Interview: Myleene Klass
 Barely nine weeks after giving birth to daughter Ava – her waters broke as she left the TV studio – presenter and musician Myleene Klass is getting behind an initiative encouraging children's interest in classical music. Raisingkids' Editor Catherine Hanly, talked to her about her childhood, being in the jungle and becoming a mum.
RK: Your daughter Ava's only nine weeks old – how are you finding the energy to go out to work?
Myleene: I'm surviving on about four hours' sleep a day – but you just carry on like every other working mum don't you?
RK: Why are you so keen on getting kids involved in classical music?
Myleene: I used to be a music teacher and one thing I did find was that classical music is fundamental to kids' development – the way it encourages their imagination, their coordination, interpretation, their group work. Classical music has to be fun and get out of the classroom and when Barbie gets involved, it really does that.
RK: How did you first become interested in music?
Myleene: Well, I've got six generations of musicians on my father's side. I play my grandfather's violin and growing up there was always a recorder or mandolin in the corner waiting to be played.
RK: Does that mean becoming a musician was inevitable?
Myleene:
No-one was forced into it – I'm not the product of pushy stage parents – it was just something that everyone did in our family. My brother and sister are both really versatile musicians – they just haven't pursued music as a career.
RK: How did your parents encourage you?
Myleene: I do remember wanting to play a new piece to them, and my mother probably didn't have the time to sit down and listen- but they made the time and that sort of encouragement was enough. I remember when I did get bored of playing scales my dad locked the piano. He said off you go and have fun – he knew I'd get bored and after three weeks I did.
RK: Do you think your experience of being in an orchestra might have helped you in the jungle with I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here?
Myleene: I know for a fact that learning how to be a team player helped me in the jungle. The fact that I've been in a band, and been in orchestras meant I know how to work in a group.
| 'Without sounding like a pushy mum, Ava's been to every concert I've been to when she was in my womb.' |
RK: What about Ava – will she be a musical girl?
Myleene: Without sounding like a pushy mum, she's been to every concert I've been to when she was in my womb. I have a Classic FM radio show and what I used to do was put the headset on my bump and wait to see which pieces she kicked to. I didn't know if she was kicking in protest or because she liked it – we'll just have to wait and say. But it's just encouragement – I would never put my daughter on the stage – it's just not for me. If she wants to then that's a different story – but I will encourage her to listen to different genres of music.
RK: So the article we read about you signing her up for violin lessons isn't true?
Myleene: That's such nonsense! Anyway if I was going to do it, I'd teach her myself!
RK: How will you fit in work with being a new mother – for example where is Ava at the moment?
Myleene: She's with my mum right now – it's a family effort. I don't want her to be with anyone who doesn't have the surname Klass or Quinn [her husband's family]. I'm lucky I was never a latchkey kid, my mum always had tea waiting for me at 4.30pm when I came home from school. I know that not every mum can do that and I think I'm going to be one of those mums myself – but we do what we can.
RK: You sound very happy. Is motherhood agreeing with you?
Myleene: It's the best thing that ever happened to me in my entire life. I don't know what I did beforehand. I really don't. I look at mothers so differently now. I think they're walking goddesses on this earth.
RK: Has it changed your attitude to life?
Myleene: I just think that the fact that I've been blessed with a child has absolutely changed my life. It has made me very focused now and I've realised that everything I'm doing is to provide for her – I want her to go to good schools, and go to Disneyland as well as to be with me. I'm lucky I've got a job that enables me to have that lifestyle with her.
Myleene Klass spoke with Raisingkids in her role as spokesperson for Barbie. Barbie at the Symphony is an animated experience touring concert halls in five cities across the UK in December. Barbie's School Resource helps teachers build classical music into their lesson plans in a fun and accessible way.
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