Lilla Akademien

Coordinates: 59°20′45″N 18°02′54″E / 59.3459°N 18.0484°E / 59.3459; 18.0484 Lilla Akademien is a school, founded 1994, which is specially focused on developing musical talent in children, located in Stockholm, Sweden. The Artistic Director and founder of the school is Nina Balabina, Russian violinist and who is also a violin teacher at the school.[1]

Lilla Akademien, best translated as "The Junior Academy", is a unique school specialising in classical music. Housed in an historic building in the Stockholm district Norrmalm, it was founded in 1994 by a group of music teachers under the leadership of Nina Balabina. In its early years, it provided instrumental tuition for young children at the end of the school day, but since 1998 it offers full-time tuition in music and regular schooling for children from 6 years and up. It eventually expanded to include a gymnasium or senior high school, and in 2005 the first graduates got their high school diplomas in the traditional Swedish manner. In a few years, Lilla Akademien has become one of the most significant institutions for the education of young musicians in Scandinavia, and has established itself as an important part of the Stockholm music scene, performing numerous concerts across the country every year. In 2006 Lilla Akademien opened a post-gymnasial 'Pre-college' one-year programme to help bridge the gap between school and higher musical education.[2]

The aim of Lilla Akademien is to give all of its pupils a solid musical foundation on which to build their lives, whether or not they choose to become professional musicians as a profession. The musical life of the school is intense, and great care is taken to foster a joyful rather than competitive spirit. Priority is given to the creation of an artistic personality for each pupil, and individuality is encouraged. Many of the students at the school have backgrounds in countries other than Sweden, which the school is very proud of. They feel that this reflects the multicultural flavour of Stockholm.[3]

At Lilla Akademien children receive individual lessons in one or more instruments, including piano, organ, violin, viola, cello, double bass, recorder, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, harp and percussion. Class music lessons include music theory, aural training, music history, and - in the gymnasium - musical analysis. Singing in the school choir is compulsory up to the age of 17. The music programme is complemented by courses in dance, visual arts and foreign languages. The school follows the Swedish national curriculum and also offers after-school activities for the younger children whose parents work. The school has five orchestras and numerous ensembles. Rehearsals and concert performances are seen as a highly important part of the pupils' education. Pupils have performed both in Sweden and abroad and have been awarded major prizes in international competitions. Lilla Akademien's orchestras have been on many international tours to huge critical acclaim.[4]

The school leadership strives to establish an extensive network of international contacts for pupil exchanges, guest teacher programmes, and concerts in other countries. Collaborative ventures have already taken place with similar schools in England, Estonia and other parts of Europe.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Lilla Akademien". lillaakademien.se. 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  2. ↑ "Lilla Akademien". lillaakademien.se. 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  3. ↑ "Lilla Akademien". lillaakademien.se. 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  4. ↑ "Orchestral Calendar". lillaakademien.se. 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  5. ↑ "Orchestral Calendar". lillaakademien.se. 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
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