英语听力—环球英语 947 El Sistema: The Gift of Music（打印版）

　　And I'm Steve Myersco. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

　　‘No one trusted me. Everyone was afraid of me. But no one cared for me. People said that I was like waste - they did not need me'.

　　Lennar Acosta described what life was like when he was fifteen years old. He was living with a criminal group in Venezuela. Lennar's face was damaged. Other boys had cut his face in fights. People thought he was dangerous. The police had arrested him nine times for carrying weapons. But today, Lennar is a changed person. He no longer spends his time fighting on the streets. Instead, he plays music! He plays the clarinet beautifully. Lennar has played his clarinet in shows all around Venezuela. He has played with some of the best musicians in the country. So how did Lennar change from a dangerous criminal to an expert musician?

　　Lennar was helped by a special music programme. Its official Spanish name is quite long [*], so most people just call it "El Sistema". El Sistema is a Spanish name. In English, it means "the system". El Sistema is a way of helping young people to join musical groups. These children often come from very poor backgrounds. But El Sistema helps them to become successful music players.

　　El Sistema was started by José Antonio Abreu. José is a music conductor. He stands at the front of a group of musicians - an orchestra. He leads the orchestra by moving his stick or baton in time with the music. He helps the music players to play well together. José was a successful music player and university teacher. But he had a dream.

　　José wanted to help young people play music. He especially wanted to help poor children like Lennar. He believed that music training could change their lives. So in 1975, he gathered eleven young children together. These children came from poor homes. Many of them had received very little education. José began by teaching them musical skills. He then asked other music experts to help. Together they started to teach the children individual instruments. Then the children learned to play together. In this way José began his first children's orchestra.

　　Today El Sistema has 180 children's orchestras in Venezuela. And 350,000 children now enjoy the chance to learn music. For many of these children, El Sistema is the start of a better way of life. Through music the children learn the value of hard work. Learning musical instruments takes time and effort. The children learn how to work well together. They learn to support and help each other. The music teaching is free. El Sistema lends the instruments to the children. But after two years the children can keep their instruments as a prize. Lennar Acosta says that he owes his life to José's project.

　　‘El Sistema opened the doors for me. If it were not for El Sistema, I do not think I would be here today, enjoying this. None of my friends made it past fifteen or sixteen, because of the kind of life that we led.'.

　　Music experts from around the world have praised El Sistema. They say that the children receive excellent teaching. In Venezuela children start performing at an early age. Children as young as two receive musical instruments.

　　Many of the children that El Sistema helps go on to get jobs as music players. Some of them go to other countries to play. They join some of the world's greatest orchestras. José Abreu - leader of El Sistema says,

　　‘I see music as a way to rescue children. It is a weapon against poverty. When a child can play an instrument well it builds his self worth. He works hard and succeeds. He can then build on that success. He does well in other areas of his life. He also becomes a good example for other children to follow. To me, poverty creates a feeling of powerlessness. But music creates happiness. The children succeed in making beautiful sounds. This represents hope for families and communities struggling to survive'.

　　El Sistema's main aim is not just to create great musicians. It is to save lives, build communities and create a better country. Experts from all over the world have recognised José's work. They have given him many awards and prizes. But José says that the best prize is seeing children like Lennar grow into good citizens. After years of learning music in El Sistema, Lennar became a music teacher. He has also played his clarinet all over the world.

　　José has worked with UNESCO to spread the El Sistema idea. There are now similar programmes in many other countries, especially in the Americas. And El Sistema has started in Britain - in Scotland. Children in a poor area of the city of Stirling learn music, just like the children of Venezuela. The project has an English name - "Big Noise".

　　The head of education in Stirling is Fergus Wood. He says El Sistema has been a big success in the Raploch area of the city.

　　‘Sistema has given children in Raploch a whole new way of looking at their lives and their relationships. They are now showing the good character and teamwork that is necessary for the creation of an orchestra. I am sure that as the Big Noise progresses the children will develop their musical skills. They will reach a high level similar to the El Sistema musicians in Venezuela.'

　　A generation of children has now passed through El Sistema in Venezuela. One of its former students, Gustavo Dudamel, is now one of the most famous music conductors in the world. He has led many of the world's best orchestras. He may be the best example of El Sistema's success. But Gustavo says that the real success of El Sistema is not the music. There is more to it than that. He said,

　　‘I have studied music since I was four years old. From that time I have been part of a family. That family has taught me things - not only musical things, but things I face in life. That is the real success of the system.'

　　The writers of today's programme were Elizabeth Lickiss and Steve Myersco, who also produced the programme. The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom and the United States. Computer users can find more Spotlight programmes on our website at www.radio.english.net. This programme is called, ‘El Sistema: The Gift of Music.'

　　*"Sistema Nacional de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela" (in English, "National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras of Venezuela")

英语听力—环球英语 947 El Sistema: The Gift of Music（在线收听）