Music class was introduced into Italian lower secondary schools by Ministerial Decree in 1999. Music class is established as part of a school’s curriculum through the proposal and approval of the school teaching staff and School Governors. It is then integrated into the curriculum for the following year, and the head of the institution in turn applies to the education authority at regional level for music teachers.
Music class affords a total 24 (6 for each of the instruments approved) pupils per school the opportunity of attending weekly afternoon lessons on an individual basis. In addition, lessons on musical theory, sol-fa and orchestra are offered at group level. Lastly, music class should not be confused with optional music courses, which may be set up to meet customer demand, employing private music teachers; such courses are likely to be temporary, rather less ambitious in scope compared to music class, and offered for a monthly or yearly fee.
In order to study a musical instrument, pupils must apply as they enrol in lower secondary school. They undergo an aptitude test / competition, if the number of applicants exceeds the enrolment capacity. To this end school heads appoint temporary test and evaluation panels.

Our school music class offers pupils the opportunity to learn to play the following instruments: piano, classical guitar, clarinet and percussion instruments; successful applicant students are assigned the instrument following the aptitude assessment session. Throughout the year, music instrument students lead a Christmas and end-of-year concerts, and fairly often they take part competitions and shows, at local, provincial and regional level.

In the course of the 2005/2006 school year a music teacher-led school chorus was begun, which included lower secondary teachers as well as pupils; the following year parents and non-teaching school staff were also invited to join the chorus, turning it into a mixed-voice chorus. Our school chorus has been developing increasingly: as of this current school year (2007/ 2008) primary pupils and pre-schoolers have been granted the opportunity of gaining entrance into the chorus.