Unforgettable Class lets all kids experience music

On all three days, the morning was festively opened with a mini-concert by the singer from Eindhoven, Iris Penning. When she asked the young students who loved music, all hands immediately shot up.

Creative with music

During one of the workshops, the students delved deeper into mixing music and got to try being a DJ themselves. With a tablet, headphones, and the help of an enthusiastic instructor, they worked with full concentration. Some moved along enthusiastically to the music, while others were so focused it was like they almost disappeared into it.

The whole building was in use. Even in the artists’ lounge, a workshop was in full swing. Here, the kids were tasked with recording their own sounds and then using them to make a video. Just about anything could be used. Foosball tables, salt shakers, and even the echo in the stairwell all made it into the video.

At the same time, there was a lot of drumming on buckets going on in one of the dressing rooms. The basics of drumming were explained, and there was no shortage of enthusiasm. When the students managed to create a fitting rhythm together and the well-known songs became recognizable, even the accompanying school teachers looked on in surprise.

Besides the dressing rooms and the artists’ lounge, M also turned out to be a perfect location for a workshop. There was plenty of banging on pipes with flip-flops, while at the same time all sorts of original song lyrics were being created. The students were fully engaged in coming up with and trying out their own musical ideas.

Beatboxing like HurraKane

What’s a song lyric without a beat? That beat was created during the beatboxing workshop led by HurraKane. In 2013, he became the Dutch Champion Human Beatbox. During the workshop, he gave the students some tips and taught them the tricks of the trade.

From the dressing rooms to the Kleine Zaal, groups of students could be found everywhere, making music non-stop. In the end, you don’t need much to make music. For those who didn’t want to play the ukulele, they could just tap on the back of it like a drum.

About Unforgettable Class

Unforgettable Class is a morning full of musical sounds, enthusiasm, and new discoveries. The workshop leaders create an inclusive, safe, and inspiring environment where children can develop their talents.

Thanks to our collaboration with ASML, we can make music accessible to children for whom participating in cultural activities isn’t always a given. We welcome all children, including the ones who don’t come into contact with music at first. They get the space to experiment, be creative, and most of all, have lots of fun with music.

To guide all children in an appropriate and safe way, we work together with specialized professionals. For example, workshop leaders from Musicians Without Borders are involved, who have experience working with children who have experienced war and displacement and may therefore be dealing with trauma. With music as a connecting language, they give the children space to express themselves, collaborate, and fully immerse themselves in the moment.

We look back on a joyful, musical, and valuable edition!