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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I was itching to explore les mots bleus, and I had enough in my pocket for a coffee, but no time.
Isn't it always the way in life ? When one has the money one has no time. When one has the time one has no money. Perhaps another reason why they say "Time is money".
No, wait, listen first...
I read a piece once about a chap who believed that he should evangelise by hanging round in cafés. He was American, so he called it "hanging out".
What about a Bordeaux café ministry ? Instead of Bible studies and English classes and preaching and stuff, I could hang around cafés and drink coffee...
No ?
(Alan, I've had to send it as from A.Nonimws as it is no longer displaying the key-in code. Ken)