Play Music School: Building musical excellence in Brazil
"My greatest motivation is to make Play Music School a reference for teaching and quality, which we are already becoming due to the numerous international awards our students have been winning around the world, representing the strength of our school."
In the vibrant musical landscape of Brazil, Play Music School stands as a beacon of excellence under the passionate leadership of Jessica Prado. As one of LCME's newest exam centres in Brazil, Jessica is bringing international music education standards to her students while nurturing a unique approach to musical development.
From Yamaha to Play Music School
Jessica's path to founding Play Music School was paved with dedication and expertise. "I have a bachelor's degree in classical piano, and after finishing university, I went to work at Yamaha Music School," she explains. There, she received specialised training directly from Yamaha Japan, took various grade exams in other countries, and eventually became a Key Teacher—responsible for teaching Yamaha methodology and philosophy to other teachers in Brazil.
When Yamaha decided to close their school in Brazil, Jessica saw an opportunity rather than a setback. "I bought everything that was in Yamaha and started my own school, with the piano methodology that I myself created from my knowledge of Yamaha philosophy."
This bold move allowed her to blend international teaching standards with her own innovative approach, creating something truly special for Brazilian music students.
A vision for music education in Brazil
Jessica sees tremendous growth in Brazil's music education landscape. "Music education in Brazil is growing. Parents are increasingly looking to put their children in music classes at an earlier age," she notes. "There's a growing awareness of the importance of music not just in performance art, but from a perspective of quality of life to academic training."
However, she also recognises the challenges facing music education in her country. "A challenge we face in Brazil is finding truly strong music schools with qualified teachers. We still have a lot of 'informal' teaching even within schools."
This challenge fuels Jessica's mission: "My greatest motivation is to make Play Music School a reference for teaching and quality, which we are already becoming due to the numerous international awards our students have been winning around the world, representing the strength of our school."
Why LCME?
When choosing an exam board to partner with, Jessica found that LCME's values aligned perfectly with her vision. "I chose LCME because I identify with the purpose of academic training, since I went through this entire process of international exams at Yamaha," she shares.
She adds, "I believe that LCME is a competent and serious examination centre that will help us promote the best in music education within our school. LCME also showed itself to be very kind in welcoming Brazil, and I know that together we will form a memorable alliance."
For Play Music School, becoming an LCME centre represents a significant step forward. "Being an LCME centre will help us make our school compatible with international standards, in addition to being a differentiator with which we will pass credibility to students and society."
Celebrating unique achievements
What truly sets Play Music School apart is their innovative approach to teaching composition. "We have a very strong piano programme, where the path is for children to learn to compose," Jessica explains. "Some of these children have participated in international composition competitions and are winning awards wherever they go. At the end of last year, there were 18 awards from international composition competitions, and in 2023 there were 11. We've already filled two entire walls with frames with the certificates won!"
This unique focus has led to tangible achievements that extend beyond competitions. "We've already published two books called 'Little Great Composers' volume 1 and volume 2, with the scores of compositions by our students," Jessica proudly shares. "These books have been very well received by the musical society, considering that we are the only school in Brazil that has a methodology for teaching composition to children."
Looking to the Future
"I am very happy and honoured with this alliance with LCME," Jessica says. "I believe that making Play Music School an LCME examination centre is an incredible step for the world."
This partnership represents not just an achievement for Play Music School, but a significant opportunity for music students across Brazil to gain internationally recognised qualifications while developing their unique musical voices. Play Music School offers a wide range of musical instruction, including composition, piano, violin, singing, electric bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums, keyboard, and early childhood music education.
Interested in joining the LCME community?
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