In Gennevilliers, the Edgar-Varèse Conservatory stands out as an essential venue for families who want to combine artistic practice with everyday realities, while keeping an eye on the budget. Supported by the city hall and recognized by the Ministry of Education, this conservatory offers varied programs, ranging from first steps in music or dance to advanced courses, integrating school and family constraints.
It’s noticeable that each profile receives tailored support: whether it’s a child curious about music theory or an adult wanting to resume dance after years away, everyone progresses at their own pace thanks to individualized teaching and programs open to local collective practice.
Some attest to the warm atmosphere and ease of integration, even for those who hesitate to take the plunge.
Key Points Summary
- ✅ Personalized programs adapted to school and family constraints
- ✅ Tailored support for all ages and levels
- ✅ Warm atmosphere and facilitated integration
The Edgar-Varèse Conservatory of Gennevilliers – an institutional reference, accessible to all
Are you looking for a reliable institution to start or progress in music or dance in Gennevilliers? The Edgar-Varèse Conservatory meets this fundamental expectation, providing the security of a recognized framework, the richness of the courses offered, and pricing that considers each household’s situation.
Many families wonder how to balance school schedules and artistic activities: here, schedules are arranged to adapt to all ages and personal constraints, with extended hours and individual support that make the difference.
Labeled as a Departmental Conservatory (CRD), it benefits from solid municipal support, is integrated into the Ministry of Education network, and enjoys strong institutional momentum.
Worth noting – the teaching team brings together passionate instructors, invested in the success and fulfillment of students. According to some teachers, personalized follow-up and a diversity of collective practices transform each lesson into a living experience, sometimes well beyond simple technical learning.
Located at 13, rue Louis-Calmel and 177, avenue Gabriel-Péri, the conservatory opens its doors Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 7 PM: a rare range in Île-de-France, which greatly facilitates organization for families and encourages artistic engagement.
Access, hours, and practical contact information
Before going there or making contact, it’s best to have the essential information. The conservatory prioritizes clarity here, to welcome both Gennevilliers residents and others.
Two sites for greater proximity
The institution operates from two complementary addresses – the main site at 13, rue Louis-Calmel, and an annex at 177, avenue Gabriel-Péri in Gennevilliers. Each location houses different departments, music, dance, administration – depending on schedules and activities.
A middle school student recently recounted that they always found a team available, regardless of which site they visited.
Access is facilitated by public transportation, nearby parking areas, and accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
If any doubt remains about the location or accessibility, simply call 01 40 85 64 71 or 01 40 85 66 66: the reception staff always seeks the most suitable option for each case.
Extended hours and flexible operation
The conservatory is open Monday through Saturday, from 9 AM to 7 PM. This allows courses to fit into any school, professional, or family schedule.
In case of unforeseen circumstances, a group can be reorganized or a make-up lesson offered, which reveals true flexibility in the individual management of each course.
A teacher recounted having already organized shifted sessions for students with occasional difficulties – proof of the attention paid to everyone.
- Main site: 13, rue Louis-Calmel, 92230 Gennevilliers
- Annex: 177, avenue Gabriel-Péri, 92230 Gennevilliers
- Phone: 01 40 85 64 71 / 01 40 85 66 66
- Extended hours: Monday-Saturday 9 AM-7 PM
It’s sometimes wrongly believed that “evening classes” remain inaccessible: here, the conservatory adjusts its offerings to meet real constraints, especially those of working adults.
Disciplines and courses offered: a range for all talents
Whether welcoming a child from age 6 or integrating into a class preparing for professional diplomas, the conservatory’s range widely covers needs. From jazz to classical music, from contemporary dance to digital music production, everyone receives personalized support.
Seasoned musicians note that the openness to jazz and contemporary music now also attracts profiles who wouldn’t have opted for the conservatory ten years ago.
Music: awakening, discovery, diploma cycles, and specialization
Starting from ages 4 to 5, children can join the awakening workshop (45 minutes weekly). From age 6, the discovery program offers between 1h15 and 1h30 of classes per week, combining instrumental or vocal practice and music education.
Diploma cycles follow a typical pathway: common foundation, cycles 1 to 3, then specialization or CPES (Preparatory Cycle for Higher Education).
Good to Know
I recommend noting that all instrument families are represented, with an added program designed for adults (particularly Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, up to 6 hours weekly). It happens that a parent rediscovers the joy of piano after years, just thanks to the conservatory’s flexibility.
- Classical music: strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, piano…
- Jazz, contemporary and traditional music
- Digital music production workshops (DAW)
- Vocal instruction and choirs
Each cycle is validated by a certificate, a Certificate of Musical Studies (CEM, approximately 2 years), or a Diploma of Musical Studies (DEM, generally 3 years).
Final point to note – the emphasis remains on individual progress, not competition. Everyone evolves at their own pace, which teachers regularly emphasize when interviewed.
Dance: from awakening to stage creativity
Dance welcomes children and teenagers from ages 6-7: body awakening, initiation, then contemporary, jazz, or musical theater curriculum. Sessions vary in duration and content, always with possible adaptations according to level.
A recent medical certificate (less than 3 months old) is required for access to practice.
For those who like to cross disciplines, the “musical theater” section combines music education, singing, and choreography – opening new creative horizons.
It’s not uncommon for a hesitant teenager to discover their talent precisely during a mixed workshop, according to an instructor’s testimony.
Registration procedures, age requirements, and step-by-step process
Registration at the conservatory sometimes seems a bit technical given the rich offerings… However, each step is clearly explained and accompanied to avoid any misunderstanding or unexpected roadblock.
What age to start? What criteria?
Musical and dance awakening welcomes children from 4-5 years old (45 min/week); the discovery program from 6 years old (up to 1h30/week).
To join a diploma curriculum (cycle 1), it’s best to be 7 years old, but there are pathways depending on motivation or actual level. Adjusted schedule classes target middle schoolers (from 11 to 15 years old).
An interview or orientation test may be offered, without an exclusionary logic. The essential thing is to place each student in the group best suited to their expectations and abilities.
It’s not uncommon for a child to be reoriented at the start of the school year to account for their rapid progress.
Registration procedure and annual calendar
Registration or re-registration is done online or on-site: you must provide the complete file and necessary supporting documents (address, schooling, medical certificate for dance).
Specifically, the pre-registration deadline for 2025 is set for August 28. A dedicated welcome for non-Gennevilliers residents will take place on September 6 between 5:30 PM and 7 PM.
Note: access to cycles or more specialized programs depends on a pedagogical review and sometimes an informal interview, especially if the envisioned path is out of the ordinary.
- End of pre-registrations: August 28, 2025
- Specific welcome for non-Gennevilliers residents: September 6, 2025, 5:30-7 PM
Some parents sometimes hesitate until the last minute: it remains possible to seek advice during open houses or through a simple phone call: the team is known for its listening and pragmatism.
A parent recently recounted how the welcome reassured them about the procedure, despite their initial concerns.
Rates, simulator, and assistance options: accessibility at the heart of the approach
Between the fear of high costs and the desire to offer an enriching activity to their child, the question of rates remains unavoidable. The conservatory adopts a fair, transparent pricing policy, adjusted according to family situation.
Family quotient pricing: an effort toward accessibility
Registration fees vary according to the family quotient, allowing everyone to access the offerings. An online simulator makes estimation easy and quick.
Regarding payment, checks, cash, credit cards, or Pass 92 are accepted.
It’s relatively common to see some families benefit from exemptions or free access under certain conditions (scholarships, special situations).
Let’s add that the main objective remains to broaden access, not restrict it – an intention emphasized repeatedly by the administrative team.
Documents and practical tools available
Registration forms, the detailed rate schedule, and the payment simulator are offered in digital format or at the reception desk.
Quick tip: prepare your medical certificate (dance, 3-month validity) and tax notice to avoid file delays.
- Rate simulator available online
- Various payment methods: check, cash, credit card, Pass 92
- Required documents: tax notice, medical certificate (dance), proof of address or schooling
If there’s any question or doubt, the administrative team readily mobilizes to guide each user through the procedures.
According to several families, this availability changes everything, especially when administrative time mixes with managing artistic activities.
Adapted pathways: adjusted schedule classes and customized offerings
The conservatory offers innovative programs to accommodate atypical or dedicated profiles, from committed middle schoolers to adults wanting to reconnect with their art.
This dynamism, which both attracts and reassures, also means that pathways evolve each year according to public demand.
Adjusted Schedule Classes (CHA): a coherent alliance with middle school
The CHA, whether for music or singing, concerns students at Guy-Môquet Middle School and spans four years, fostering a real link between general curriculum and artistic pathway.
The specific schedules and bonus on the national diploma represent a major advantage starting in 6th or 5th grade.
A former student mentioned their pleasure at having been able to reconcile both without sacrificing one or the other.
Supervision is reinforced, allowing individual adjustments to meet school and artistic requirements.
Some professionals believe that this partnership between the conservatory and the Ministry of Education offers real added value compared to other structures in the area.
Adult pathways and specializations
Many consider resuming piano after a long break, or getting into group jazz on Wednesday evenings.
Here, adults find up to 6 hours of classes each week, organized to adapt to the most demanding schedules.
It happens that a workshop is spontaneously created based on requests collected at registration – it’s always better to express your needs, as the offerings regularly reinvent themselves.
In practice, the conservatory adapts its offerings over time: nothing rules out that the diversity of Gennevilliers profiles contributes each year to launching new workshops or schedules.
Collective life, partnerships, and stage practices
What makes the conservatory unique is also its group life. Working in chorus, playing together, performing on stage… Musical learning here takes place within an open collective, just as much as it develops individual technique.
Some parents mention the pleasure of seeing their child push themselves during their first stage performance – a real breakthrough sometimes.
Orchestras, choirs, and workshops: learning together
From cycle 1, each student joins an orchestra, choir, or ensemble, suited to their instrument or voice. Getting on stage, sharing rehearsal – that’s what motivates and drives progress.
For example, between 15 and 20 distinct ensembles animate the year, from jazz combo to children’s choir.
An instructor remembers a cross-project that brought together contemporary and classical music – real encounters that leave a mark.
The annual programming multiplies open stages, concerts, cross-disciplinary projects, or inter-conservatory meetings, renewing the artistic experience month after month.
A parent recently confided to me how much their son had gained confidence during their first stage experience.
T2G Theater of Gennevilliers partnership: an opening to the professional world
One of the great assets – collaboration with T2G, which allows conservatory students to participate in contemporary creation programs and workshops led by professional artists.
This immersion in local cultural life remains rare, even for conservatories in the department.
Some experts believe that this partnership promotes the transition to professional practice while developing critical thinking.
- Shared concerts: several each season
- Privileged access: meetings with artists and T2G teams
- Development of stage confidence and critical autonomy
It’s not impossible to meet a guest choreographer or try your hand at lighting design: art is experienced here in all its dimensions.
(A student remembers discovering an entire profession during a technical workshop…)
FAQ and resources at your fingertips
Each family, student, or adult regularly arrives with many specific questions: that’s also why a FAQ section and accessible tools facilitate the process.
Frequently asked questions (and quick answers)
- Minimum age: 4-5 years for awakening, 6 years for discovery program
- Disciplines offered: music, dance, digital music production, musical theater
- Pricing: based on family quotient, simulator freely accessible
- Required documents: medical certificate (dance), tax notice, proof of address
- Adult programs: yes, up to 6 hours per week (Tuesday and Wednesday)
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 7 PM
- Contacts: 01 40 85 64 71 or 01 40 85 66 66, on-site reception or online form
Downloadable practical sheets, an exportable calendar, and a monthly newsletter complete the support arsenal to facilitate tracking of news and collective activities.
Resources and practical tools
Summary tables of curricula, rate simulator, contact information, complete step-by-step procedure… The tools available accompany each pathway, available in paper or digital format, sometimes even customizable according to profile (child, middle schooler, adult).
Recently, an instructor noted that the exportable calendar becomes indispensable for juggling large families and busy schedules.
| Resource | Where to Find It |
|---|---|
| Rate schedule and simulator | Official website or physical reception |
| Registration/re-registration form | Website or main office |
| Exportable calendar (concerts, open houses) | Dedicated link on website |
| Newsletter, updated FAQ | Online registration |
At the slightest doubt, it’s better to make contact by phone or email rather than remaining uncertain. At the Edgar-Varèse Conservatory, every question receives an answer, in most cases without delay.
Several families emphasize how much this responsiveness saved them many complications during registration periods.
