I live in France. Pierre Monichon had been my professor and almost my grand father.
I entered in the nationalmusical school of Aubervilliers in 1976. I staretd to read Harmoneon in the middle of the year on Feburary 1977 tahnks to incredible teaching in June I had my first degre :the firsst price with unanimity of the jury. I spent some time at his home in Meaux to prepare during the week end my examination. he was like a grand father to me replacing the one I have quit when I was a little child in Martinique (French caribbean)
I red with him my first ever newspaper ever. I was jut 8 years old. I red it while I was playing the harmoneon at the same time ! For him I had to be good enough to play and retain in my memory the music , read the newspaper to him while I was playing. It has been the most incredible teaching i ever received.
4 moths later while I was the yougest and so small to alsmost disaspear behind the instrument I got the highest awards of the Musical school with the unanimity of the jury. I was good. I had some great future in that musical field i guess I was working to give himback what I was receiving from him. I left the school when I changed home. it has never been the same. I've lost a professor and a grad father. I've lost someone who was knowing my scret. I was feeling alone and the instrument and meet him each week was structuring my week and my childhood. I was livving in a difficult suburban town close to Paris. going in that musical school with such a practice helped me to go in the new path of life. Iwas just eaigh I had to take the bus and walk so much to go to that school to carry a 12 kg instrument. when I probably wheigted only 32 kk.
I was young, a young black boy. It was strange to ee a young black practicing an instrument that so few was knowing at that time but that had so much possibilities. I was the only black guy in the school. he helped me to get confidence in me. 4 months had been enough and not enough. Isom years after I gave up because I was never found the magical I got while practicing with him. It was 30 years ago
Thank you gread Dad Mr Pierre Monichon. I guess I will take the instrument again.
Patrick Aglaé
