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HOW TO STUDY LA DOLCE VITA IN SIENA? Ten steps to experience Siena and the Sienese life

Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Siena — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:42:48 +0000

When I first mentioned the name of the course I was going to follow in Siena to one of
my best friends, she only giggled. La dolce vita, that’s nothing you can learn – in her
opinion. But trust me: once you enter the magical world of this course, the Italian way of
life will have an everlasting influence on everything you’ll do!

La dolce vita definitely is not the same as the famous dolce far niente. To experience all
parts of Sienese culture within five days means using all your senses at the same time.
From the smell of strong coffee in the morning to the soft evening breeze during a late
night passeggiata, join the Italians during their dolce vita!

STEP 1: IL CAFFÉ

It all starts with coffee. I have never met any country in which people take
coffee so serious as in Italy. After three days of drinking my caffé in a
neighbourhood bar, surrounded by locals, I understand the magic of a little
glass filled with black liquid so strong that you immediately experience
everything and everyone much more intense. A perfect start of la dolce
vita…

STEP 2: CHIACCHIERARE

… and a perfect start of the language courses in the morning. The school is
in Via del Paradiso, so maybe only the name should be enough to
understand the atmosphere. Imagine a huge terrace, some small class
rooms, many different students and teachers who all share their passion
for the Italian language, the many topics to discuss (I bet we are all
curious about Italian politics, design and fashion)… It is even said that the
most beautiful and pure Italian is spoken in Siena – need I say more?

STEP 3: IL PRANZO

But the best things have yet to come. After four hours of grammar and
conversation, of word searching and Italian stories, it is time for lunch. I
bet you understand an Italian menu yet before coming to study La dolce
vita, but make you sure that you’ll taste all sorts of local food. My
classmates and I found the best food in small trattorias, a few steps from
the Piazza del Campo, with no menus outside. Try the pappa al pomodoro!

STEP 4: IL VINO

Being right in the middle of the Chianti, la dolce vita definitely means also
wine tasting. We explored the Tuscan countryside by tasting different sorts
of wine – maybe the sweetest way to remember the Tuscan hills. And for
most of us this wine tour revealed the real magic of wine: after a glass of
wine, the Italian language no longer had any secrets for us. La dolce vita
has just started, but we were all feeling like we already were getting used
to it.

STEP 5: L’OLIO

But coffee and wine are not the only ‘holy’ liquids in Italy. So after
tasting wine, the very difficult task of tasting olive oil was lying
ahead of us. Did you know that every olive oil has its own ‘passport’
or that some restaurants even have their own list of olive oils, just
like a wine list? After tasting the real olive oil, you’ll understand why
Italians are so passionate about their ‘green gold’!

STEP 6: L’ARTE

Another essential part of la dolce vita, that has nothing to do with food, is
the Sienese art. The small city is really a treasure keeper: the Duomo with
an astonishing pavement, the former hospital Santa Maria della Scala, the
Palazzo Publico with works by the great Sienese painters Simone Martini
and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, the Torre del Mangia, the Pinacoteca with many,
many Mary’s painted by Guido da Siena, Duccio and other artists of the
Sienese school… Together with all the vivid stories told by our guide these
art collections will leave an unforgettable impression in your hart and
souls…

STEP 7: IL DOLCE

Studying all these beautiful art works makes hungry. A good excuse
for tasting one of the Sienese sweets is that making these sweets is
a local art as such. In small bakeries you can taste the most
delicious cantuccini, panforte, panpepato and ricciarelli.

STEP 8: LA PIAZZA

Strolling the narrow medieval streets around the Piazza, and of
course the Piazza del Campo itself, is maybe one of Siena’s greatest
pleasures. Since the Piazza serves as the perfect meeting place for
all Sienese people, for students it is the best place to meet local
people and bambini that are glad to help you with your Italian
pronunciation and vocabulary. Also they can tell you all about
Sienese traditions, especially about the Palio.

STEP 9: IL PALIO

This famous horse race has been organized since the Middle Ages,
but today the passion for this event is still alive. Weeks before the
race (July 2 and August 16), the ten contrade (neighborhoods)
which will participate are filled with excitement. Make sure you don’t
miss one of the many parades, diners or masses if you attend the
language school in June or August!

STEP 10: LA PASSEGGIATA

Your day in Siena is not complete without a passeggiata. Before dinner,
join all Italian families by strolling the city center. Of course you have to
wear something nice – fare la bella figura is an important part of this
evening walk. Buy a gelato, look at all beuatiful people, talk with your new
friends from school and with some Italians and simply enjoy life – maybe
this is the essential lesson of la dolce vita!

A letter to Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano

Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Milan — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:48:36 +0000

Our students of Italian language who had a course in our Italian language school in Milan decided to write a letter to Italy Republic’s President Giorgio Napolitano to talk about their thoughts about Italy and what people in the world think about its worst pathology: the Mafia.

Egregio Presidente della Repubblica,

Siamo degli studenti stranieri della Scuola Leonardo da Vinci di Milano, abbiamo ai 18 ai 28 anni. Siamo in Italia a poco tempo. Siamo qui per imparare l’Italiano perché ci piace questo paese e la sua cultura. Qualcuno di noi vorrebbe vivere e studiare qui, altri vorrebbero lavorare in Italia, conoscere meglio la sua cultura e le sue bellissime città, altri ancora sono qui per amore. Ci siamo trovati molto bene in questo paese: la gente è cortese e simpatica ma nei nostri paesi tante persone pensano che la politica dell’Italia dipenda troppo dalla Mafia.
Secondo noi non è la verità. Ci facciamo una domanda:”Perché la gente pensa questo?”. Ci dispiace che nel mondo si creda a questo stereotipo. Abbiamo visto a scuola qualche video su questo argomento: ci sono tanti ragazzi del sud, come quelli di “Addio Pizzo”, che si oppongono alla crudeltà dei Mafiori e si battono ogni giorno per vivere in libertà, senza paura, in una nazione migliore. Noi siamo d’accordo con questi giovani e vorremmo aiutarli a battere le ingiustizie che sono obbligati a subire. Quando torneremo nei nostri paesi diremo a tutti che Italia non è solo la Mafia, ma che è molto di più: i politici italiani dovrebbero prendere esempio da questi ragazzi. Secondo noi, la Polizia dovrebbe unirsi alla popolazione dei paesi e delle città vittime dei Mafiosi, trovare delle prove che li incastrino, ma soprattutto eliminare l’omertà: le famiglie, gli adulti; tutti non devono avere paura. Lo stato deve proteggerli.
Sappiamo che la Mafia è presente da tanto tempo in Italia e forse anche adesso, ma possiamo batterla.

Distinti saluti,

Mayuko Muroi
Kumi Shida
Hwang Wun Young
Yunjin Cho
Shay Rosenfeld
Mi Ri Jang
Katarzyna Richter
Alison Bonanno
Hyunsook Seo
Dilyara Teleuova
Mauro Lomonaco

Francesco’s opinion about our Italian language Teacher preparation course in Milan

Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Milan — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:06:13 +0000

Milano 23.6.2009 - Vorrei riutilizzare due definizioni imparate durante il corso di formazione per insegnanti di Italiano L2/LS alla scuola Leonardo da Vinci di Milano, per descrivere la mia esperienza, che continua tuttora con il tirocinio. Credo sia una grande fortuna poter incontrare lungo il proprio cammino dei buoni maestri, ma cosa fa di un insegnante un buon maestro?
Ecco, io penso che la differenza la faccia non il “sapere”, ma il “saper essere”. Qui ho incontrato insegnanti, o se preferite formatori, preparati, esperti, con una competenza elastica, aperta allo scambio con l’altro e ad un continuo miglioramento delle proprie conoscenze, se pur consolidate nel tempo. Ma questo è il “sapere”, la professionalità che mi aspettavo. Il motivo per cui sono felice di essere venuto a Milano e per cui rifarei questo corso, la ragione per cui mi è sembrato persino troppo breve, se pur impegnativo, è l’entusiasmo di chi mi trovavo di fronte in classe ogni giorno. Claudio Consiglio e Simona Aguzzi hanno “saputo essere” dei buoni maestri: hanno saputo creare un’atmosfera ironica e informale, pur riuscendo a darci una quantità sorprendente di input, di motivazioni, di nozioni nuove. Ci hanno sempre incoraggiato ad accrescere la nostra conoscenza, anche teorica, che deve stare dietro all’insegnamento in classe, ma ci hanno anche ricordato di non perdere la nostra personalità, le nostre idee, incoraggiandoci se necessario a sbagliare, ma con coraggio.
È relativamente facile imbottirsi di nozioni e scaricarle su una classe, altrettanto lo è limitarsi ad essere istrioni imprevedibili e con questo intrattenere una classe, ovviando allo studio e alla ricerca che ci attendono se vorremo essere veramente capaci di fare questo lavoro. La vera sfida è credere in quello che facciamo entrando in una classe, metterci a disposizione di chi sta imparando e avere l’umiltà di esserci anche per imparare a nostra volta qualcosa, da persone che vengono da altri paesi, spesso da altre culture e si sono messe in gioco: scendere insomma dallo scranno del professore, per risederci tra i banchi e comunicare, interagire, scoprire, non per metterci su un palco e mostrare i frutti delle nostre “sudate carte”.
Il mio consiglio per chi avesse dubbi sull’iscriversi o no a questo corso è di fare la scelta che i ragazzi che sono qui per imparare l’Italiano hanno fatto: chiudete fuori i dubbi dalla testa, aprite le valigie, riempitele e mettetevi in gioco, secondo me difficilmente ve ne pentirete.

Francesco Schiavon

Last minute offer for an Italian language course!

Scuola Leonardo — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:30:12 +0000

Summertime is arrived so, it’s also time to really think on how and where to spend your holidays.
What about Italy?

If you consider this to be a good idea, think that summer is the best period of the year to enjoy a holiday in Italy. In July and August especially, you will find beautiful sunny weather, with bright days lasting until 9/10 p.m., and at the same time, temperatures never are too hot for visiting, walking and travelling.

In order to encourage foreign students to join and appreciate the “Bel Paese” (’Beautiful Country’, as Italy is used to be named abroad), for forth consecutive year and following the success of the previous Special Offers from 2006 to 2008, Scuola Leonardo da Vinci - one of the most important Italy’s providers of in-country Italian language schools in Italy - is featuring again, last minute language travel packages in all its Italian language school centers, located in some of the most beautiful and attractive Italian cities, such as Florence, Milan and Siena.

The “last minute offer to study abroad in Italy” is a package that includes a 1 or 2 weeks language and culture course and accomodation in shared apartment or hosting family, for students who wish to enjoy Italian culture by living and stuying in Italy.

Italian language and culture courses offered by Scuola Leonardo da Vinci have been conceived to help foreign students in a fast development of their Italian language skills and their knowledge of Italian current culture.

In addition, after their lessons in class, they will have the possibility to attend cultural and leisure activities, enjoy their free time by visiting the city and its surroundings, or have fun during the night with their new school mates in the numerous nightclubs (bars, pubs, discos) of the city. Activities, excursions and nights out are usually organized with the school staff.

If you feel tempted by the idea of having a different, interesting holiday this year, here you will find some last minute offers to come to Italy, to study Italian language in one of the Leonardo da Vinci school centers in Florence, Milan, Rome or Siena. We promise you will have a very good time in our Leonardo da Vinci schools!

Discover our special price for a special offer so, what are you waiting for? Enroll now!
Carpe diem! Cogli l’attimo!
We are waiting for you!

Have you ever dreamed of writing an article in italian for a major italian newspaper?

Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Rome — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:43:50 +0000

You may think that it is almost impossibile but at our Italian language school in Rome it did happened. The hero of our story is a student like any other. Japanese, opera singer hopeful and, last but not least, beginner with a hint of technical lexicon in April 2008. How did he manage? Quite simple. He came to school every day for nine months, he worked hard and, what matters most, he loved the experience of living in a different culture. That’s why he tried to understand italians. He really did. But something was really too much. So, when his teacher, Massimo, asked him and his classmates to write a few short piece about Rome and send them to Corrado Augias letters page of La Repubblica, he came out with the most peculiar complaint you could ever immagine. Can you guess what it is?

If not click here and read the article.

And if you cannot understand it come to our Italian language school in Rome and you will!

English version of Takeshi’s article:Cigarette butts on the street, an Italian habit

I’m Japanese and I’m studying Italian in Rome. I found many things in Italy which are different than in Japan, it is the reason why I am so interested in them. But, there is especially one thing that I am not able to understand: why do Italians throw their cigarette butts on the street? Usually they do not extinguish the fire. I can not believe! In Japan, many people do not like smoke, they say that one should not smoke on the street cause it is dangerous for children, they can not accept that one throw a butt on the street without extinguish the fire. I was astonished when realized that it was a normal habit in Italy. Despite I do not smoke, I like the smoke’s smell, but I really think it is a pity to see the city of Rome in such way.

Italian language course for Teachers: read our STUDENTS’ OPINION!

Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Florence — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:12:19 +0000

Our Teacher Carla from Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Florence asked his students attending the course for Italian language Teachers held in October 2008 an opinion about their experience at Scuola Leonardo.

Here down their answers:

“Il corso insegnanti che ho seguito in Ottobre 2008, è stato interessante da più punti di vista. Mi ha permesso di conoscere quali fossero gli strumenti necessari per la professione di insegnante di italiano a stranieri ed inoltre i formatori si sono dimostrati molto disponibili per eventuali spiegazioni o chiarimenti. Tutto ciò è stato reso possibile anche dal clima sereno e accogliente in cui si è svolto il corso.”

Benedetta Montaldi

“Cara Carla,
con piacere ti comunico alcune impressioni sul corso di formazione.
È stato senza alcun dubbio motivante sia per la composizione eterogenea della classe (diversa provenienza, età, professione dei partecipanti) sia per i temi trattati sia per la professionalità dimostrata daidocenti.
Sicuramente la partecipazione al corso è stata indispensabile per poterpoi approfondire individualmente lo studio delle tematiche affrontate.
Mi sarebbe piaciuto frequentare per qualche giorno in più al fine di esercitarmi ulteriormente nelle simulazioni delle prove d’esame.
Ricordo tutti con piacere.

Ti saluto.”

Maria Maffei

“Frequentare il corso di preparazione DITALS e svolgere il tirocinio presso la Scuola Leonardo da Vinci è sta
un’ottima opportunità per avvicinarmi al mondo dell’insegnamento dell’italiano a stranieri e per muovervi i primi passi. Non provenendo infatti da una formazione specifica sull’insegnamento delle lingue, ho trovato nel corso molti spunti di riflessione sul ruolo dell’insegnante e sui diversi approcci didattici, un aiuto pratico su come orientarmi nella selva dei manuali, dei materiali per l’insegnamento e delletecniche didattiche, oltre che nella sterminata bibliografia per la
preparazione dell’esame DITALS!
Il tirocinio poi è stato molto utile per iniziare a confrontarmi con la realtà dell’insegnamento in classe,potendo osservare molti insegnanti all’opera, ognuno con il suo metodo e la sua sensibilità.
Penso comunque che sia il corso che il tirocinio possano essere fruiti a più livelli, a seconda dle punto di partenza di
chi vi partecipa: credo che chi si avvicina al corso di preparazione avendo già esperienze di insegnamento o di studi specifici possa trovarvi una chiave interessante per ordinare e sistematizzare le proprie conoscenze ed entrare in contatto con altre esperienze e altri percorsi.”

Chiara

“Ciao Carla,
che piacere sentirti!
Ti rispondo di getto:Un corso che mi ha arricchito, aprendomi un nuovo orizzonte professionale.
Un’esperienza che consiglierei senz’altro! Cari Saluti.”

Desirée

“Cara Carla!Che bello sentirti “leggerti”.D’ Agosto 08 insegno un piccolo gruppo, un corso volontario di 6 !!! ragazzi di 15 anni. Sono poco motivati.
Però il prossimo anno scolastico avrò due classi, anche principianti, per quali è una materia obbligatoria. E tutt’
un altra cosa.Ma per rispondere alla tua domanda: Il corso mi è piaciuto molto, sopratutto con te. L’ insegnamento non è un problema
per me, però mi piacerebbe lavorare ancora sulla mia abilità nella lingua italiana.Spero che ci sentiamo presto.

Carissimo saluto”

Hilde

“Gentile Carla,
io ho un ottimo ricordo del corso, sia a livello di insegnanti, tu in particolare, ma anche Donatella non è stata da meno,
sia a livello delle compagne che ho avuto il piacere di conoscere.
Forse potrei dire qualcosa che non voglio comunque sia giudicato come un appunto negativo: un corso con qualche giorno in più ci consentirebbe una maggiore socializzazione con la bestia nera, vale a dire, con l’Unità didattica. In ogni caso sono soddisfatta e ciò che sto studiando mi piace.

Un caro saluto”

Monica Miniati

Scoop on School Leonardo da Vinci: an article about us!

Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Siena — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:00:00 +0000

A journalist wrote an article about the experience she had in Italy, more precisely in Siena, and talked about us, the Italian language School Leonardo da Vinci.
Yes, it’s true! In the ‘travel page’ of The Epoch Times, a global newspaper throughout Canada, USA & London, the Indian journalist Jasleen Kandhari tells about her two lovely weeks spent in the Tuscan medieval town learning Italian at the School Leonardo da Vinci and attending the course “La Dolce Vita”.
In her lines, she talks about “enchanting atmosphere” and “homey accommodations”, all peculiar characteristics which you can find in a picturesque city like Siena, where time seems to be stopped and where you can marvel at breathtaking landscapes made up of Tuscan rolling hills and old rural country houses.
In the morning, she used to attend an Italian language course at School Leonardo da Vinci, and in the article she tells how fast she was able to learn Italian through the school’s teaching methods focused on spoken word: “I discovered that I learned Italian much faster than expected…”.
In addition, during her stay, she completely steeped in Italian culture with the several guided tours organized by our school in the city and its surroundings, being in direct contact with restaurateurs who ran osterias and restaurants and who taught her how to prepare some special Tuscan dishes, and also with many sommeliers who suggested her the best wines in Italy to taste.
She also admired the magnificent art which is present in our well-preserved monuments, churches and world-famous museums, such as the Uffizi Gallery, which she visited in Florence, easily reachable from Siena by bus.
In sum, she discovered a new experience, a new world and a new culture behind Tuscany hidden treasures.
Well, we really have to say that Jasleen had a really unforgettable stay in Siena, and you can have just like her, the opportunity to come to one of the most beautiful Italian cities to enjoy a stay, learning Italian language and steeping in the heart of culture.
In fact, thanks to “La Dolce Vita”, the Italian Language and Culture Course for mature students of any age, you will learn Italian language and in the meantime will enjoy our wonderful country, rich of traditions, art, history and culture.
You will learn Italian in a pleasant and relaxing environment, in classes of small groups and with qualified Italian mother-tongue teachers. In addition, there’s a wide range of cultural activities offered by our school which you can take part to, such as field-trips in Tuscany countryside, walking tours, guided tours, visits to the most important museums and monuments, concerts, and also traditional dinners having the chance to taste our culinary traditions and wines.
Next Courses will start on May and registration are already open…. so, hurry up folks!!
You’re still on time to spend a unique learning vacation in Italy! Ask for more information!

Celebrate with us the birthday of the eternal city

Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Rome — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:42:51 +0000

One thousand years before Gladiator

The legend of the founding of the Rome has the attribution to twin brothers, Romulus (c. 771 BC–c. 717 BC) and Remus (c. 771 BC–c. 753 BC). In Roman mythology, they are sons of the priestess Rhea Silvia and Mars, the god of war, abandoned at birth at Tiber by servants in charge of executing them. The twins were taken by a wolf. Later a shepherd named Fausetulus came and took Remus and Romulus. Faustulus and his wife (Acca Larentia) raised the children. When Remus and Romulus became adults they decided to establish a new town. The young princes chose not to settle at the court of their grandfather, but decided to found a new town; they differed however on the site of the new town: Romulus chose the Palatino, Remus the nearby Aventino: they sought the advice of their grandfather, who recommended them to ascertain the will of the gods by consulting the flight of birds. Remus took position on the Aventino hill Romulus on the Palatino hill. Remus soon saw six birds (either vultures or crows) and claimed to be the chosen one, but Romulus a moment later saw twelve birds and he too claimed to be the chosen one. They soon engaged into a heated dispute and Remus in contempt leaped over the furrow traced by Romulus to mark the location of the future walls of his town. In a fit of rage Romulus killed his brother.
In this way Romulus became the first king of Rome, the day was April 21st, 753 BC.
Ancient romans used to count years from the founding of the city of Rome. The date most widely used today is that calculated by Varro, 753 BC, but other systems varied by up to several decades. Dates given by this method are numbered ab urbe condita (meaning after the founding of the city, and abbreviated AUC).

NOWDAYS

Every year Rome celebrates its birthday with historical parades, cultural events, concerts and much more. Join the romans and live a day in the past.

Here follows our personal selection of events:

Sunday 19th April

Form 10.00 a.m. to 13.00 p.m.

“The great Parade“: a big numbers of reenactment groups (about one thousand of reenactors) coming from Italy and Europe will march-past along Via dei Fori Imperiali.
Made by Gruppo Storico Romano

From 21.00 PM

Light show of Roman Froum. Romagnificat. From Forum…to light
Wonderfull light show of Imperial Forum followed by RoMagnificat show, that form 21.30 PM to 23.00 PM in the Traian’s Market and Forum, wonderful light show with light, projections, music, actors dedicated to the cinema history. A Mismaonda, Bologna – Roma production

Tuesday 21th April

3.45 PM

Through the Roman Forum
- Inauguration of the walk-passage between Imperial Forum and Roman Forum
- Basilica Emilia – Opening of the yard

5.30 PM

The commemoration of the Foundation of Rome with the performance “The Trench Digging” (Il Tracciato del solco) at Circo Massimo (Free entrance).

7.30 PM

Barock music concert
On the Tebro river. Madrigali, arie and cantate dedicated to the “blond” Tiber
Roma Barocca ensemble. Director Lorenzo Tozzi
Introducted by Prof. Arch. Paolo Portoghesi. Made by Chromasom in with the collaboration of the Associazione Culturale Tesori Musicali
Art Director: Claudio Pelati
Ponte Sant’Angelo

For further informations take a look at the official website

Fashion, Design and Graphic Design Summer Courses in Milan

Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Milan — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:57:09 +0000

In summer 2009, NABA (Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti) will offer a large number of prestigious Summer Courses in the field of Italian Language plus Design, such as Fashion Design, Styling and Accessories, Fashion Marketing and Merchandising, Fashion Photography and Journalism, Fashion Textiles and Fibres, Interior and Product Design, Landscape Architecture, Lighting Design Studio, Graphic Design, Graphic Art Design for Fashion, Photography and the Moving Image, Theatre Design.

After attending the course of Fashion Photography, for example, students will have the opportunity to understand the high-potential of images, while through the course of Fashion Journalism they will perceive the convincing power of words also in a field like fashion, where what people see is usually more important than what is written, thought or illustrated.

Generally speaking, courses are aimed at introducing students to the world of fashion, design and graphic design through every kind of their artistic expression. They have been especially created to provide international students with useful information and necessary practical and theoretical knowledge to explore the dynamic context of the fashion and design industries.

Summer Courses are divided into three levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.

Moreover, for students also willing to learn Italian to complete their Study Abroad experience and make it a lifetime-learning opportunity, Scuola Leonardo da Vinci can offer a special Italian language course in addition to NABA ’s Fashion, Design and Graphic design Summer Courses.

Further information about Design Summer Courses in Milan is available on “Art courses in Italy” website.

At Florence International Music Festival 2009 the “SPE SALVI CHOIR” from Hiroshima

Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Florence — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:46:40 +0000

Once again, on Sunday 29th March, the Florence International Music Festival will be held and it will fill the ancient and picturesque hall Salone de’ Cinquecento of Palazzo Vecchio, just as last year.

This special event was organized with the help of the town councilor for Tourism and Productive Activities Silvano Gori in collaboration with the Italian Music School “Il Trillo”.

“Il Trillo” is an Italian Music School located in the historical center of Florence, just a few steps from Piazza Santa Croce. For several years now, the school is specialized in instrumental and vocal courses of any musical style, thought for complete beginners and professionals. The school’s courses are designed in order to allow students to attend single classes of their instrument together with musical ensembles classes, in a socializing atmosphere inclining to create small music reviews.

Every year the school organizes several concerts featuring young and upcoming musicians, and one of those events is just the Florence International Music Festival, whose objective is to promote young musicians who will have the unique opportunity to perform in some of the most beautiful and historically relevant venues of Florence, just like Palazzo Vecchio.

This renowned concert, this year on its 7th edition, will feature many young talented musicians and singers who come from every corner of the world, and this time, the peculiar guests will be the voices of the “SPE SALVI CHOIR” directly from the legendary Japanese metropolis of Hiroshima. Their conductors will be Yoichiro Uchida and Chizuko Tani.

In addition, we remember that students who study in the Italian Music School “Il Trillo”, will have also the chance to learn Italian, thanks to the collaboration with Italian language School for foreigners Leonardo da Vinci, which also organizes some Music Courses, to learn to sing or to play an instrument, such as Piano, Violin, Sax, Trumpet, Guitar, Drums, Electric Guitar and many more.

So…What are you waiting for? Here in Florence there’s a springtime entirely dedicated to the music, art and entertainment!

Entrance to all concerts will be absolutely free. Because of the preservation of the monumental hall, we have a limited number of seats available.

So, don’t miss this amazing occurrence full of music and joy! The Florence International Music Festival awaits you all on Sunday 29th March 2009 at 9.00 pm at Palazzo Vecchio in the prestigious Salone de’ Cinquecento.