Founded in 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival was the inspired idea of Rudolf Bing, a cultural pioneer and Jewish refugee, working with a group of civic and artistic leaders. Together, they created a festival that transcends political boundaries through a global celebration of the performing arts. 

Every August, our hand-picked programme of world-leading dance, opera, music, and theatre brings people of different cultures and viewpoints together. The impact of the International Festival reaches far beyond the performances on our stages. The Discovery and Participation team offers year-round opportunities for people of all ages to connect with the Festival’s core artforms, building a lifelong connection to the arts.

Art of Listening is our flagship music programme for Primary 7 classes in Edinburgh. Running for over 20 years, it introduces children to classical music, helping them engage their imaginations and develop listening skills. In a two-hour workshop guided by a professional opera singer, pianist, and facilitator, pupils hear music ranging from Beethoven and Britten to the Harry Potter film scores and Taylor Swift.

“It was a wonderful afternoon offering a valuable experience to all pupils, especially if you are not a music specialist yourself. It certainly reaffirmed that you should not make assumptions about how your class will respond to classical music – I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction of many of my children.”

– Teacher, Parsons Green Primary School

For many children, this is their first experience of live classical music. When the opera singer and pianist first perform, the room is filled with stifled giggles and dropped jaws. As the workshop progresses, pupils learn about the piano and voice, and develop their understanding of what they hear, spotting musical clues about the story the composer is telling.

The artists weave contemporary music references into the workshop and show pupils where they may have already encountered classical music in popular culture.

Music can also have powerful benefits for children’s mental health. In the workshop, pupils are invited to relax on the floor and listen to a gentler piece of music. Encouraged to take a deep breath and let the music wash over them, pupils discover that classical music can be a mindful tool, providing respite in an overstimulating world.

“We had an incredible time at the Art of Listening workshop. My favourite part was when the opera singer went really high pitched and shocked us all. I also loved when we got to lie on the floor and just listen to the music without any distractions.”

– Pupil, Liberton Primary School

At the end of the workshop, the class explores Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of The Animals. Here, pupils engage critical thinking skills as they work together to identify the animal that inspired each piece in the suite. Whether correct or not, our artists encourage pupils to justify their choices, fostering creative thinking and an understanding of how we all connect with music individually.

We recognise the challenges schools face in providing equitable music experiences for their pupils. The workshop’s focus on listening engages all pupils, both those who play instruments and those who don’t typically engage with music education. The experience is free of charge, including transport and a resource which translates the workshop into classroom activities that support the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, we reached over 2800 pupils and hope to reach over 3000 this year. We’ve grown Art of Listening with support from our funders, in the knowledge that this is a vital contribution to the musical education of Primary 7 pupils in Edinburgh. Art of Listening provides children with the building blocks to experience and connect with classical music. We are most grateful to EIS alongside our public funders, Baillie Gifford, and several Trusts and individuals for their support of Art of Listening.

To learn more about Edinburgh International Festival’s year-round activity engaging with Edinburgh and Scotland’s communities, visit: eif.co.uk/social-impact