A bit about music exams in UK and France
They're really different. I think I have already mentioned that while in the UK people generally find a private teacher for their instrument, or do it through a school scheme, here there are municipal music school, conservatoires and so on. The situation is a little more complex than I had first understood, because the schools vary in the rigidity of their organisation: the most, the conservatoires, next the municipals, then the associations. Our music school is an association, but it tends to apply the standards of the municipal schools with its programme of cycles, etc. Britain - grade 1 to 8, grade 8 being roughly equivalent to A-level, pre university/conservatoire. France - 3 cycles, each taking about 4 years, with 3ème cycle being roughly equivalent to grade 8. Theory of music - UK to take grade 8 you need theory grade 5. In France you study theory alongside your instrumental studies, very slowly. Catrin's flute music is MUCH more difficult than the stuff she does in theor...
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Whenever people talk about the EU making war impossible I recall that the United State had a civil war after it was a nation and that war was as nasty as any war fought with other nations. Sooner or later a union formed by politicians will erupt into war and that war will be nastier than any before the union.
I am not hopeful of human attempts to end wars, though we have to do all we can, of course!
Our only hope is in the grace of God to our rebellious and defiant continent