When I first came to France it never occured to me that the concept of teaching music could be so different from that in the UK. I was used to exams, grade 5 theory and music lessons at school. I wasn't disappointed, however, to discover that most French villages have their own music school and make an important contribution to the local community, bringing families together and giving opportunities to all, to learn, perform, share and enjoy music together. The staff are employed by the local authorities, however each École de Musique is managed by its own Director and professional staff who all teach their own instrument. Lessons mostly take place after school and all day Wednesdays and an hour of theory, or solfege, is compulsory for any child learning an instrument, from the very start.
In the UK lessons are given by a private teacher either at your home or theirs, or you can have lessons at school given by a travelling or ‘peripatetic’ teacher, usually during lunchtime or a free period. Learning is very exam-based through exam boards such as the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. (ABRSM). Exams generally include three set pieces which you can choose from different lists, sight-reading, scales, arpeggios and aural tests and you can progress from Grade 1 through to Grade 8, although you don’t have to take every grade, for example you could take just grades 4, 5 and 8 if you like. You can get a straight pass, or pass with merit or distinction. Nowadays the ABRSM covers a jazz as well as a classical syllabus.
Theory is taught separately or within the instrument lessons. Here there is a sticking point. Once you reach grade 5 on your instrument, you are not allowed to take any higher grades until you have passed grade 5 theory. If you have never had any theory training you then have a huge amount of work to do to catch up, and the exam board has raised the level considerably over the years. It has now become quite challenging, even for the teachers to keep ahead, so increasingly students are working through the theory as well as practical grades.
It is possible to learn without exams if you choose but you will not gain any qualifications. As always, it looks better to have qualifications and they give an indication of your level. If you have any ambition to make music your career you will not get into any Music College or University without the grades and you also have to pass an interview and audition.
The style of solfege teaching in France varies according to the individual teacher and can be very practical including singing and percussion within a group. It’s not as bad as many people imagine if you can forget the label 'compulsory' and children do grow up with an understanding of what they are doing, therefore instrument lessons can be spent concentrating on the instrument and not on how to read music.
There is no pressure of exams but at the end of each term there are “auditions”, in other words concerts at the music school where every pupil is expected to showcase their achievements and experience playing in front of an audience. This gives an opportunity for solo or group performances. Piano, violin, flute etc are performed individually but for many others it means they can get together and form groups with friends & co-students and play any style they choose. There can be a lot of guitarists, saxophonists, drummers and vocalists etc who like to play together, and at the end of the year, here in the South of France, concerts are held outside in the Provencal sunshine and feel as much like a musical celebration as a demonstration of achievement.
Adults students are also welcome at music schools and take part along with everyone else, so it’s even possible to have family members working together. Sometimes different music schools within a region will get together to form concert bands or take part in carnival processions. On 21st June every year is the Fete de la Musique, where all musicians, amateur and professional get out and perform in all the towns and villages across the country. Here are two examples of keeping music live in Fuveau:
If you want a career in music though, you need to study at a Conservatoire from quite early on, where the training is more rigorous and demanding. The more difficult the instrument the earlier you should start. Dedication and high standards are required and after leaving school in France, at least 5 years of further musical training is needed if your ambition is to be a performer or teacher.
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