babies and toddlers

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In February 2012 Leonoor started to make contact with babies at day nursery De Regenboog at Billitonkade in Utrecht, just around the corner. Marthe makes photos and videos. We like to cooperate with Marga, she interacts with the children with much love. We are at the nursery an hour a week, the children become calm and happy from listening to and playing on the treble (soprano) lute, the descant (soprano) viola da gamba (viol) and our selfmade bamboo flutes of one tone.

The babies and toddlers play with an enormous concentration and what touches is the sound they make. Especially when they touch the strings with their still very soft fingers from the small (treble) soprano lute, the sound is so beautiful that an adult, however practised you are, you never can come up to that level (anymore)!


The small lute, called a treble (soprano) lute is the most subtle instrument in the classical music. Most people play on a bigger lute. In the Netherlands hardly anyone plays the treble lute. We play on gut strings (from sheep and goats), which make a natural and deep sound and our instruments are tuned a half tone lower than for example a piano or a violin, which gives rest. All our instruments are especially built for us. The lute appears to match wonderfully with babies and toddlers.

Since October 2012 we play with the four of us viola da gamba (viol) and lute for toddlers, the babies also are there. Unfortunately for the children, the parents, Marga and all other people wo worked there, this small location is closed in August 2013, because the organisation wanted more children at each location of their day nurseries.


In October 2014 there was a nice continuation/start with Marga again during the parents' evening and in November 2014 and May 2015 for the babies and toddlers at day nursery Jonas in the neighbourhood Pijlsweerd in Utrecht.
photo, Leonoor and two children with the descant (treble) viola da gamba, 11 November 2014
Leonoor and two children with the
descant (treble) viola da gamba





photo, Marga, supervisor day nursery
Marga, supervisor



Rafke
photo, Rafke plays on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba Rafke plays on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba. photo, Rafke on Leonoor's lap with the treble (soprano) viola da gamba









Jurre
photo, Jurre plays on the lute Jurre with the lute photo, Jurre with the lute




foto, Jurre tokkelt op de luit Jurre plucks the lute
Niek also watches









Niek
photo, Niek watches how Leonoor plays on the small (treble) lute Niek watches how Leonoor plays on the small (treble) lute and than plays on the lute himself photo, Niek plays on the small (treble) lute himself




photo, Niek plays on a lute, Jurre watches attentively ...and plays on a lute again more than a year later, Jurre watches attentively.









Finne
photo, Leonoor with Finne, age 4 months, with the small lute
Finne makes contact...
photo, Finne makes contact with the small lute
...with the treble (soprano) lute




photo, Finne plucks the treble (soprano) lute 8 months later Finne plucks the treble (soprano) lute 8 months later.









Mia
photo, Mia plays on the treble (soprano) lute with Leonoor, 15 February 2012 day nursery Banka Regenboog Mia plays on the treble (soprano) lute.

Leonoor tunes the treble (soprano) viola da gamba and Mia plays.
photo, Leonoor and Mia on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba




photo, Mia holds Leonoor's thumb, to make her play the treble (soprano) lute
Mia takes Leonoor's thumb
photo, Mia holds Leonoor's thumb and like this they play together on the lute so that they play together.... foto, Mia houdt de duim van Leonoor vast, zodat zij samen spelen op de kleine luit
.... on the lute.









Werner
Werner watches Leonoor, while she bows the (treble) soprano viola da gamba. photo, Werner watches Leonoor, while she bows the (treble) soprano viola da gamba.




photo, Contact & muziek plays music for babies and toddlers on four viola da gambas, 21 May 2013
21 May 2013
Leonoor, Marthe, Jeannette and Erik play music for babies and toddlers on four viola da gambas.

Werner listens to the music
photo, Werner listens to the music on the viola da gambas









Kaatje
photo, Kaatje watches how Leonoor is playing on the treble (soprano) lute Kaatje watches how Leonoor is playing on the treble (soprano) lute

and makes beautiful tones herself on the treble (soprano) lute.
photo, Kaatje makes beautiful tones on the treble (soprano) lute




photo, Kaatje plays on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba
Kaatje plays on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba,
foto, Kaatje kijkt mee met de noten van het liedje 'Schaapje, schaapje
watches when Leonoor indicates the notes of her favorite song 'Schaapje, schaapje' (little sheep, little sheep)
photo, Kaatje blows a bamboo flute
and blows a bamboo flute.









Fos
photo, Fos indicates the notes of the song
'Schaapje, schaapje, heb je witte wol?' (Little sheep, little sheep, do you have white wool?) Fos indicates the notes of the song 'Schaapje, schaapje, heb je witte wol?' (Little sheep, little sheep, do you have white wool?)

and plucks the treble (soprano) lute, Kaatje watches.
photo, Fos plucks the treble (soprano) lute, Kaatje watches.




photo, Teun and Fos pluck the treble (soprano) lute Teun and Fos pluck the treble (soprano) lute.









Teun
photo, Teun and Kaatje both blow a bamboo flute Teun and Kaatje both blow a bamboo flute



Teun plucks the treble (soprano) lute
photo, Teun plucks the treble (soprano) lute




photo, Teun explores and feels the treble (soprano) lute Teun explores and feels the treble (soprano) lute

and plays on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba
photo, Teun plays on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba









Milla
photo, Milla plays on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba
Milla
Milla plays on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba.

Isaac and Milla play together on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba.
photo, Isaac and Milla play together on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba
Isaac and Milla









Isaac
photo, Isaac plays on the treble (soprano) lute Isaac plays on the treble (soprano) lute,

on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba....
foto, Isaac plays on the treble (soprano) viola da gamba




foto, Isaac komt tot rust ...and settles down.