an instrument or singing in a choir, enhance personal growth and development?
• Can you imagine a world without music? How would it be different, and what aspects of human life would be affected?
• How can small actions or gestures in our daily lives contribute to creating a more inclusive and equitable society?
• In what ways can education and awareness-raising campaigns be effective in promoting social change?
• How can technology and social media be utilized as powerful tools for mobilizing and organizing social movements?
• What role does empathy and understanding play in driving social change?
• How can community involvement and collective action contribute to addressing social issues and creating lasting change?
• What are some ways individuals can use their skills, talents, or resources to actively contribute to social change in their local communities?
• What are some challenges or barriers that individuals or groups may face when trying to initiate social change, and how can they be overcome?