The Orchestre à l’École association, which is recognized as a public utility, oversees the development of the scheme throughout France. It supports the orchestras on a day-to-day basis, throughout their existence. The Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation has supported the structural reinforcement and expansion of the program.
Innovative teaching methods
All pupils in the same primary or secondary school class are brought together around a common project: the creation of an orchestra that will grow, evolve and flourish over three years.
At a rate of 2 hours per week, the pupils make rapid progress and achieve a high level of musical quality. These rewarding results help to boost their self-confidence. To this end, the teachers use a repertoire specially created for them, enabling students to play in orchestral formation right from the start, while at the same time learning music reading and instrumental technique.
A territorial partnership
Each school orchestra is a local project based at least on a partnership between a school, a specialized music teaching structure and a local authority. Teachers from the national education system are invited to work together with those from music schools or conservatories who come to teach in the schools. It’s a unifying project that contributes to local development.