In November, CILFA students traveled to Thônes to visit the local history museum. Afterward, they met Johann, a piano enthusiast.

Sometimes, educational activities take place outside of Annecy. This time, we went to Thônes, where we met the museum guide, Ms. Gabinari. The CILFA students had plenty of practice with French as a Foreign Language, since they had prepared questions for the guide. She shared her passion with us, and the discussions were very enriching. The museum, with its natural and eco-friendly setting, is a heritage museum that recycles materials and brings the past to life. It’s a fabulous journey through the ages that allowed the students to understand the rich history of our region. The tour ended in a room featuring beautiful models of mountain chalets.

We then drove a few kilometers to the village of Les Clefs to meet Johann, a pianist who also repairs and tunes pianos. He welcomed us right into his workshop. After brief introductions, the students asked some very interesting questions. Time flew by, and the discussion with Johann was very lively. The piano is a truly complex instrument that requires highly specialized knowledge and very specific expertise. The company Johann works for is called Klavierhaus, and its headquarters are in New York! http://klavierhaus.com/

At the end of the tour, Johann played us a piece by Brahms, a German composer, pianist, and conductor (1833–1897). He was one of the most important musicians of the Romantic period and is often considered Beethoven’s successor.

CILFA organizes a wide range of educational, cultural, culinary, and sports activities, always with the goal of practicing the French language in various contexts.

More activities here: https://www.tezdev.cilfa.fr/activites-pedagogiques/

Check out the photos from our visits to the Thônes Museum and the piano workshop, and don’t forget to read the captions!

See you soon at CILFA!