Grand Alès’ first aim as far as music is concerned is to take part in the initiation to culture of the Grand Ales inhabitants and to provide close facilities and supervision of quality for children. The 5 decentralized branches of the School of Music made it possible to reach that aim thanks to 30 certificated teachers, and a teaching divided up into learning cycles. Leisure Music, collective music, discovery music, there is plenty of choices and anyone can find in the already existing structures some pleasurable way to learn.

Grand Alès School of Music develops music teaching in 5 towns of the agglomeration community of Grand Alès:

• Association pour l’enseignement musical in Bagard (Bagard Association for Musical Teaching)
• Ecole Maurice André in Alès (Maurice André School in Alès)
• Ecoles de Musique of Saint-Christol-lez-Alès and Saint Hilaire de Brethmas ( Saint-Christol-lez-Alès and Saint Hilaire de Brethmas School of Music)
• Association Saint Privas in Saint Privat des Vieux. ( Saint Privas Association in Saint Privas des Vieux)

These 5 units gather 30 teachers and 2 musicians who intervene in schools. They all work under the same educative and administrative directorship. There are currently 803 pupils attending Grand Alès School of Music.

The directorship is located in:
L’école de Musique Maurice André
15 quai B. de Sauvages / BP 345 – 30115 Alès cedex
phone : 04 66 92 20 80 – fax: 04 66 92 20 89

The school of music also benefits from the support of a Parent-teacher association in the framework of complementary activities.

The teaching program is divided into three cycles that can be preceded by a period of musical awakening from the age of 4. At the end of each cycle, an exam is taken in front of a jury so as to the moving up to the higher cycle. After the three cycles it is possible to follow an improvement cycle.
An adult section is open according to the availability of places. The teaching program includes a musical training, an instrumental training, collective practicing and cultural approaches.

Musical training
Musical Training classes take place once a week. It is a compulsory teaching for every pupil attending the school of music. 15 pupils maximum per classes.

• Awakening: 2 year (from 4 year old)
• initiation: 1 year (from 6 year old)
• 1st cycle: from 3 to 4 years
• 2nd cycle: 3 years
• 3rd cycle: 2 years

Instrumental training

• Discovery workshop: 1 year (from 6 year old)
• 1st cycle: 4 years (from 7 year old)
• 2nd cycle: 3 years
• 3rd cycle: 3 years
• improvement cycle: 2 years

Collective practicing
Collective practicing is part of the musical training, it is even at the core of the teaching project of the school. It is with collective practice that you can fully enjoy music. It is organized on a set of orchestras.

• Choeur Opus 4(from the age of 17)
• Children Choir (from 7 to 11 year old)
• Maîtrise (from 11 to 16 year old)
• Jazz Octet
• Music and Lyrics Vocal Ensemble
• String and Harmony Orchestra

Workshops

• Research and Creation Workshop
• Improvement Workshop
• Initiation to Recording Techniques

The teaching program of the School of Music of Grand Alès is rich and varied. From Classical Music, to Jazz, and contemporary music, the program is accessible to anyone, from amateur practicing to support with a view to professionalization.

subjects and places of teaching

Accordian: Alès, t Christol-lez-Alès
Cello: Alès
Clarinet: Alès
Concert Flute: Alès
Djembe: St Privas des Vieux
Drums: Alès, St Christol-lez-Alès, St Privas des Vieux
Electric Guitar: Alès, St Christol-lez-Alès, St Hilaire de Brethmas, St Privas des Vieux
Guitar: Alès Bagard, St Christol-les-Alès, St Privas des Vieux
Jazz Piano: Alès
Musical teaching: Alès, Bagard, St Christol-lez-Alès, St Holaire de Brethmas, St Privas des Vieux
Oboe: Alès
Percussion Instruments: Alès
Piano: Alès, Bagard, St Christol-lez-Alès, St Hilaire de Brethmas, St Privas des Vieux
Recorder: Alès
Saxophone: Alès
Singing lessons: Alès
Trombone: St Christol-lez-Alès
Trumpet: Alès
Tuba: Alès
Viola: Alès, Bagard, St Christol-lez-Alès
Violin: Alès, Bagard, St Christol-lez-Alès

Intervention at school
Two musicians can intervene in Grand Alès primary schools in the framework of teaching projects related to music. The projects must have received the prior approval of the school inspectors.