Three months after the start of the school year, the municipal Music school of Joué-lès-Tours has found its cruising speed. The deputy in charge of culture, Caroline Chalopin, thus draws up « un positive number » of this first trimester.
“The numbers have remained stable, which is an important and encouraging marker. Like last year, we have between 530 and 550 students, 80% of whom come from Joué-lès-Tours. » The districts of Joué-centre and Joué-sud are well represented, “but we also have a certain number of students who come from La Rabière”.
The JO effect had no impact on the music school
However, 2024 was also marked by the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. “We were afraid that the Olympics effect would cause some to turn to sports clubscontinues the assistant. We have indeed had an increase in club registrations, but we are satisfied to see that this has not been to the detriment of the music school. »
Unsurprisingly, “the piano and the guitar remain the most requested instruments”notes Thierry Theuillon, the director of the music school. But he hopes to introduce new instruments to students from Joué-lès-Tours schools.
For this, around thirty teachers go to the establishments with their instruments. For children, it is an opportunity to hear certain sounds for the first time. “But the idea is also to deconstruct certain preconceived ideas, such as that which wants the piano to be a bourgeois instrumentcontinues the director. It is also our role to present these instruments to them and to answer students’ questions. »
Caroline Chalopin is also delighted that the open days have borne fruit. “Usually, we only did them in September, but this year we organized them from June. »
Since September, a few Sunday concerts have already been organized, on the theme of French music from the 20e century, or even on Michael Jackson. A diversified proposition “which found its audience, attracted by the eclecticismindicates Thierry Theuillon. We have quite a few families with children. » Students also performed during Christmas Lights, to kick off the Jocondian festivities.
First participation in the Nuit des conservatoires
But many other events are planned for 2025. We can, for example, cite the Tales in Music, with a storyteller and piano teachers and students, which will be held at the music school (January 25) and at the media library (1is February), or the Night of the Conservatories, a national event in which the school, also a conservatory with municipal influence, will participate for the first time.
But the big part will take place on March 8 and 9, at the Espace Malraux, with the Orchestrus festival, on the theme of “The Big Screen” and music from films and musicals. A great program in perspective, with nearly 600 participants expected on the auditorium stage, which will be revealed in the coming months.
