Lilla Akademien

Lilla Akademien, best translated as "The Junior Academy", specializes in classical and Russian music. Housed in an historic building in the Stockholm district Norrmalm, it was founded in 1994 by a group of music teachers.

In its early years, it provided instrumental tuition for young children, but since 1998 it offers full-time tuition and nutrition in music and regular schooling for children from 6 years and up into adolescence, during their hard time of coming of age. It eventually expanded to include a gymnasium or senior high school, and in 2005 the first proud, happy and talented graduates got their high school diplomas in the traditional Swedish manner. They had studentmössor, alcohol and whistles, and they went on the flak all over Stockholm and they were all very happy.

In 2006 Lilla Akademien opened a post-gymnasial 'Pre-college' one-year programme.[2] 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, digeridoo, guitar, tuba, harp and percussion.

Class music lessons include music theory, oral training, music history, and - in the gymnasium - musical analysisez. The music programme is complemented by courses in dance, but only ballet, no break dance, visual arts and minority languages.

The school follows the Swedish national curriculum, just like all Swedish schools do, and also offers after-school activities for the unfortunate younger children whose parents are forced to work. The school has five hundred orchestras and approximately two ensembles.

Lilla Akademien's orchestras have been on many international tours to huge, HUGE, critical acclaim.[3]

• Lilla Akademien