Funharmonics concert - Transport of Delight

We arrived reasonably early to the try an instrument and circus skills in the South Bank Centre's Clore ballroom but already it was busy and noisy, to start with The Buggies kept their distance; however after a little customising and cajoling both bigger buggies tried a violin and buggy-B (3 yrs) also had a go at a 'Cello. The event staff worked with them with such confidence and assurance that they both got a huge amount out of the experience; full marks for this.

The concert, performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, was a good balance of music against activity. Including a set of animations put together using drawing from a London primary school; this, I thought was particularly effective. The show was based around a transport theme, although this theme was sometimes rather over-tried in order to ensure a steady streem of popular tunes. That said, the best way to pressent music to young children, in my mind at least, is to provide a good supply of popular tunes in a relaxed, tolorant atmosphear with a confident and enthusiastic pressenter; full marks for this also.

There now seem to be a good number of groups providing music for young people. As we left my Grand-bug commented that when she was a girl she had to wait until she was seven before being allowed to a concert; what an oppotunity we have today!

What: Concert and try an instrument
Where: Royal Festival Hall (South Bank Centre)
Getting there: Walk from Waterloo or Embankment; map
Cost: £4 - £7 (Children) £8 - £14 (Adults)
Again: Yes; the group do three concerts a year
Try: BBC Children's Prom or concerts by Atarah Ben-Tovim
Top tip: Turn up early to try an instrument and work out where your having lunch in advance. Giraffe will be busy!

Gamalan

With shadow puppets and the disappearing rooms so far the day had been quite a long one and the buggies were getting tired so we spend what little time was left listening to the Gamelan concert. I've heard a Gemalan orchestra once before in a Proms concert at the Albert hall; the intricate designs of the drums and gongs worked very well against the high Victorian setting, the setting behind this orchestra was the rather more incongruous Heywood gallery!

Surprisingly both Buggies listened quite attentively to the music and, even after a long day caused little trouble until Buggie-D had to answer the call of nature and we decided to call it a day and return home.

What: Gamalan orchestra
Where: South Bank Centre
Getting there: Cross the Thames from Embankment or walk from Waterloo; map
Cost: Free
Try: The south bank have many concerts in their free spaces.

Disappearing rooms

At lunch time we met up with Mrs Bug and ate lunch before investigating the disappearing rooms on the terrace. The fountain is made up of four “rooms” whose walls are 7ft high fountains that switch on and off allowing people access to the room. While the fountain or wall is off you can walk into the room, when it is on you just have to wait. The same fountain was here last summer where a nearly two year old Buggy-B unwittingly wandered into a room as the fountains around it started. Not wishing him to be cut off from the Bug even for the few seconds by a wall of terrifying water I jumped over the fountain as it started; the result was a wet Bug and a screeming Buggie. This year was much more successful, both buggies ended up soaking but very happy.

What: Disappearing rooms
Where: South Bank Centre
Getting there: Cross the Thames from Embankment or walk from Waterloo; map
Cost: Free
Again: If I'm around, its around and the weather is good, I'm sure we will pay a visit!
Try:I'm not aware of many good fun fountains in London. The play area in Finsbury park is well worth checking out though. Map

Shadow puppets

The shadow puppet workshop at the South Bank Centre were based around the stories of Kancjil the Mousedeer; Kancjil may not be the biggest or strongest of the Indonesian jungle dwellers but his brains and cunning get him out of many problems.

The workshop contained kit and instructions for making various characters from the plays and a couple of light boxes to then try them out in, I suspect that the intention was to then put on the plays at the end, if this happened then it was after I left and it didn't look like it was going to! Also provided were a number of story sheets with various stories of Kancjil's adventures.

The puppets were too complex for either Buggy to manage, but the opportunity to cut up pieces of paper is never missed. However, Buggy-D (4 yrs) was engaged enough with the idea to help with sticking and some cutting and things while I told Kancjil and the Crocodile to him. Afterwards he did get a lot out of trying the puppet in the light box; since he could not see this I videoed it on my phone which he enjoyed watching.

Conveniently placed next to the workshop were some lifts in a glass lift shaft, this managed to stave off sufficient boring bits for Buggy-B who, at nearly three, was still to young to really enjoy the workshop.

What: Shadow puppets workshop
Where: South Bank Centre
Getting there: Cross the Thames from Embankment or walk from Waterloo; map
Cost: Free
Again: I'll possibly try making a light box and puppets at home
Try: Plenty of arts and craft activities exist, try the art trolley at Tate Modern